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This episode takes a heartfelt look into the Collins family’s homeschooling journey, especially focusing on the unique sensory and learning needs of my children, Annabelle and Kaleb.

The conversation dives into how homeschooling allowed both Annabelle and Kaleb to better understand and support their own learning styles—whether that meant planning and organizing, or moving around to stay focused. The family shares candidly about what worked (and what didn’t), navigating sibling relationships with different sensory needs, and the importance of communication and self-advocacy.

You’ll hear anecdotes from their homeschooling days, their experiences with tools like the Zones of Regulation, and thoughtful insights about adjusting environments and parenting strategies to support each child’s growth. If you’re a parent, educator, or just curious about how families work through challenges and celebrate differences, you’ll find practical ideas, laughs, and a few candid confessions in this warm, relatable conversation.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Annabelle introduces herself (age, homeschooling history, activities)
• Kaleb introduces himself (age, schooling plans, energy differences)
• Contrast in homeschooling experience and personal energy levels between the siblings
• Early Homeschooling Experiences
• Reflections on starting homeschooling after public school
• Comparison of Annabelle and Kaleb’s temperaments as young children
• Discussion of behavioral and learning differences
• Understanding and Managing Energy & Sensory Needs
• Use of “energy” to describe learning and activity preferences
• Annabelle as more planner/organizer; Kaleb as high-energy/movement-oriented
• Sarah reframes “energy” in terms of regulation and sensory processing
• Introduction of the Zones of Regulation framework in their home
• The role and value of using regulation language
• Parenting Strategies: What Helped and What Didn’t
• Homeschooling as facilitating better self-regulation
• Strategies that helped each child understand themselves (e.g. movement breaks)
• Honest discussion of what did not work, like forced tours and over-explaining in learning situations
• Acknowledgement of the importance of self-discovery in learning styles
• Adapting Educational Approaches
• Annabelle’s experiences with various learning formats (dual enrollment, asynchronous classes)
• Experiences with different subjects (math vs history)
• Discovering and leveraging personal learning styles and advocating for oneself
• Managing the Learning Environment
• The impact of environment on focus and sensory needs
• Adjustments made for sibling differences
• Sibling Relationships & Sensory Needs
• Conflicts arising from mismatched sensory needs (quiet vs noise/movement)
• Navigating these differences as children grow
• Use of environmental and sensory strategies to defuse tense situations
• Communication and Advocacy
• Learning to speak up about personal needs (self-advocacy)
• How sibling dynamics evolved to include better communication and mutual anticipation of needs
• Parental Support and Fairness
• Reflections on uneven parental attention due to different needs
• Annabelle’s perspective on independence and desire for attention/support
• Kaleb’s need for more movement and direct support
• Evolution of parental approach to meet both children’s emotional needs
• Long-Term Family Dynamics & Growth
• Emphasis on the ongoing process of learning and adjusting as a family
• Acknowledging that sibling relationships will outlast the parental focus
• Highlighting continuous progress and the importance of maintaining strong family bonds

Links and Resources From Today's Show

• Why Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?
• Connect with Sarah Collins on IG
• Games That Teach Executive Function
• Executive Functioning For Teens Course
• Zones Of Regulation
• How To Integrate The Zones At Home
• Back To School: Student Interview Questions
• Episode 8: Beyond the Pencil: Exploring Vision's Impact on Homeschool Handwriting Success
• Episode 9: The Impact of Music on Executive Functioning: A Homeschooling Perspective
• Episode 10: Streamlining Your Space: Organizing for Better Executive Functioning
• Episode 11: Exploring Unique Learning Paths in Homeschooling with Guest Amy Bodkin
• Episode 12: Executive Functioning in Homeschooling: A Teenager's Experience with Organization and Planning
• Episode 44: Prioritizing Slow in Homeschooling: A chat with Leslie Martino

If you have more questions you want to ask two homeschooled teens, feel free to email here: sarah@homeschoolot.com