Epic Kidz World

Delicious Homemade Gummy Bears

What do you do when you are running out of ideas for science experiments? You get creative. Science is everywhere and in so many things that we do on a daily basis. I have a friend that is always telling me how much she hates teaching science. She doesn’t feel that she has adequate knowledge to teach the prinicples appropriately and with passion. That is so not true, because she loves baking, and does it frequently with her children. When I told her that she is actually teaching science with every muffin and cookie she makes, she laughed. She had never thought of science in that form before. The truth is that you are more than capable of teaching science than you think, you just have to find out what part you like and adapt your lessons to it. If you like cooking, or just want to change things up, you can come up with a great lesson in chemistry in your kitchen. From the act of measuring solids and liquids to chemical reactions, it is all there.

One of our favorite chemical reactions happens when we make gummy bears. Gummy bears are made by a mixture of sugar, glucose syrup, starch, flavouring, food coloring, citric acid, and gelatin. Chemistry plays a role in creating this tasty treat by putting it all together to make it look and taste a certain way. In order for all the components to come together and make it work, it takes chemistry. The combining of these elements and the reactions that happen when heat is added and cooling down again is an excellent way to demonstrate chemical reactions.

Lets get to it. First you will need some supplies. A silicon mold is essential for these to turn out the best. You can order one from Amazon, or I have seen them at bigger chain stores. You will need to order gummy bear mix. Again, this is readily found online, or sometimes at the grocery store. You will need a box of plain gelatin. There are also many ways to flavor your bears, but you can get a flavored mix to make it easier. That is the route that we went with a cherry flavor. Believe it or not, that is everything you need beside a mixing bowl and water.

First thing you will want to do is spray your gummy bear mold with cooking spray. This will allow them to pop out easily and not stick to the mold.

In a mixing bowl put equal amounts of gelatin, gummy bear mix, and water. Mix those ingredients all together to blend them. Then, put your mixture into the microwave for thirty seconds. You may do this on the stove if you prefer. You want to get the mixture hot enough to dissolve the powders into the water without burning it. The amount you choose is entirely up to you. It depends on how many bears you going to be making. We used two tablespoon of each and it was plenty to fill our molds with some left over.

Once the mixture is heated up, be sure to stir it once again to ensure that is entirely blended. You want to make sure that all elements are dissolved. If it is not all dissolved and smooth, it will make some lumpy bears. It will also not set up right and the consistency will be off. When you have it all blended it is time to fill the molds. Make sure to not overfill the bears as it will run and create a gummy mess. Also, keep an eye on your time. The gelatin will start to set up rather quickly making t filling the molds difficult. Moving quickly fill up your pipette with the mixture and fill those bears.

When all the bears are full, put them into the refridgerator for twenty minutes. After that they are ready to enjoy. Pop them out of the mold and taste your creation. It really couldn’t be simpler. This makes for such a fun project for many age ranges. Older kids can do most of it by themselves, and younger kids will learn just as much by watching. All will love to eat the bears! Give this a try when you are stumped on science lessons, and your kids will think that you are a genious!!

-Nicole

Awesome Pour Paint Projects

I find myself wandering the craft aisles at any place that has one. I’m always looking for inspiration and something new. We get tired of doing the same projects over and over again. As part of my curriculum I am constantly looking to expose my boys to something new. I also love to include the study of famous artists who inspire us along with the project we do. While walking through the aisle at Target one day, I found a pour paint kit. The kit had two canvases and ten bottles of pour paint. My mind immediately went to Jackson Pollock. His art would fit right in with a pour paint lesson. While we were at it we could explore other famous pour paint artists like Rinske Douna, an internationally known ‘fluid artist’ from the Netherlands . Now I thought this looks like it has potential. However, my mind was thinking about what else we could pour paint on. With the garden aisle being conveniently next to the craft aisle, it put flower pots in my sight line. Yes, I thought, that is it! Now we have two projects in one, and they will be great to display. Now I just needed to include the artist and I had a complete art history lesson.

All you need is a few simple items. The first thing you need is pour paint. It is a special paint. You can use acrylic, but you need to add something to it to thin it out so that it is fluid. You can buy pour paint at most craft stores. You don’t need a kit unless you find one that has all the colors that you love. Pick up a couple of canvases. We used the type that is stretched onto a wooden frame. You could use board canvases just as easily. The only downfall would be getting your fingers on the canvas as you try to slide the paint around. The framed canvases give you something to hold onto that is not on the front of the painting. Next, you will need a flower pot or two, We chose plastic pots, but a ceramic pot would work just as well. You will also need a plastic cup or a glass you don’t getting paint in. This project can be quite messy so make sure to take precautions to cover your work area. We did it outside and that was even easier. That’t it, you are ready!!

First thing first, we found it useful to elevate our pot on another plastic cup. This gave us something to hold onto when removing it from the canvas and allowed the pot to dry without interfering with it. Once you have your pot elevated, place it in the middle of your canvas.

Figure out what colors you want to layer. You may use as many or few as you’d like. You just want to make sure that you have enough paint in your cup to cover your entire pot. Once you have your colors chosen you are ready to layer. In your plastic cup begin by pouring one of your chosen colors into it. Then choose your next color and pour it directly on top of the other color. Do NOT mix the paint. Continue to layer each color right on top of the other until you feel you have enough paint. For our pots we used 4 oz of color. Now you are ready for the fun part. It is time to pour.

Starting at the top of your flipped over cup begin to pour the paint. Move the cup while continuously pouring paint around the entire bottom of the pot. The paint will start to run down the sides of the pot creating beautiful swirls and designs. Continue pouring the paint until the pot is entirely covered. Allow the excess paint to drip off onto your canvas.

Once you feel the paint has stopped dripping it is time to remove your pot so that it can dry. Now you are ready to create your canvas. Pick up your canvas and try to keep it as level as you can. Begin to slowly tilt the canvas so that the paint runs towards the edge. Continue to tilt the canvas in all directions until it is covered entirely with paint. This part can be messy, so be ready for it. Once you are satisfied with your design and the results, it is time to let it dry. This will take several hours. I didn’t touch ours until the next day. There are a lot of layers to dry on that canvas, but it is so worth it!

Once they are dry it is time to display. I loved this project because they are truly beautiful companion pieces. I had the kids pick a plant to put into their pots. Easy way to add a little Earth Science into the lesson as well. The plants added so much to the pot along with the canvas to display next to it. I put these on my four season porch and get compliments all the time about them. People always ask me where I got them. I love the shock on their faces when I tell them my kids made them. This is such a great, fun project I know you will love too. I can’t wait to pour paint onto more items to see how it turns out. Let me know what you have poured paint on. Show me pictures of your creations. We love to see what you come up with. Enjoy this project and make it epic!!

-Nicole

Make a Think Tube!

Science at its best is when your children are left thinking. I love challenging my boys to think about what is happening and why? The scientific method is something that is inherent in your children from the day they are born. As they get older, it is our job to make sure that they realize that and keep wondering! The steps to The Scientific Method are as follows: make an observation, ask a question, form a hypothesis, make a prediction, and test it out. Think about all of the times during your child’s day that this is taking place. It is constant from learning how to walk to trying out a new video game. Their wheels are always turning.

I hear so many moms say that they are not comfortable teaching science. They are left feeling inadequate in what they are presenting to their kids. Fear not, science is all around us. You are teaching it everyday whether you think you are or not. The important part is providing a safe environment for your kids to test out their hypothesis. If you present each science lesson with this method in mind, the work will be done for you. You will learn right along with them as you dive into what is happening around you and how it is happening. The think tube is an excellent project to get kids gears turning as they try to figure it out. It is a great introduction to The Scientific Method, and allows kids to figure out challenges that come with things they cannot see. With the think tube you pull one string on the tube another string will shorten, however, it may not be the string you think it will be! The strings seem to be moving in ways that don’t make any sense at all. It will leave your children wondering what in the world is happening! That is what we want.

Let’s show you how to make one. You make one first and demonstrate it to your children. Let them make an observation of what the tube is made of. What components are used to create the tube? Have them write down their observations of the physical appearance of the tube. Then have them hypothesise about what they think is happening. Why are the strings moving the way they are? What is happening inside of the tube? Then have them make a prediction of how they think it is put together. Now for the fun part, let them try to figure out how to make it using their predictions. If they figure it out, that is amazing!! Chances are they will be stumped. Now, you can show them how to make it while explaining it step by step. You will see the spark in their eyes when it clicks as to how it works. Congratulations, you have just taught a very important science lesson in a hands on and fun way. They will then want to show everyone and see if they can figure it out further enforcing the lesson.

Here’s what you need first. You will need a tube of cardboard. You can use an empty paper towel roll or buy a sturdier one from the hardware store. Poster tubes also work very well. Then you will need two long strings or yarn and four washers.

You will need to make four holes in the tube on opposite sides of the tube at the top and bottom. These are where you will pull the string through. Once you have your wholes made you will pull your first string through the top two holes. Then you will tie a washer to each end of the string.

Here is where it gets a bit tricky. Look at the pictures below to see exactly how to accomplish the next step. You are going to cross the other string over the string you have just passed through and secured with washers. You will then push the string through the tube carefully to ensure that it stays crossed over the other string. Once you have it pushed into the tube, it is time to pull each end through the two holes at the bottom of the tube. You will then secure a washer to the ends of this string.

Once all of the washers are securely tied onto the string, your think tube is ready to test out! Begin by pulling one string and see what happens to the other strings. Your kids will be amazed when the string they think will be shortened won’t move, but the one on the opposite side will. As you pull each string, a different string will shorten and lengthen. It is hard to figure out what is happening on the inside of tube without the knowledge of the twisted strings. Even after they figure it out, it will still be mind blowing as they try to make sense of it. Give this a try, and I am sure you will have just as much fun with it as we did!! Let me know what your children’s hypothesis was. I love hearing what their minds come up with!!

-Nicole

Finger Puppets: Ultimate Boredom Buster

One day when my boys were younger I came up with this idea. They were so bored and it was raining buckets outside. On these days I have to come up with something creative for them to do for my own sanity. Living in the Midwest we always have gloves hanging around that are missing their mates. I keep those little stretchy gloves in bulk. I also try to keep my craft bin full of pipe cleaners, pom poms, googly eyes, etc. This is where finger puppets were born. What did I have around the house that we could use to create something fun to play with. This is what I came up with.

Take a pair of stretchy gloves and cut off the fingers. It’s as simple as that. I find the stretchy ones work the best, but feel free to get creative with whatever you have on hand that you don’t mind destroying. Then let the kids go wild with their own imaginations. Have them decorate the fingers in whatever characters they envision with whatever crafting supplies you have on hand. We use a hot glue gun to adhere the decorations to the glove fingers. Use your own discretion as to what type of glue you will use. In my experience hot glue really is the best, so maybe help the little ones out with this step.

Once they are done it is time to put on a puppet show! I encourage my boys to write out a story they have in mind. This is a great way to incorporate some creative writing and thinking into the project. Then they take turns performing their show for the family. I’ve also had them pick a favorite book and create the characters from the book. We’ve used variations of this project with large craft sticks instead of gloves. When we study a Shakespeare story I have them make the characters on the craft sticks and reenact the story we just read. This really helps to commit the play to memory and understand what they have just listened to. This can be done with any book or story you are studying.

It’s time to get creative! Put this idea in your back pocket for the next rain or snow day. I hope you enjoy making puppets and share what you’ve made!

-Nicole

DIY: Homemade Shrinky Dinks

When I was a kid I loved doing Shrinky Dinks. It didn’t happen very often, but when my mom brought them home it was such a treat. They were so fun to color and even more to watch shrink in the oven. A few years ago I had a nostalgia for these crazy things and set off to find some for my kids. I couldn’t find any. So, I went on a mission to figure out how to make these ourselves. I knew my boys would have just as much with them. They loved making them, and we have continued making them since. Now you can find Shrinky Dinks at stores, but they are just not as much fun as making them yourself. When I brought home store bought ones for my boys they liked them, but would always ask to make their own as well. I wanted to share with you the easy way to make these at home. Unleash your kids creativity and curiosity.

The great thing is you only need a few simple items to make these making them an easy boredom buster. The first thing you need is the right plastic. We always use take out lids. The plastic that is used for lids on take out boxes or pie tin lids are perfect. I now just keep any plastic lids from take out or from the deli at the store. That way I always have it on hand. You will also need some markers. We find that a Sharpie makes a great marker to make outlines for your pictures. Finding markers can be tricky to find ones that work on the plastic. I have found that Crayola markers or colored Sharpies work the best. Make sure you have some parchment paper on hand to place your designs on for the cookie sheet. This way you will make sure they won’t stick to the cookie sheet.

Now the fun part. Have your kids draw their designs onto the plastic and color them in. Make sure that they draw their pictures large enough to get the detail in and so they have some shrinking room. Once the designs are perfected you can cut them out. Lay them out evenly on the parchment paper and put them in the oven set to 350 degrees.

Once they are in the oven watch them carefully. It should only take 2 minutes to shrink. They will start to curl up around the edges. Don’t panic and leave them alone. The first time we did this I freaked out when they rolled up and took them out of the oven. Then they dried and hardened all rolled up. The boys were not impressed. I now know that if you leave them go, they will uncurl and flatten out. Once they flatten out after they curl, they are done. Take them out of the oven and let them cool. Once they are cooled off they are ready for play! Believe me when they come out of the oven get ready to make more. Once the kids see them and see how tiny they and hard they are (so not breakable) they will have other designs they will want to try to shrink!

If you want to make a hole in them to pull a string through for a necklace or ornament, you will need a hole puncher. Before they go in the oven, put a punch in the plastic where they want the hole to be. When it shrinks down it makes the perfect charm for a bracelet or necklace. We like to make Christmas ornaments with these. It makes for a fun activity any time of the year.

I hope you enjoy making Shrinky Dinks as much as we do! Please share your creations. We are always looking for inspiration. Have an epic day!

xoxo- Nicole

The Offbits: The Art of Spare Parts

My husband is an engineer and is always building things with the kids. They’ve been using real tools and hardware since they were old enough to follow directions. They love all building toys, but really gravitate towards the ones that allow them to use the real deal. So when I discovered The Offbits, I knew that this was something they would absolutely love. I wasn’t wrong. From the minute the box arrived they were all over it.

The kits come with all the parts needed to create the ideas that are on the box. It also comes with clear to follow directions, and stickers to personalize the project. The great thing about these kits is that your kids can follow the directions to build what the kit suggests, or create their own unique invention. They can also take their projects apart and rebuild with the parts as many times as they would like.

We received The Station Bit, Piper Bit, and Animal Kit. The boys decided to first create the suggested projects. They both love all things space and these kits were right up their alley. The robots they created were so awesome! The parts they used allowed their legs and arms to move. They also made a rover that rolls and bounces with a spring attachment in it. With the animal kit my son made a spider. We recently got a tarantula named Lucy, so he was excited to create her with moving legs and all.

The best part of these kits is the family involvement. My husband got right in there to help with the builds, and my nineteen year old son was even interested in them! It was so fun to watch all their wheels turn as they solved problems and brought their imagination to life. You may have heard me say this before, but I love all things that encourage critical thinking. These are my type of toys. The boys are using their brains, imaginations, and getting some great skills at the same time. Even better is the fact that they choose these over screen time.

The possibilities of what can be created with these kits are endless. If you have a critical thinker, imaginative kid that loves to use their hands to create, The Offbits are a must have for your collection. We cannot wait to get more!!

The Coolest Puzzle Game Ever!: Giiker Super Slide

My boys love to do puzzles. They are critical thinkers to a fault. My eleven year old especially likes to figure things out. He enjoys building things, taking things apart, and putting them back together again. I am often surprised and impressed at his abilities for problem solving. There are many times I have to ask him for help. He always seems to know exactly what to do. So as you can imagine finding a game that challenges him enough to keep his attention for longer than ten minutes can be a challenge all of its own.

He first heard of the Super Slide on YouTube. He had been talking about it, and telling me that he wanted to try it. When he watched other people online trying to solve the puzzles he would tell me what they were doing wrong and how to solve it. So when we actually got one for ourselves, he was ecstatic.

There are many different levels in the game that you can choose from. The object of the game is to figure out where to slide the tiles to solve the puzzle. The large red square of the puzzle has a place that it needs to be, and you have to figure out how to slide the other tiles to make it fit where it needs to be. The game gives you the tiles you need and where to put them all for the starting point of each level. Then, it is up to your brain power to figure out how to slide the tiles without removing any of them to solve it.

My son started on level 8 thinking he could solve it easily. He soon found out that it was harder than he thought. He went back to level 1 and found it to be just as challenging. It took him quite a few times to figure it out, but when he solved it he was so proud of himself. It’s been a week now, and he is still playing this game everyday. He pulls it out when he is bored or between school subjects. I’m telling you all, this is a first!! Usually he will tell me he is bored and I have to think of something for him to do that will satisfy that part of his brain that longs for a challenge. He chooses this game every time.

We recently went on a road trip to Chicago. He had been playing on his tablet for awhile when we started out. About an hour into the trip I looked back and saw that he had the Super Slide out. I didn’t even know he brought it with us. He played it for 2 hours in the car ride. I was so excited to see him off screen willingly. I don’t fight the screen time that much as it isn’t that big of a problem for us, but when they choose something other than that, it makes me pause. This is a product I can get behind. It’s portable, makes him think, and is off the screen. It’s a win win.

I highly suggest that you check this game out if you have puzzle/challenge loving gamers. Even if they aren’t gamers, they would still love this. It really is awesome, and kid/parent approved! If you would like to get your own, which I highly recommend you can find it at: https://giiker.com/products/super-slide You can also follow Giiker on Instagram @giikerglobal. You won’t regret it!!

Easiest Edible Playdough: 3 Ingredients, No Cooking, and Tastes Good!

We’ve all had those days with the kids when the boredom sets in. They start to get whiny and needy. Mine usually start to fight with each other during these times. We look for things to pull out of our hat to keep them occupied and entertained. This is a go-to for us with my youngest. Not only does he love to make it, he will play with it for hours. It’s also a little snack mixed in if they feel so inclined. It is super easy and you probably already have the ingredients on hand. We’ve tried many different recipes and this is one of our favorites. It is one of mine because there is no cooking involved. The clean up is pretty easy, and the mess is somewhat contained. I can’t keep this secret any longer, you will thank me later!

All you need for this are 3 simple ingredients:

1 Cup of Peanut Butter

2 1/4 Cup of Powdered Sugar

1/2 cup of Honey

Pretty simple right?

All you do is mix all of these delicious items into one large mixing bowl. You may use a spoon, or just let the kids blend it all together with their hands. It is a great tactile activity for sensory play as well. I would suggest creamy peanut butter as we tried crunchy and it was a bit lumpy.

Knead it all together until it forms a nice ball of dough. You would think that it would be sticky, but you would be wrong! The consistency is actually quite nice and is easy to sculpt with. You can also enhance the experience by adding chocolate chips to create eyes, marshmallows for ears, or any other type of candy for decorating the masterpieces. You could also add some food coloring to make colored dough. It makes rich looking earthy tones. It can be a bit hard to mix in, but when your child is engaged with the activity, they won’t mind. It all adds to fun! This surprisingly tastes really good too! I always have to steal a few nibbles when the kids make it. Give this a try on a rainy or particularly trying day. It will get everyone’s minds off of what is wrong, and will make the day alright!

DIY Hover Crafts: Adventures in Air Pressure

Hover crafts are such an interesting concept. With the popularity of hover boards and all things drones, I couldn’t think of a better experiment to teach about air pressure to the boys. Hover crafts move people and items across water, ice, and land. It is also called an Air Cushioned Vehicle. These machines use air to reduce the sliding friction between the bottom of the vehicle and the ground.

There is air surrounding us everywhere, all at the same pressure. You feel the same force on your skin whether you’re on the ceiling, the floor, in your car, or water. What happens when you change a pocket of air pressure? You get movement!

In this experiment the balloon has a higher pressure inside than the surrounding air. When the air begins to flow through the hole in the film cannister or bottle top the steady stream of air flows under the CD and creates a cushion of air. This raises the whole hovercraft up slightly… which makes it glide across a flat surface.

Let’s put it together:

You will need:

A large balloon

A CD

Poster Putty or Hot Glue

Water Bottle Pull Top, or Film Cannister

If you are using a film cannister, you will need to drill a small hole in the bottom of the closed side of the cannister before beginning.

Step One: Place your balloon opening over the open end of the cannister or bottle top.

Step Two: Put poster putty around the hole of the cannister close to the circle, but not covering it. You don’t want too much as it can seep into the hole and block the air way. Just enough is needed to secure the cannister and create an air tight seal. If you are using a bottle top, you can put the putty around the outside of the bottle lid. If you will be using hot glue, you will place the glue in a circle around the hole in the same way as pictured.

Step Three: Press the cannister to the CD. You will want to line the holes up so the air can flow out of the balloon through the CD hole. You want to make sure that your holes are lined up and that the putty or hot glue is not covering the CD hole at all. Make sure that you have a firm seal and the balloon is attached to the CD securely.

Step 4: Blow up your balloon. It may feel weird, but it is completely possible. Put your lips around the CD hole and begin to blow. Make sure to get enough air into the balloon that it has enough air to force out. Once the balloon is blown up, make sure that you are holding the stem tightly to not release any of the air out until you are ready.

Step 5: Flip your hover craft over onto a flat surface and release your hand to let the air out. You may need to give it a little nudge to get it moving at first. Once the air is coming out in a constant stream, your hover craft will begin gliding across the table.

You could get real creative with this and make two hover crafts and have an air hockey battle with a coin. It may also be fun to experiment with how you could make it go faster or slower. This is the fun part of science. You provide the experiment, and then let your kid’s minds go wild with creativity on how they can improve or change the experiment. Believe me, they will have ideas. It is our job to guide them and encourage them to be innovative thinkers!!

Links to products:

Balloons: https://amzn.to/3k6Vkf0

CDs: https://amzn.to/419T7zP

Film Cannisters: https://amzn.to/3k8EAUB

Bottle Tops: https://amzn.to/3YLosr0

Poster Putty: https://amzn.to/3EkyKq7

Hot Glue Gun: https://amzn.to/3EkZUwX

No Classroom: No Problem

If you would have asked me years ago if I would homeschool my kids, I would have laughed at you. I never saw myself as a full time homeschool mom. I considered myself a Montessori mom when the boys were little. I strived for purposeful play and bought every Melissa and Doug wooden “toy” I could find. I read many books on Montessori methods and applied a lot of the techniques to our day to day. However, when the day came for my child to get on that yellow school bus, I stood outside and waited with him. It was a rite of passage that all kids before him had done, including myself. It is what is supposed to happen right?

I didn’t know any better until I began working in the public school. My eyes were peeled back, and I did not like what I was seeing. Children being led from room to room. They were told what they were supposed to write about. Art projects were a clear step- by- step don’t go out of the box creative less venture. They were little robots. Rewarded for being “good” and punished for being “bad”. No grey area, simply one or the other. If they did happen to fall in the middle, they were ignored. Leave well enough alone I guess. I knew that my boys deserved better. It was just a matter of my priorities.

I believe the art of homeschooling lies in the ability to let go of norms. It means really tuning into your children and honing in on what they need, like, and excel at. Not saying that you can’t do other things, but homeschool really does need to be your priority. If you’ve made the decision to keep them home with you, you need to be ready to sacrifice a lot of what you want to do. What I mean by this is that it is extremely important to be flexible. We as the teacher need to be willing to learn as well. I am constantly researching what I can be doing to help encourage my boys in areas they need help in. I am also looking for ways to enhance what we are learning to make it as engaging as possible. It doesn’t have to be fancy or cost a lot of money, but it does have to be done.

Learning has to be directed at each child’s individual need. For example my nine year old likes to pace around the room while I am reading history. At first this drove me crazy. I was trying to conform him to my way of learning. Sit down and be quiet. What I noticed was when I let him pace he would be able to recall any question about the chapter I asked him. When he was sitting next to me quietly he couldn’t answer any question. Now our history class is in the living room on the couch. My eleven year old will cuddle up next to me and the youngest walks around the room.

I also find that getting them out of the house is so important. We go spend time at the library, book store, parks, etc. One of our favorite outings is to go to Barnes and Noble and sit and read. I let them get a decaffeinated drink from Starbucks and settle in on the couches. They learn so much from the interactions they receive with other people and observing. When I go to the grocery store I like to take one boy with me. I let them order the meat from the counter, decide on which food items we need and the best prices, wring out the food at the self check out, and bag it up. That right there is a real life skill lesson that many kids don’t get to experience.

When my kids were in public school I rarely took the time to do these things with them. It was already done before they got home, or it was just faster to do it alone. They wouldn’t get home from school until 4. Then it was dinner and activities if we had any and bedtime. I never tried to fit anything else in the evenings as they were already worn out from the day. Then I would have such guilt for not spending as much time with them as I’d like.

The experiences we have now are so much more than what I’d ever imagined. The conversations we have are second to none. It is so nice to be able to go down a rabbit hole with them if they are interested in something. I like to seek out classes or people they can speak to about what they are interested in to gain even more knowledge. Our family culture has grown so much since we began homeschooling. I can really see the values we have tried to impose on our children coming to fruition. They are able to practice them everyday with the freedom to be themselves.

They are no longer a number and type casted in a box. They are individuals with needs, dreams, and interests. I am able to make sure that they are finally seen. Just them feeling heard and seen has given us so much this year alone. The confidence I’m seeing in them that hasn’t always been there. They are no longer afraid to be who they are meant to be.

“Homeschooled students are isolated and at urgent risk of harm from maltreatment, under-education, and parental abuse. ” Harvard Law School professor Elizabeth Bartholet. When I read this the first time I was filled with rage. This statement could not be further from the truth of what I see from our homeschool community. After thinking about it a bit more I began to feel empowered. You know if that is what people think then I will prove them wrong. I will show everyone how amazing, educated, and well rounded homeschool kids can be. Classrooms can be anywhere. There is no rule that says it has to take place inside of four walls. Our kids can learn from anywhere in the world, as long as they have us to guide them. As long as we prioritize their educational needs, the world is their oyster!