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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

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