Curious if OT could help your child's struggles? Download Why Choose OT to find out!

I am joined by Ashton Tate, a passionate innovator in the homeschool community and creator of the FORM curriculum. Ashton takes us on a deeply personal journey, sharing how his own struggles with health, self-confidence, and weight in his teen years inspired him to transform not only his life, but the lives of countless children and families across the country.

In this episode you'll hear about:

Ashton’s Health Transformation Journey
Issues with self-confidence and health during middle and high school
Struggling with weight and lack of health knowledge
Major personal transformation: losing 130 pounds by graduation
Influence of mentors and support systems
Building a Career in Health and Fitness
Initial interest in helping others through personal training
Switching college degree to focus on health
Founding a home gym and building a local training facility
Transition to Online Health Education and Curriculum Development
Challenges of in-person training during COVID-19
Recurring feedback from adult clients: wishing they’d learned these principles as kids
The inspiration to create a health curriculum for children
Creation and Structure of the Health Curriculum for Kids
Collaborating with curriculum writers and kids’ authors
Making health concepts simple and accessible for younger audiences
Development of an online platform for families and schools nationwide
The Role of Occupational Therapy and Body Awareness
Overview of occupational therapy in the context of homeschool and health
Defining body awareness and its relationship to fitness
Discussion of cultural pressure and guilt around fitness
Understanding Hunger, Nutrition, and Interoception
Ashton’s personal experiences with food habits and cues during adolescence
The challenge of distinguishing hunger, thirst, and emotional states in children
Introducing interoception and its role in fitness and nutrition
Teaching Nutrition: “Food as Fuel” and “Food as Fun”
The importance of balancing healthy eating with occasional treats
Methods for helping kids become intentional and mindful about food choices
Using analogies (like cars needing fuel) to explain nutrition to children
Practical Strategies for Families
Emphasizing simplicity in health routines and messaging
Navigating conflicting nutrition advice and keeping it approachable
Sharing personal anecdotes (like sports nutrition questions from Connie’s son)
The FORM Curriculum: Four Pillars for Healthy Living
Explanation of the FORM methodology:
- Functional Fitness: Routine movement and physical activity
- Optimal Nourishment: Balanced nutrition and healthy eating habits
- Rest and Recovery: Preventive routines for sleep and stress management
- Multiplied Maintenance: Maintaining habits through community, goal setting, and support
Encouraging long-term health habits over quick fixes
Addressing Resistance and Engagement in Kids
Occupational Therapy Strategies for Increasing Body Awareness

Links and Resources From Today's Show

Connect With Our Guest, Ashton Tate

Ashton Tate is the founder of Glory to Glory Fitness in Nashville, TN and the creator of The F.O.R.M. Curriculum. He partners with homeschool families all over America to help them approach health and PE from a Biblical worldview. His mission is to equip and empower homeschool families so every student in America can have a quality health education. His work has been featured in publications such as USA Today and Fox News.