Maybe you’ve felt that same tension? You have children who don’t seem to fit into the typical learning structure and wonder if there’s a better way. Let me ask you: When do your children truly come alive? Is it when they’re solving a puzzle, building with their hands, or running through an outdoor adventure? Those moments where you see their curiosity light up are the keys to discovering how to unlock their learning potential.

I’ve been in your shoes. Balancing academic requirements with your child’s natural inclinations isn’t easy, but by focusing on experiential learning—learning that engages your child’s mind and body—you can meet and even exceed academic goals while nurturing your child’s true potential.

Understanding your children’s unique learning styles and natural interests is crucial for creating a practical homeschooling experience your children will enjoy and look back on with fond memories. The more you pay attention, the sooner you will recognize what drives and motivates each child, and that knowledge will help you make wise decisions.

What do I mean? If your children learn best through kinesthetic activities, like building or moving, a traditional desk-based education may frustrate them. Instead, incorporate hands-on learning activities, such as building models in math to understand geometry or measuring ingredients while cooking to practice fractions. Children with an auditory learning style might benefit from listening to audiobooks or having discussions about what they’ve read, rather than filling out worksheets. And visual learners may benefit from watching videos and studying graphs, charts, and other visual organizers.

I strongly encourage you to note what your children are interested in and how they naturally go about interacting with it.

I remember how fascinated my daughter was with art. She spent hours reading, drawing, and honing her creative skills. Her interest began as a young child and continued into adulthood. One of my sons was interested in creating movies and documentaries and is successfully pursuing his dreams in that area as an adult.

To tap into your children’s wiring, offer them choices that align with their strengths. For instance, children fascinated by nature can take learning outdoors by turning your backyard into a science lab. They can observe plants, insects, or the weather and keep a journal of their findings. This tangible approach encourages their personal curiosity. In this way, you honor their wiring while making learning a more engaging and enjoyable experience.

Aptitudes are your children’s natural talents and inclinations. They are the areas where your child effortlessly shines. Abilities, on the other hand, are developed skills that improve over time with effort and practice. This is an important distinction.

Think of it this way: aptitude is a natural talent or potential, while ability is the power to perform a task. If children don’t have natural talents and inclinations, they are not likely to put in the work to master something.

What do I mean? Your children might have an aptitude for art, drawing amazing pictures from a young age. This is a natural strength that comes easily to them. However, their ability to write essays may need to be developed through consistent practice and guidance. In this case, you would need to provide more time and instruction in learning to write while allowing them to nurture their creative skills in art.

As previously mentioned, every child is wired differently, and part of the beauty of homeschooling is the flexibility it gives you to tailor learning experiences to suit those unique strengths. But how do you do that in a way that feels natural and engaging for your child?

Start by asking yourself, What sparks my children’s curiosity? What makes them light up? Whether it’s animals, the outdoors, building things, or solving problems, these interests are clues to how you can craft learning experiences that resonate deeply with them. As parents, we must do what we can to foster curiosity and creativity.

For example, imagine nature fascinates your children—those moments when they’re outside, watching ants work together or marveling at the colors of flowers. Why not turn your backyard into a living science lab? Instead of learning about ecosystems from a textbook, hand them a magnifying glass and encourage them to explore the natural world up close. Together, you can collect leaves, observe insects, or track the weather patterns. They can keep a journal of their findings, draw pictures, and ask questions. In those moments, they’re not just reading about science but living it. And, after all, that is the real beauty of homeschooling.

By offering your child these choices—experiences that align with their strengths—you are honoring who they are. You’re telling them, I see you. I see what you love, and I will help you learn in a way that feels right to you. Learning becomes more than just an obligation; it becomes an adventure.

When learning is tied to your child’s natural wiring, it’s more engaging and effective. You’re making it real, relatable, and something they want to come back to again and again. In the end, that’s the power of experiential learning—it’s learning that sticks because it comes alive in the context of what your child loves.

Experiential learning allows your children to connect theoretical knowledge with real-world applications. When kids do activities that link to their curriculum, they grasp concepts more firmly and are more likely to retain the information.

What do I mean? Let’s say your children are studying ecosystems. Instead of reading about ecosystems from a textbook alone, take a trip to a local park or nature reserve where they can observe an ecosystem firsthand. Encourage them to create a project where they document what they observe, noting the interrelationships between animals, plants, and their environment. This hands-on approach makes abstract concepts more concrete and memorable.

My children talk about the field trips, vacations, and outdoor activities we did in the community, so much more than the bookwork they had to do. So, how can you create these memories?

How to Teach Using Experiential Learning: Use project-based learning to cultivate potential in different subjects. For example:

• Science: Have your child build a small vegetable garden to learn about biology, the life cycle of plants, and sustainability. This also fosters responsibility and patience.
• Math: Instead of using worksheets, apply math to daily life by involving them in cooking, grocery shopping, or budgeting for family outings. This teaches real-life applications of arithmetic and problem-solving.
• History: Bring history to life through field trips to museums or historical reenactments, allowing them to experience the subject rather than just read about it. They can then create their own presentations or plays to deepen their understanding.

These experiences help children internalize concepts far better than traditional lectures or book-based learning alone.

onnie Albers is a mother of five and veteran homeschool mom who has used her public relations background to help shape the homeschooling movement for twenty-seven years. She has spent much of her adult life as a homeschool mom and mompreneur with an outreach and ministry to parents through her speaking, writing, and various leadership roles. More recently Connie’s newest book, Parenting Beyond the Rules by NavPress, outlines positive approaches to parenting today’s teenagers. Her enthusiasm for helping others navigate social media led to her taking a post at Social Media Marketing World. Connie’s mission is to equip moms to live their lives with confidence and joy.

Connie and her husband, Tom, have been married thirty-five years and have homeschooled their five children, all of whom continued their studies and graduated from the University of Central Florida, from the beginning.