the last issue, I talked about how we are the gatekeepers for our kids when it comes to helping them process their feelings. These feelings might stem from the truth, but sometimes they come from lies, which is why our kiddos need us to help guide them. This time, I want to talk about the idea of being a gatekeeper from a different angle. As parents, we want our children to think well of themselves—not overly confident, but not self-deprecating either—just secure in who God made them to be and the future He has planned for them.

What exactly do we want our kids to think about themselves when it comes to academics? We often want them to love learning, love their time as homeschoolers, and be confident in their abilities to tackle anything. If these are the results we want, we have to backtrack a bit and look at what makes up these outcomes.

I’ve met many kids who think they’re “not good” at a particular subject. Where does this belief come from? In a school setting, sure, you can see how kids who are not as competent in a given area would feel this way. But at home, there isn’t as much comparison happening, we hope…So, how do our kids form the belief that they are good or not good at something?

nce I decided to write about critical thinking, I couldn’t stop thinking about thinking. As Dr. Seuss so eloquently puts it, “Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!”

I realized I have a lot of thoughts… and A LOT of questions. What is thinking? What is critical thinking? Most of us agree that there is a lack of it in our world today. What part is this playing in the tumult—the brokenness—we see all around us? Why is it so hard? With the advent of AI and selective video editing, how do we know what is true?

rain research consistently shows that the early years are a critical period during which neural connections are formed at a dizzying rate. This vital foundation for lifelong learning isn’t built through worksheets and flashcards; it’s constructed with rich, creative, and tangible experiences. This hands-on method is known as concrete learning: the powerful approach rooted in the idea that young children learn best by interacting directly with the physical world. They must touch, lift, pour, and count real objects to internalize concepts like size, quantity, and cause-and-effect.

Let’s use a simple example: an apple. How much can your child truly gain from a picture of an apple? They can identify the color and shape. Now, consider a real apple. The learning explodes: they can see it, touch it, smell it, taste it, and even hear it crunch when they take a bite. The tactile, multisensory information from the real thing vastly outweighs the picture. You can extend this learning by counting the seeds, comparing different varieties, or even using the apples for cooking and stamping.

ound familiar? Those words can make your heart sink faster than anything else in your homeschool day. You know your child is capable. You’ve seen glimpses of their brilliance. But when they’re stuck in that “I can’t” spiral, it feels like you’re hitting a wall with one more thing you need to fix before real learning can happen.

It comes from Dr. Ross Greene’s work on challenging behaviors, but it applies beautifully to learning struggles, too.

homeschooling parents, we guide our children through far more than math and grammar lessons. We help point them to our Creator, the beauty in His creation, and how to live biblically in a world that points toward so much that is anti-biblical. The digital world can be a powerful tool for studying and spreading the Gospel, but technology also brings challenges that require wisdom, conversation, and connection.

We teach our kids how to ride a bike, read a book, and drive a car, and now we must also teach them to navigate the digital world with discernment and keen awareness.

Filters and apps can help, but the most important protection is a child who understands why something is unsafe and trusts you enough to talk about it.

• Home is the best place to learn and be
• Parents are the best teachers of their children
• Every child is a masterpiece
• Relationship matters more than everything else, including math
• Parents know what’s best for their children
• God made parents smart enough to figure out what their children need to know
• God will get your children where they need to be
• Institutional school is not the standard for your homeschool (it’s broken)