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Unlocking Entrepreneurial Success: Strategies for Empowering

Neurodivergent Individuals

Entrepreneurship offers a path to independence, creativity, and economic stability.
Additionally, for neurodivergent individuals who may face unique challenges in traditional
work settings, entrepreneurship opens the door to tailored work environments and a focus
on strengths. Recognizing the entrepreneurial potential in neurodiversity is a step toward a
more inclusive business landscape. Here are some tips and resources from Demystifying
Education to help!

Getting Your Business Started
Starting your business as a neurodiverse entrepreneur begins with conducting thorough
market research to validate your business idea and identify your target audience. Writing a
detailed business plan will help you outline your goals, strategies, and financial projections.
Choosing a suitable business structure can provide the necessary legal protection and
flexibility as you grow. Embracing your unique perspective can be a powerful asset in
carving out a niche in the marketplace.

Building the Right Team
While independence is a significant draw of entrepreneurship, no one achieves success
alone. Building a team that complements your skills and supports your vision is crucial. For
neurodivergent individuals, finding understanding and supportive team members can betransformative. A well-thought-out hiring process and open communication can lead to a
harmonious and productive work environment.

Taking Advantage of OCR
As a neurodiverse entrepreneur, you may wonder, “what is OCR and how can you use it?”
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology allows you to streamline tasks such as
scanning documents and converting handwritten notes or printed materials into editable text.
This helps manage information more efficiently, reducing the cognitive load of manually
inputting data, which can be especially beneficial for those with dyslexia or ADHD.

Prioritizing Self-Care and Mental Health
Running a business can be stressful, making self-care and mental health imperative.
Neurodivergent individuals may have particular sensitivities to stress or emotional
challenges. Implementing a robust self-care routine can be beneficial. Techniques like
mindfulness, regular exercise, and scheduled downtime can help maintain a balanced
mental state, ensuring long-term entrepreneurial success.

Creating a Supportive Working Environment
A supportive work environment is vital for the success of any business, but it is especially
important for neurodivergent entrepreneurs. Adapting the workspace to meet specific
sensory needs, using assistive technologies, or even modifying the work schedule can make
a significant difference. These tailored accommodations allow neurodivergent individuals to
work more efficiently, emphasizing their strengths while mitigating challenges.

Matching Interests with Business Ideas
One key step in starting a business is to match your interest with a viable business idea.
Neurodivergent individuals often have specialized interests that can be transformed into a
unique product or service. For instance, if someone has a keen interest in technology,
launching a tech consultancy or developing specialized software can be a profitable venture.
Aligning your business concept with your personal passions can make the hard work of
entrepreneurship more fulfilling and sustainable.

Finding Your Niche in the Market
Every business needs to identify its target market. For neurodivergent entrepreneurs, finding
a niche can be particularly empowering. By focusing on a specific audience whose needs
align with your unique strengths, you can create a specialized product or service that stands
out. Market research and customer feedback are valuable tools in this process.

Entrepreneurship offers neurodivergent individuals the chance to create businesses that
reflect their unique perspectives and strengths. By mastering marketing, creating a
supportive environment, and taking good care of mental health, among other strategies, they
can unlock significant entrepreneurial success. If you are neurodivergent and considering
starting a business, take these strategies to heart as you embark on your exciting journey.

For trusted assistance with navigating the school system, visit Demystifying
Education today!

From Potential to Power: Nurturing
Leadership Skills

Guest blog by Sara Bell at EducatorLabs.org

Developing leadership skills is fundamental for personal and professional
advancement in adolescents and adults. Effective coaching that centers on
individual strengths, self-awareness, and broad social interactions can
substantially nurture these capabilities. This Demystifying Education guide
outlines several proven strategies for cultivating leadership qualities effectively.
These methods ensure young and mature individuals become influential and
skilled leaders.

Harnessing Innate Strengths and Abilities

Everyone possesses unique strengths and abilities, and as a coach, it’s vital to
recognize and nurture these attributes. Focus on identifying what each individual
excels at and build upon these strengths. Doing so can create a positive
feedback loop that boosts confidence and encourages further development.
Instead of attempting to mold someone into a predetermined notion of a leader,
tailor your approach to their inherent capabilities. This personalized method
enhances their leadership skills and ensures they remain authentic and genuine
to themselves.

Crafting an Effective Resume

Teaching effective resume writing is critical to advancing one’s career. Start by
highlighting the importance of a resume that efficiently showcases relevant skills
and experiences. To help with searching for jobs, encourage individuals to
customize their resumes for each application, carefully selecting which aspects
of their professional history and educational background to emphasize. Instruct
them on incorporating specific keywords from job descriptions to enhance their
resumes’ visibility to employers.

The Power of Listening

Listening is a fundamental aspect of effective coaching. When you listen more
than speak, you provide a safe space for the coachee to express their thoughts,
fears, and aspirations. This practice builds trust and gives you valuable insights
into their mindset. Empathetic feedback further enriches this dynamic,
demonstrating understanding and fostering open communication. By actively
listening, you can identify underlying issues and guide the coachee toward self-
discovery and growth.

Tools and Prompts for Self-Reflection

Regular self-reflection is a powerful tool for personal growth; you should provide
tools and prompts that encourage individuals to reflect on their experiences,
challenges, and achievements. Journals, questionnaires, and reflective exercises
can help coachees analyze their actions and outcomes. This practice promotes
self-awareness and helps them understand their leadership style and areas for improvement. Through continuous self-assessment, they can better understand
their strengths and areas needing development.

Encouraging Diverse Interactions

Exposure to diverse perspectives is essential for developing well-rounded
leadership skills. Encourage individuals to interact with a wide range of people
from different backgrounds, industries, and leadership levels. These interactions
provide valuable insights into various leadership styles and approaches; by
engaging with a diverse network, they can learn how to navigate different
scenarios and challenges. This exposure also fosters empathy and cultural
awareness, crucial traits for effective leadership in today’s globalized world.
Promoting such interactions broadens their horizons and enriches their
leadership journey.

Real-World Leadership Role-Playing

Role-playing exercises are an effective way to simulate real-world leadership
scenarios. Engage adolescents and adults in activities that mimic the challenges
and responsibilities they might face as leaders. These exercises allow them to
practice decision-making, problem-solving, and communication skills in a
controlled environment. Role-playing also helps them understand the
consequences of their actions and decisions, providing a safe space to learn and
grow. Through these practical experiences, they can develop the confidence and
competence to handle real-life leadership situations effectively.

Defining and Achieving Leadership Goals

Helping individuals set clear and realistic leadership goals is critical to effective
coaching. Guide them in defining their objectives, ensuring they are specific,
measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Once these goals are
established, follow up regularly to check on their progress. Provide support and
guidance to help them overcome obstacles and stay on track. This ongoing
process keeps them focused and motivated, ensuring they steadily advance
toward their leadership aspirations.

Effective coaching strategies are essential for developing adolescent and adult
leadership skills. You can guide individuals toward becoming confident and
competent leaders by focusing on innate strengths, actively listening, promoting
self-reflection, teaching resume crafting, encouraging diverse interactions,
engaging in role-playing, and setting clear goals. These approaches foster
personal and professional growth, preparing them for leadership roles in various
spheres of life.

Keep Your Kids Engaged on Rainy Days
With These Fun Indoor Activities

Guest blog by Jason Kenner at https://onparparent.com/

When the sky turns grey and outdoor plans are no longer an option,
transforming your home into a fun-filled sanctuary can be an exciting
adventure. In this article, courtesy of Demystifying Education, we’ll go over
some imaginative and engaging activities that can keep your children both
busy and delighted, even when the weather outside is uninviting.

Puzzle Time and Board Game Fun
Dust off those puzzle boxes and board games that have been sitting on your
shelves. Puzzles and board games not only keep kids engaged but also offer
educational benefits, such as problem-solving skills and teamwork. Whether
it’s a complex jigsaw puzzle or a competitive board game, these activities are
perfect for family bonding and can keep everyone entertained for hours.
Introducing new games that challenge their thinking or cooperative games
where players work together to achieve a goal can also help build their
cognitive abilities and social skills.

Unleash Creativity with Art Projects
Art projects are a fantastic way to let your kids express themselves while stuck
indoors. Gather simple supplies like paper, markers, glue, and scissors, and
let them create whatever comes to mind. To preserve these memories and
share them with loved ones, consider saving your child’s artwork digitally.
Scan their masterpieces and use an online tool to convert these files into
PDFs. This method allows you to keep a clutter-free record of their creativity
that’s easy to access and share for years to come. You can click to learn more
about this simple tool.

Create an Indoor Obstacle Course
Transform your living room into a mini adventure park with an indoor obstacle
course. Use pillows, chairs, and blankets to set up a course that encourages
climbing, jumping, and crawling. This activity helps burn off energy and
improves physical coordination, all within the safety of your home. To enhance
the experience, create themes or challenges, such as time trials or scavenger
hunts within the course, which can stimulate their problem-solving skills and
add an exciting competitive edge to the activity.

Yoga and Fitness Fun Indoors
Introduce your kids to yoga or follow along with a children’s fitness video.
These activities are not only fun but also promote mindfulness and physical
health. Many online platforms offer free sessions tailored specifically for
children, making it easy to get started right from your living room. Yoga can be
a particularly calming activity on a chaotic day, teaching them techniques for
relaxation and stress relief. For more dynamic exercise, choose dance-based
fitness videos that get the whole family moving and laughing together.

The Magic of Dress-Up
Encourage your kids to delve into the world of make-believe by playing dress-
up. Whether they’re transforming into pirates, princesses, or superheroes,
dress-up play stimulates imagination and creativity. It’s also a great way for
children to develop empathy and communication skills as they act out different
roles. Set up a small stage or dedicated space where they can perform plays in their costumes, integrating props and storyline ideas to extend their engagement and enhance their storytelling skills.

Baking Sweet Treats
Baking is another delightful way to spend a rainy day. Choose simple recipes
like cupcakes or cookies that allow kids to participate in mixing, decorating,
and, of course, tasting. Baking not only makes for a tasty treat but also
teaches valuable life skills such as following instructions and measuring
ingredients. Consider adding an educational twist by involving them in the
planning process, such as picking recipes, shopping for ingredients online, or
exploring the science behind how ingredients interact during baking.
Rainy days need not be dreary. With a little creativity, you can turn them into
an opportunity for learning, creativity, and fun. Engaging in these activities not
only keeps your children entertained but also helps them develop a range of
skills from artistic expression to physical fitness. So next time the weather
spoils your outdoor plans, look forward to a wonderful day inside with your
kids.

Teaching Homeschooled Children About Disabilities: Fostering Empathy and Inclusivity

Guest blog from Bradley Fairless at https://www.lawfirm.com/birth-injury/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-disabilities/

In the realm of homeschooling, parents have the unique opportunity to craft a personalized educational experience for their children. Beyond traditional subjects like math and science, it’s crucial for parents to include valuable life lessons in their curriculum. One of the most important lessons is teaching children about disabilities.

Understanding and empathizing with people who have disabilities is an essential aspect of raising compassionate and inclusive individuals. Here’s why parents who homeschool should prioritize teaching their children about disabilities:

1. Promoting Empathy: Homeschooling provides a flexible and open environment where parents can instill empathy in their children. Learning about disabilities can help kids develop a deep understanding of the challenges some people face daily. This understanding can lead to empathy, kindness, and a willingness to help others.
2. Fostering Inclusivity: As parents take charge of their children’s education, they have the power to shape their values and attitudes. Teaching about disabilities encourages inclusivity and a respect for diversity. It helps children recognize that every person, regardless of their abilities, deserves respect and acceptance.
3. Breaking Stereotypes: Misconceptions and stereotypes about disabilities can be perpetuated by society. Homeschooled children have the opportunity to learn about disabilities from a more accurate and informed perspective, dispelling myths and stereotypes from an early age.
4. Building Life Skills: Learning about disabilities is not just about being compassionate; it’s also about equipping children with practical life skills. Homeschooled children can be taught about accessibility, how to communicate effectively with people with disabilities, and how to offer assistance when needed.
5. Enhancing Self-Awareness: By teaching children about disabilities, parents can also encourage self-awareness. Children may discover their own strengths and weaknesses and learn how to advocate for themselves and others in an inclusive and supportive way.

So, how can parents go about teaching their homeschooled children about disabilities?

Incorporate Disability Awareness into the Curriculum:

• Integrate lessons on disability awareness into various subjects, such as social studies, history, and literature.
• Use age-appropriate books, videos, and documentaries that feature characters with disabilities or share their stories.
• Engage in discussions and activities that promote understanding and empathy.

Community Involvement:

• Encourage your children to interact with individuals with disabilities. Join local disability advocacy groups or volunteer for events and programs that promote inclusion.
• Attend disability-related events or workshops as a family.

Lead by Example:

• Be a role model for your children by demonstrating empathy, respect, and inclusivity in your interactions with others.
• Talk openly about disabilities and address any questions or concerns your children may have.

Celebrate Differences:

• Emphasize the value of diversity and teach your children that differences, including disabilities, make the world a richer and more interesting place.

In conclusion, homeschooling offers a unique opportunity to educate children about disabilities in a personalized and meaningful way. By prioritizing these lessons, parents can empower their children to become compassionate, empathetic, and inclusive individuals who are well-prepared to navigate the diverse world around them. Teaching about disabilities is not just an educational choice; it’s a crucial step towards creating a more inclusive and accepting society.

5 Creative Methods Parents Can Use to Support Kids’ Academic Success

Guest blog from Lance Cody-Valdez at free-lance-now

Photo by Unsplash

Doing well in school gives kids a solid start in life, but academics don’t always come easily. Fortunately, there are plenty of strategies parents can use to support their children’s studies at home. Try these methods from Demystifying Education to help your child improve their academic focus, de-stress from studying, and grow as they learn.

Ease Up on Academic Pressure

Academic achievement is important, but too much pressure can make it harder for kids to succeed. Adjusting your mindset is one of the first steps toward supporting your student in reaching their goals. 

Together, take a deep breath and talk about where your child is struggling. Then, work on setting achievable, measurable goals, suggests Edutopia, that you can work toward together. 

Make sure to factor in downtime, even if adding study sessions or tutoring is part of the equation. Recognizing that downtime benefits kids’ brains might help ease your mind, too. Per Cornell Health, brain breaks help refresh the brain, boost productivity, and more.

Plus, activities like STEM — which can look like messy fun — promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and confidence. Giving equal time to such activities, with ample rest time, helps grow a balanced and more motivated learner.

Make the Most of Study Time

As the homeschool teaching coaching program from Demystifying Education brings to light, studying more could be one factor that helps your child improve in academics. But the key to making the most of a cram session is figuring out how your child learns best, then capitalizing on that method.

For visual learners, drawing figures, watching videos, or even doodling can help them focus and retain information. A kinesthetic learner may excel in remembering facts when the information links to a specific physical movement.

With older students, a frank conversation about how they like to learn could improve their academic standing and study skills.

Dabble in Low-Stress, Creative Hobbies

Another way to support the whole student, versus focusing on grades, is by encouraging low-stress, creative activities that stimulate the brain. Put aside the textbooks and set out art and crafting materials for your child to experiment with.

Arts and crafts give students a creative outlet that allows freedom of expression and doesn’t require them to follow exact rules. Without grades or external incentives involved, kids can follow their own path and create something they are proud of.

Leave Space for Academic Downtime

Whether your child is earning poor grades mid-school year or you’re hoping to prep them for a new term, be sure to leave time for them to step away from academics on occasion.

Indulging in hobbies, specifically the artistic type, can serve as a healthy outlet for academic frustrations or personal struggles. Keeping an open arts and crafts or hobby time slot in your day (or week) can encourage creativity and inspire new perspectives.

Set Aside a Dedicated Hobby Space

Whether your child wants to pursue conventional arts like watercolors or clay or desires something more goal-oriented like STEM activities, a dedicated space can do wonders for their craft. 

Think about creating a multi-purpose room for the whole family to enjoy. Dedicated space for hobbies, crafts, and materials can help keep messes contained and let creativity reign. 

Plus, an addition or converted room might even increase your home’s appraisal value, an essential consideration if you plan to sell or refinance. Keep careful records of any renovations to reap the benefits later.

All kids learn differently and experience unique challenges when it comes to meeting goals in the classroom. For parents, finding ways to help their students at home can make all the difference in academics and their children’s overall feelings about education. After implementing these strategies, your young learner may surprise you with what they can accomplish. If you need to figure out which way to go for your child’s education, Demystifying Education can help. Contact us today to learn more!

Simple Tips for Supplementing Your Child’s Education at Home

Guest blog from Laura Pearson at Edutude

Image via Pexels

Conventional educational methods and resources are often insufficient to teach children with learning disabilities what they need to build successful lives. Maybe your child has trouble concentrating in a traditional classroom, or perhaps they can’t seem to adjust to the e-learning trend. Maybe there’s another reason your child isn’t excelling in academics. 

Whatever the case, remember that having a learning disability is not the end of your child’s educational story. It simply means you must find creative ways to unlock their brilliance and teach them to apply their knowledge and skills practically. Below, Demystifying Education shares some advice for helping you do just that!

Check Your Own Knowledge 

First of all, consider whether or not you could benefit from taking a few education courses. Unlocking a child’s potential when they have a learning disability is challenging for anyone, and growing your knowledge and skills may put you in a better position to connect with your child and teach them in ways that allow them to shine.

Boost Your Home’s Safety  

Engaging in backyard activities can yield many benefits for kids. And there are tons of educational activities worth considering that require minimal supplies. Maybe your child discovers that they love reading in the yard, doing arts and crafts, or observing nature from the yard. However you choose to use your backyard, consider installing a fence to boost security and privacy.

The precise cost of a new fence depends on the size and location of the structure, the materials used, and several other factors. Some research will reveal affordable local contractors with reputations for quality work. 

While you’re at it, consider upgrading your home security system. Systems are better than ever, and you can find a DIY system that increases household safety without harming your budget.

Head to the Backyard  

As discussed, there is no shortage of backyard activities to consider engaging in with your child. For example, you could plant a garden together for significant physical, developmental, and psychological benefits for your child. You could gather some watercolors and guide your child through painting a masterpiece among the backyard flowers. You could also set up an outdoor obstacle course with pool noodles, branches, and other items from your property.

One of the best outdoor activities is to go on a nature hike. This will allow your child to explore nature’s flowers, bugs, rocks, leaves, and other wonders. Any outside activities can help your child develop hand-eye coordination, observation skills, and fine motor skills.

Creating these kinds of experiences with your child is a vital part of their healthy development. If you are balancing the demands of a job, be sure to set aside time both daily and weekly to spend together. Even something as simple as a consistent bedtime routine can be a good time for connection.

Look for Online Activities 

Finally, don’t give up on e-learning if your child has trouble adjusting. Many activities and courses that fall outside of conventional curriculums can help children with learning disabilities get ahead.

For instance, you could watch educational documentaries on topics your child is interested in or carve out an hour each day to listen to an audiobook or podcast. Also, look into online typing games, virtual museum tours, and online learning games. Chances are there is more than one activity your child will love.

Conclusion

Children with learning disabilities do not learn the same way as those without disabilities learn. And that’s okay. With the right tools and knowledge, you can position your child for academic success and guide them through various obstacles down the road.

Finding supplemental activities to do from home is an excellent place to start. Consider improving your own teaching skills and knowledge, and look for ways to increase home security as you spend more time there. Lastly, research the various backyard and online activities that can aid your child’s educational journey. You could see significant progress in no time!

If you’re considering home education for your child but don’t know where to start, visit Demystifying Education today!

Talking to Children About Cancer

Guest blog from Annika Ellis from Mesothelioma Hope

A cancer diagnosis can be very difficult for a family to navigate. It can be especially
difficult to tell your child that their loved one has terminal cancer. The thought of
explaining that a loved one has cancer can be very overwhelming and devastating.
Telling your children that their loved one is ill can be very difficult and emotional for
everyone involved. That said, there are many ways to support your children as they face
the challenge of a sick loved one.
● Be ready to answer any questions your child may have about illness and death.
● Be honest and transparent about death. Use the words “cancer” or “dying” and avoid euphemisms so your child does not get confused or blindsided by technical terms when speaking to others.
● Try to stay calm, but don’t be afraid to show emotion — it will show your children that it is okay to be sad.
● Ensure your child knows that they are not to blame for their loved one becoming ill.
● Make sure to go at your child’s pace, so as not to overwhelm them with information.

Grieving the loss of a loved one can cause a lot of sorrow and stress for your child. One
of the best ways to support your children is to promote healthy coping mechanisms.
This can help your children properly grieve while taking care of their own mental health.
There are many ways to relieve stress and provide emotional support to children who
are grieving the loss of a loved one.
It is important to give your child the coping resources they need to get through this
devastating time in their lives. Having an open, honest, and supportive conversation
about cancer can help your child understand what is happening to their loved one.
Losing a loved one to cancer can greatly affect every member of your family so it’s so
important to learn about preventing burnout through stress reduction techniques while
caring for your loved one.

Boost Your Child’s Brain Development with these Simple Activities

Guest Blog post by Samidha Raj from Planet Spark

The first five years of your child’s life are vital for their brain development. And even though you may find a lot of online advice about fancy toys and activities to boost brain development, in truth, your child is learning a lot when they play. Simple activities like building a fort, playing with a ball, and scribbling on paper are significant brain development activities for kids. They contribute to the development of thinking, motor skills, and social-emotional skills.

If you are a toddler parent wondering how you can help boost brain development for your child, here are some activities that can fuel brain development in children – 

1. Ask Questions to Stimulate Thinking

Interact with your child by naming the things they see in their surroundings. Talk to them about the colour, shape and utility of these things. For example, if your child loves playing with a blue ball, you can tell them, “This is a ball. We play with the ball. This ball is blue. And it is round!” A few days later, point to the ball and ask your child what it is. Even if they don’t respond on the first try, this activity will prompt them to think about what they learnt and how they can say it.

2. Introduce Books, Storytelling and Narrating Events

Introduce your child to books early. Today there are books available for children as young as two months. Books play an essential role in brain development, language skills and motor skills. If parents read to them regularly, children learn to identify colours and shapes and begin to name animals, birds, etc.

3. Physical Activities like Music & Dance

Singing and listening to music with your child is a terrific mind-building activity. Channelize your toddler’s energy into dance by playing peppy dance-beat numbers that get them excited! Music is multifaceted and comprises melody, lyrics, musical beats etc., each facet stimulates a different part of your child’s brain.

4. Finger Painting is Brain Development

Finger painting is a fascinating sensory experience for toddlers. They love making a beautiful mess on a sheet of paper with their colourful hands! Add to it new textures such as painting with rice or sand to make it more fun! It is also fun for them to mix two colours and create new ones.

5. Building Event Memory, Associating Things & Situations

Associate everyday objects with events to build memory. For example, show them photographs of people they have met in the past and describe what happened. Repeated associations of people, things and situations will help your child build their memory and remember events.

6. Logical Reasoning & Decision Making

Logic and decision-making abilities can be taught from an early age. Play games with your child that require brain activity, such as jigsaw puzzles, block puzzles, and matching games. Secondly, building decision-making abilities gives your child the opportunity to make small decisions in day-to-day things such as choosing what they’d like to wear, what they’d like to play, or eat will build decision-making abilities.

7. Arrange a Scavenger Hunt

Children love to explore their surroundings, and finding out more with the investigation will give them a sense of accomplishment. Think of simple things for them to look for in the house. For example, “Let’s find something that is a circle!” or “Let’s find something that is red in colour!”

8. Multi-Sensory Learning

Engaging multiple senses in learning helps in quicker understanding and better retention. Practising counting while jumping rope or cold-cooking with different fruits to learn their names are examples of multi-sensory learning exercises. These exercises help children connect the concepts they learn with an experience.

9. Nutrition

Last but not least, good nutrition is essential to a child’s brain development. Good food improves your child’s mood and aids development. Include green vegetables, eggs, lentils, and milk products in your child’s diet to ensure balanced nutrition. A healthy body nurtures a healthy mind.

Choose from the list above or come up with your own fun brain development activities for kids! A good blend of activities that help develop the mind, body, and concentration will go a long way for your toddler.

Author Bio:

Samidha Raj works as part of the content marketing team at Planet Spark, a platform that provides online classes to K8 learners on “New Age Skills” like, English Communication, Public Speaking, Grammar, Creative Writing, Debating, etc. She is passionate about empowering the youth by educating parents about the importance of 21st-century skills. In her free time, you can find her watching documentaries or animated movies and organizing game nights (board games are her thing)!

Using Game-Based Learning To Enhance Your Child’s Education

Guest Blog post by Jenna Sherman from Parent-Leaders

As classrooms modernize, one of the most important questions is how technology can be used to engage and educate children. Game-based learning may offer a solution that parents and educators have been seeking. Understanding games as learning tools can help with everything from math to hand-eye coordination to helping navigate the school system.

Demystifying Education wants your child to have everything necessary for the best possible learning experience, so read on! 

How Game-Based Learning Works

Using games as educational tools is often thought of as a modern trend for the computer age. However, it is significantly older. For example, chess has been used to teach and practice strategic thinking for centuries and go, a Chinese strategy game, is even older. Similarly, the concept of kindergarten arose around the idea that play can be a learning experience.

The idea behind game-based learning is that players can learn through repetition, achieving goals and experiencing failure in a safe space. Games already use this concept and other techniques to teach players. In a sense, every game is an educational experience. Game-based learning focuses on using the educational power of games to teach the classroom curriculum.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Using Games To Learn

Game-based learning can offer students a lot of advantages. The following are a few reasons you should give serious consideration to this valuable tool:

• Engagement: Perhaps the most significant benefit of game-based learning is increased engagement. Games are fun and players are typically more focused and interested compared to traditional educational methods such as lecturing.
• Enhanced Retention: This increased engagement along with the repetitive practice inherent in games leads to greater retention. One study found that games involving risk could improve information retention significantly, leading to better test scores by students.
• Multi-Faceted Learning: Many games teach multiple topics at once. For example, many strategy games include both strategic thinking and math (among other skills). Games also frequently teach hand-eye coordination, as Unyte-iLs explains.
• Contextual Learning: Games apply educational concepts within context. For example, a player may need to use math to calculate the resources he or she needs to expand a base. This is teaching the same skills as a classroom lecture but making them more concrete. Teach & Kids Learn notes evidence suggests that contextual learning can greatly improve educational outcomes.

Of course, game-based learning is not without its drawbacks. Like any other learning tool, it must be used carefully and as part of a cumulative strategy. These are a few key disadvantages:

• Potential Distraction: Perhaps the most significant drawback of game-based learning is the potential to distract students from other learning activities. The engagement of games may make learners more interested in them compared to conventional methods.
• More Research Required: The state of research on learning games is still in its infancy. Many studies have shown that there are plenty of reasons to be excited about educational games. However, there is a lot more to learn about how and when they work best.

Examples of Educational Games

As mentioned above, examples of educational games date back centuries. However, they have grown more advanced and in-depth with the advent of video games. One highly popular option is the educational version of Minecraft. This version of the well-known sandbox game teaches players STEM skills by letting them explore their creativity and build masterful contraptions. 

There are numerous games for learning about math. Some of these involve solving math problems to advance through the game. Others take a more subtle approach by having players solve puzzles that require mathematical deduction. 

Another option is Civilization V, which is historical in nature. Kids learn about strategy and diplomacy while also getting information about famous leaders of the past. 

Set Your Child Up for Success

To get the most benefit from game-based learning, it helps to provide your child with the right equipment. This should include an up-to-date, speedy computer and a sufficiently powerful internet connection such as fiber optics to allow for smoother gameplay and faster downloads—which is also important for streaming educational videos. 

Engaging kids with electronics is easy, so it makes sense to put those gadgets to work in their education. The right choices along with children’s interest in the medium can be a perfect combination for youngsters to blossom.

Discover more about game-based learning and helping navigate the school system with Demystifying Education’s resources. With the right games and resources, you can set your child up for lasting success.

Back to School?

It’s hard to believe it has been months since Covid-19 started and our world got turned upside down! This year has been very challenging for so many people for a lot of different reasons.

In Canada, homeschool support centers and boards have received hundreds of phone calls about switching to home education. A few things spurred these calls: 1) the announcement by provincial governments that school would return in an almost normal form. This created anxiety among parents who are concerned about transmission of the virus to their children or their family members. People expressed concerns that the government was not doing enough to prevent that. 2) the announcement by our government that actually, kids would have to wear masks at school. Parents envisioned their little children sitting at a desk, not able to move around much, in a mask and absolutely not having fun at all in addition to being stuck all day in an institution that is already seen to be quite constrictive and prison-like. Not to mention that some parents fundamentally disagree with mask use and have read things contrary to the somewhat conflicting advice given to us by public health officials who first said that masks were not safe. 3) the announcement by some schools that their at-home learning program is going to have mandatory computer time from 8:30am-3:15pm. Parents reacted viscerally to the idea that their young children would be sitting in front of a computer all day and wouldn’t be allowed to leave.

One of the things I noticed during conversations with other parents, is that their perception of school is changing. I kept hearing about how they noticed that their children are happier since March even though their lives have changed so much. They attribute it to their child’s school experience and hadn’t realized the pressure their kids were under in the education system. They also noticed that siblings started to get along and this was surprising to some who had assumed that so much together time would lead to more conflict. Parents were also surprised by just how little kids were doing all day at school. There have been questions about time spent in home schools, new homeschooling parents have asked if it’s true that the education in school can be accomplished in as little as an hour and a half a day at the elementary school level (the answer is yes) at home. Some of those parents who have called me have decided to switch indefinitely to parent-led homeschooling and this is a powerful choice. When we take over responsibility for our children’s education and do not allow as much interference from a school/provincial authority, we start to tailor the experience and the learning to the child instead of following an arbitrary program set up by strangers who don’t know our children. I have found my own child’s confidence in academics soared and he became willing to try new things as soon as the fear of failure and humiliation disappeared.

That being said, I realize that school serves an economic function in our society and some parents cannot, because they need to work, home-school their children. It’s time consuming, expensive and we have built a society where most couples both have to work in order to pay the bills. To those who have no choice, I understand. Either way it’s a tough choice to home-school, do teacher-led home education or send your children to school.

Those in the home-school world are a little thrilled with the sudden interest in their chosen path. They are finally, after being looked down upon by some members of society, being valued for the choice they have made all along. Most long time home educators are getting calls and messages asking for help in choosing learning materials and home-school-friendly school boards. They are helping people write their education plans for the year and discussing home education philosophies with a greater and more receptive audience. To those moms and dads out there that have been working hard to provide this support to other parents, I think you are amazing.

I know everyone is going to have a challenging year but I also think we will discover things about ourselves and about learning that we didn’t know existed. I think there will be more good moments than bad. When you start to question your path remember that there is no wrong choice, your children are resilient, and they are going to learn things this year regardless of the choices you make in ‘curriculum’. Children (well…people in general) are curious and love to learn. They especially love to learn if what they are exploring is something they chose and are interested in. So let them have some choice in their learning path and see where it takes you!

Good luck, everyone!

Where’s the Re-set?

When COVID-19 crisis started it was immediately apparent that it was two sided, on one side was the chaos and on the other was opportunity. In the last two weeks I have seen people in the system of education doing everything they can to make sense of what has happened, do what they think is best and struggle with new and big ideas. I wish that everyone could see the opportunity side of what is happening right now but I understand that they are trying to make sense of the chaos by imposing the old order that has been working for them.

I was listening to a newscast yesterday and a 10 year old child on there was talking about what he thought the world would look like after the crisis was over. He said he thought the world would be changed but that he wouldn’t be sad if school was gone. It struck me as I was listening to him that most kids are HAPPY that school is closed right now. What does that say about our school system? Kids think learning is boring, that school has little value, that it’s a good thing when it’s closed. It’s like having a bad job for 12 years for them. Isn’t that awful? Does that make you pause and re-think ANYTHING we are doing? I hope it does.

For those educators who are still giving a multitude of assignments to their students (also known as busy work) in order to “meet curricular outcomes”. Please stop. To those who are saying things like “well we can’t give credits to students who don’t finish the assignments and meet all the provincial outcomes”, please stop. To those focused on the minutia of the curriculum instead of broad essential outcomes that students can actually use, please stop. To those who are worried more about whether or not students would cheat on a test than if they would learn something from taking said test, please just stop it. Here is what the leaders of change educational are saying: “We should be focused on essential outcomes, real learning, and not the minutia of curriculum”. They are talking about how learning is important, not assignments or assessments. They are encouraging parents (who are going to be stressed out as they are thrown into a situation that no one anticipated or prepared for) to PLAY with their children, to connect with them and to put the schoolish learning aside if they need to. THAT’S what we should be doing right now.

I get it. The world is in chaos and your impulse is to try and find order in it so you are falling back onto old ideas of what that should look like (I am also aware that ‘old ideas’ were in place just two weeks ago). Order in schools is having kids in desks for a large part of the day, writing in notebooks and worksheets. Order in schools is having a schedule of bells and 15 minute lunch times with structured ‘play’ in small chunks of time. Order in the system is having provincial achievement tests and Grade 12 diploma exams and having everyone learning everything at exactly the same time in the same way in the same place. I would like to think that “What is the purpose of education, and what are the conditions required for young people to achieve their full potential? ” (quote taken from this blog)

We have an opportunity to question all of that right now while the world is in chaos and we are forced into new ways of doing business and life and school. If they can cancel all the achievement tests and year end exams and still be fairly confident that our children have achieved outcomes that will prepare them for life why do we need those tests to begin with? If we can announce that learning for students should be no more than 5 hours a week for elementary, 10 hours a week for junior high students and 3 hours a week for each course in high school, then why the heck are we compelling them to have 7 hours a day in school? If kids learn better by playing games with their family and watching videos and NOT doing worksheets and busy work, why are we doing all that in school? (there’s a great article about that here) If you are one of the teachers that are connecting with your students in different ways on a camera, why can’t you do that in every school day? I saw a story online about a teacher who was teaching her students and she did something silly and embarrassing. Her students laughed and ‘got off track’. I hope that teacher saw that being more human, making human mistakes, and being silly makes you a better teacher. People connect better with someone who makes mistakes and is comfortable at admitting it. Also, people learn better with someone who they can connect with and who are relatable.

I hope parents are realizing that despite the extremely stressful and traumatic time we are all going through at the moment, that kids are better off waking up on their own schedule, having a relaxed schedule everyday, taking more time to eat lunch and playing for a larger part of the day. I hope they see that learning takes many forms and the least effective of those is worksheets. I hope teachers who see that connection to their students are far better ways to reach them than discipline carry that into their working lives after this is over. The attention being paid to the divide between the haves and the have-nots (which in the case of distance learning is who has computers and wifi at their house and who does not) is great. I hope we don’t forget this when we all go back.

Can we just re-set what we are doing and start rethinking what happens in schools? I know it’s the worst time to ask people to do that. It’s hard to think through new ideas when the world got thrown into chaos and your response is trauma informed. But it’s the right time to start asking question about these things as we have an opportunity now to see it in action. What if we stopped teaching curricular expectations and started teaching kids? What if we stopped giving worksheets and focusing on what they need to know for the test and offered up real life learning opportunities instead? What if we allowed kids to play for a large part of the day? Sleep in? Have lunch when they are hungry? Stopped the bell system and let kids finish when they finish? We may just come out of this with better adjusted kids who want to learn instead of being forced to learn in an artificial setting that is not connected to real life.

Podcast

I was thrilled, honoured, (and shocked!) to be asked to interview for a podcast by someone I’ve been following and listening to for quite awhile. Robyn Robertson from Honey, I’m Homeschooling the Kids asked for an interview from me a few months ago. I think the podcast went well with a lot of thoughtful questions. I would be grateful if you could listen to it when it is published and give some feedback, rate it five stars, or whatever you do to promote and support podcasts (maybe visit Robyn’s patreon page!).

We talked about the state of education, the beliefs within the school system that might not be entirely accurate and research that is not well received or well known in the system of education. I think we can all agree that most people within the system have the best intentions and really believe that they are doing the right thing but maybe are not aware of how some practices can be harmful to the learning of people.

We went over the ideas of standardized testing and what is wrong with it as well as the stated reason for the practice in provinces and states. We talked about single parenthood and the challenges of being a working-from-home homeschooling mother.

I hope you listen to it! Give us some feedback! Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Welcome!

This page is a culmination of a few years of research and experience in the world of homeschooling, unschooling and alternative forms of education for children. I started off as a teacher and a principal, believing public education was the best thing for children and ended up here as an unschooling mother to an 11 year old son and a home school coordinator for a public school division. I could tell my story here but I’ll do that in the ‘about’ section. For this page I wanted to talk about purpose. My purpose of creating this blog and this website was to share my expertise with homeschooling families. I noticed early on in my new career as a home school coordinator and facilitator that when families decided to home school, teachers and admin would sometimes make them feel incompetent and stupid by using the specialized language that teachers are taught in teachers college in their Bachelor of Education programs. That irritates me because the last thing an educator should want is a family to feel a lack of confidence going in to educate their children!

So this page, the book and the Udemy course (coming soon!) is to demystify all that vocabulary, the attitudes and beliefs and philosophies of those who work in education, and to provide support for families who have decided to home school their children.

To educators who find this page I want to say this: Parents who decide to home school are not making a light decision. It has taken weeks, months or years for them to decide to pull their kids from school. It is often a financial sacrifice as one parent stays home to home school the children. When they call me for advice and help getting started, they are scared and are NOT feeling confident. I think that if you ever run into someone like that, find some time to build them up not tear them down. Research has shown that kids that are home schooled do not fare worse in post secondary and in their careers than kids that are public or private schooled. In fact they often do better! There is also absolutely no correlation between a parent’s education and abilities and a child’s success later on. None! You can find the research I did on this here: https://firstnationsstudents.weebly.com/blog-posts You can also find research by the Fraser Institute on this subject here: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/home-schooling-in-canada-2015-rev2.pdf Everyone in education always has stories for me about that one family whose child ‘didn’t learn anything’ and they are shocked that they finish at year 12 of school and don’t know how to write an essay or some other such measure of ‘success’. I always say to that particular argument that they are judging home schooled kids unfairly. There are plenty of students that graduate from our schools that don’t know how to read very well, can’t write and have difficulty with math (I was the last one…grade 6 math level when I graduated). I argue that the measure of success shouldn’t be those skills. I want you to start questioning what success in life is and how do you know when you have achieved it? You likely know how to write an essay if you are a teacher so is that the measure of success? Do you use the ability to do trigonometry as your yardstick (if that’s the case then I failed!). Happiness? A good paying job? I assure you that people can be happy if they have home schooled and they certainly can get a good paying job.

I hope you enjoy the page as much as I enjoyed writing it.