Topic Challenge: Thoughts and Feelings, Fostering Emotional Maturity in Children
The BIG Home Ed ConversationsShow Notes
Welcome back to The BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast with Kelly Rigg and Ashley Vanerio.
This week’s topic: Feelings and journaling (real life edition) We recorded in the middle of a heatwave, so we’re talking dysregulation, grumpy kids, and how hard it can be to “do the right thing” when everyone’s overstimulated.
What we actually found helpful:
A feelings wheel (free printable) to help kids find more precise words than just “angry/sad”
A simple empathy prompt: “How do you think your sibling feels?”
Journaling alternatives for kids who hate writing: drawing feelings, scribble pages, talking, creativity, movement, baking
A reminder that feelings aren’t just cognitive — sometimes kids regulate best through safe physical outlets
Schedule note: We’re taking a short one-week break, then we’ll be back with a general catch-up episode (summer plans and a bit of a chat). After that, we’ll return to the topic challenge with protest and social change.
Season 5 Sponsor: Strew (home education logging app)
This week we’re sharing a quick behind-the-scenes feature: Study Points settings.
In the Study Points area you can choose an education style (child-led learning, Waldorf/Steiner, Charlotte Mason, unschooling/deschooling, or general home ed) which can change how the Study Points categories are shown. It’s totally optional, but a handy way to get an at-a-glance view of what you’ve been logging over time. Use code 'bighomeed' if you try Strew. https://strew.app/r/bighomeed
Thanks for listening — subscribe, leave a review, and share with a friend. Find us on Instagram and TikTok, and at www.bighomeedpodcast.com .
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