We all have unique interests and strengths, and then other areas that, well, don’t come so naturally. (right?) That’s perfectly normal. Yet, being well-rounded is important for navigating every area of life. I think it is a good idea to zoom out occasionally and take inventory of how we and our kids are doing in the way of being well-rounded, and balanced!

In this episode I am sharing what I call the “Five Building Blocks” of a well-rounded student. Whether your kids go to a traditional school, or they are homeschooled (or some combination of the two!) this little audit should be helpful!

If you enjoy this topic, you will really enjoy my BRAND NEW ONLINE COURSE: The Well-Rounded Homeschooler. In this self-paced digital course, I dive deeper into each of the five building blocks with short videos, resource lists, bonus interviews, and tons of beautiful printables. (Though it is a course for homeschool families, I believe any intentional family will get a lot out of it!)

Find show notes with links to things mentioned at: http://monicaswanson.com/well-rounded/

{Go directly to the course page at: https://monicaswanson.com/wellroundedhomeschooler/}

General podcast page: http://www.monicaswanson.com/podcast/

Looking for new math or science homeschool curriculum? All my boys have used DIVE/Shormann Math and science for Bible-based, short-but-thorough lessons, through AP level! They believe it was the best preparation for their college studies in engineering and data analytics. Shormann Algebra 1&2 prepares kids for everything on the Pre-SAT, SAT, and ACT with over 200 practie questions! Go to diveintomath.com to learn more!

The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org

Lindsey Mimnaugh has grown a huge online following for her beautiful curriculums, nature studies, and always-inspiring social media posts (See: Treehouse Schoolhouse online) I love her book suggestions and all of her ideas for training little ones with good habits, life skills, and open-ended play!

Beginning her homeschooling journey before she had kids of her own (by homeschooling other people’s kids!) Lindsey has experience and wisdom to share. In today’s episode we talk about five ways to set toddlers up for success. These are great ideas for turning what can feel like very long days (or was it just me?) into intentional opportunities to shape young lives and prepare kids for a life of learning ahead!

See show notes for a summary of Lindsey’s list and links to everything she mentions!

Show notes: http://monicaswanson.com/treehouse-schoolhouse

General podcast page: http://www.monicaswanson.com/podcast

Looking for new math or science homeschool curriculum? All of my boys have used DIVE/Shormann Math and science for Bible-based, short-but-thorough lessons, through AP level! They believe it was the best preparation for their college studies in engineering and data analytics. Shormann Algebra 1&2 prepares kids for everything on the Pre-SAT, SAT, and ACT with over 200 practie questions! Go to diveintomath to learn more!

The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org

Summertime is so special, yet the days are fleeting (right?) And without some intentionality it’s easy to wrap up summer, wondering where the days have gone.

Whether your kids are about to start back to school already (like here in Hawaii!) or you still have a few weeks, you’ll be glad to make the most of these days while summer is still in the air! In today’s episode I suggest FIVE things families can do, for a no-regrets summer. These are not difficult, but they won’t happen on their own!

I’m mentioning quite a few suggested resources in this episode, which you’ll find linked to in show notes.

www.monicaswanson.com/summer-things

General podcast page: http://www.monicaswanson.com/podcast

Looking for new math homeschool curriculum? All of my boys have used DIVE/Shormann Math for Bible-based, short-but-thorough science and math lessons, through AP level! They believe it was the best preparation for their college studies in engineering and data analytics. Go to diveintomath to learn more!

The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org

This is part 3 of my summer mini-series on parenting and youth sports. Be sure to tune into the last two episodes if you have missed them! In today’s episode, my son Luke (20,) joins me talk about his experience pursuing a professional surf career. For context he explains a bit about how competitive surfing works, where he is now in the process, and his ultimate goals. He talks about how he got started surfing competitively, some of his early inspiration, and the twists and turns of youth surfing. Luke talks honestly about some of the ways our parenting shaped his competitive experience (good and bad,) and how his faith has impacted his perspective.

At the end Luke and I chat a bit about the competitive mindset and some sports psychology principles he has learned more recently. I think this part can apply to most athletes and well beyond the world of sports.

This is a long one – but I think your kids might enjoy and I hope it encourages you in some way too! PS Luke is currently looking at starting his own podcast, so stay tuned and look for where you might follow him over in show notes…

www.monicaswanson.com/luke-swanson

General podcast page: http://www.monicaswanson.com/podcast

Looking for new math homeschool curriculum? All of my boys have used DIVE/Shormann Math for Bible-based, short-but-thorough science and math lessons, through AP level! They believe it was the best preparation for their college studies in engineering and data analytics. Go to diveintomath to learn more!

The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org

Welcome to part II of our summer series on parenting and youth sports. Be sure to catch last week’s (packed!) episode if you missed it! Today my husband Dave is with us to consider 3 important FAITH PRINCIPLES that impact our kids’ athletic endeavors.

Background: Dave played soccer through the collegiate and professional level, and we are both super competitive people. We have navigated parenting our four sons through all kinds of recreational sports, and now our son, Luke, is a professional surfer, and our youngest son, Levi, is passionate about competitive golf.

In today's episode Dave and I are passing on principles that we have learned and are constantly working on in our own family. From the purpose of sports, to helping kids remain grounded in their identity (apart from sports), to keeping our family's priorities straight, I think this is all practical and relevant to all kinds of sports and other activities.

Whether your kids are highly competitive or just do sports for fun, I think we cover a lot of important ground in this conversation!

Find show notes and links to everything mentioned at: www.monicaswanson.com/dave-swanson

All podcast episodes can be found at: http://www.monicaswanson.com/podcast

Looking for math or science homeschool curriculum? All my boys have used DIVE/Shormann Math and science for Bible-based, short-but-thorough science and math lessons, through AP level! They believe it was the best preparation for their college studies in engineering and data analytics. Go to diveintomath to learn more! Note: 25 % off SUMMER SALE through the end of July!

The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org

Note: This is the first of a 3-part summer series on Youth Sports. (I'm so excited about this!) I hope you’ll spread the word and comment over in show notes to keep the conversation going.

According to recent research, 70% of kids drop out of organized athletics by the age of 13. Today’s guest, John O’Sullivan, suggests that this is because youth sports have become adult-centered, ultra-competitive, and crazy-expensive. I don’t think he’s wrong.

Since my husband and I have shared conversations about youth sports on social media this year, I’ve heard from a lot of families who wanted more on this topic. I recently read O’Sullivan’s book, Changing the Game, and knew that his voice would be a helpful addition to this conversation!

John played collegiate and professional soccer and has spent decades coaching and speaking to coaches and parents about the youth sports culture and how we might reverse some dangerous trends. He has a popular Ted Talk on the topic as well (link to that in show notes!) In today’s episode we talk about early specialization, when to give kids the “nudge” to be more committed to their sport, and how to help all of our kids grow up to love sports and lead an active lifestyle! I think this is a great conversation that will offer you some food for thought as you consider your kids’ athletic endeavors.

Find show notes, links to John’s books (including his new one coming out later this year!) and his Ted Talk at: www.monicaswanson.com/john-osullivan

All show notes: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast

Looking for new science or math homeschool curriculum? All my boys have used DIVE/Shormann Math for Bible-based, short-but-thorough science and math lessons, through AP level! Go to diveintomath.com to learn more!

The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org

"We’ve all heard the mind-boggling statistics about technology and social media use. The numbers don’t lie; our obsession with smartphones and social media is slowly eroding the very essence of our homes and families. We see it. We feel it. We know it.

So what do we do about it? "... - Erin Loechner, today's guest.

Erin Loechner walked away from over a million online followers to choose a different way of life for her family. Since then, she has done a lot of research and discovered the possibility of borrowing from the playbook of the tech industry to engage your family in meaningful ways. Erin suggests that we, as parents, can actually be “more engaging than the algorithm”! Sound hard to believe? You’ve got to listen to this conversation!

Find notes from our conversation at: www.monicaswanson.com/erin-loechner

All show notes: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast

Looking for new science or math homeschool curriculum? All my boys have used DIVE/Shormann Math for Bible-based, short-but-thorough science and math lessons, through AP level! Go to diveintomath.com to learn more!

The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org

When Joey Odom missed his son’s first soccer goal because he was looking at his phone, he had a realization: his phone was getting in the way of his best intentions as a Dad and a husband. Since then, he has been on a journey to change his relationship with his phone so that he can change the most important relationships in his life.

I heard about Joey from our mutual friend (and a favorite podcast guest,) Justin Whitmel Earley who recommended I share Joey’s message with my listeners. I am so glad I did! In this interview Joey is sharing data, insights, and encouragement for ways we can all move forward as parents who want to navigate these waters well. I think you’ll enjoy this conversation and leave it feeling empowered to take some steps to a happier, healthier family life ahead. Find notes from our conversation over on my website at:

www.monicaswanson.com/joey-odom

All show notes: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast

My TECH-SMART KIDS MINI-COURSE is NOW open for new students. (Only $25 and PACKED with helpful guidelines, lists of best tech-filters, articles, and other resources, and so much more!) Find out more, HERE!

Looking for new science or math homeschool curriculum? All my boys have used DIVE/Shormann Math for Bible-based, short-but-thorough science and math lessons, through AP level! Go to diveintomath.com to learn more!

The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org