In this conversation, Kelly Rigg and Ashley Vanerio explore the complexities of home education, focusing on the role of routines, the challenges of neurodiversity, and the balance between structure and flexibility. They share personal experiences and insights on how to navigate these themes while catering to the diverse needs of their children. The discussion emphasizes the importance of motivation, adaptability, and the need for a tailored approach to home education that respects each...

In this episode, Kelly Rigg and Ashley Vanerio discuss the challenges and realities of home education amidst life's chaos. They explore the importance of real-life learning experiences, the value of boredom and self-directed play, and the balance between parental involvement and children's independence. The conversation emphasizes that learning happens in various forms, not just through structured education, and highlights the significance of allowing children to engage with everyday life to...

Personal Note: Myself, Kelly, and Ashley have been going through an extremely busy and tough period and it has meant that we have both found that steady guilt creeping in - where you feel like you are missing out on time with your kids, you aren't handling things well, you are losing your patience quicker, you are forgetting things, prioritising the wrong things, feeling like you should be able to do it all, all the time.  Our western culture glorifies the hustle. If you aren't driving 25...

This conversation delves into the complexities of home education rights and duties, both as parents and for our children. Kelly and Ashley chat with special guest Wendy Charles-Warner about the role of local authorities, and the importance of mutual respect in these relationships as Education Otherwise work hard to support parents, train local authorities and advise government bodies to address the inconsistencies and trust issues that are at the heart of fearful dealings with LA education...

In this episode, Kelly and Ashley discuss the challenges of navigating difficult conversations surrounding home education. They share personal experiences, emphasizing the importance of building conviction, setting boundaries, and understanding family dynamics. The conversation highlights the need for reassurance from the right sources and the significance of community support in the home education journey. They also touch on the societal norms that often challenge home educators and the...

In this episode, Kelly Rigg and Ashley Vanerio discuss the importance of critical thinking in home education. They explore the challenges of fostering critical thinking in a world that often discourages it, share personal experiences, and emphasize the need for autonomy and self-trust in children. The conversation highlights the impact of generational beliefs and the importance of flexibility in educational approaches. Ultimately, they encourage parents to trust their instincts and make...

In this episode, Kelly and Ashley discuss the concept of child-led learning in home education, emphasizing the importance of following children's interests and fostering their curiosity. They share personal experiences of how allowing children to explore their passions leads to deeper learning and engagement. The conversation also touches on the integration of current events into learning, the significance of special interests, and the joy of reclaiming education for both parents and...

Get ready for an electrifying welcome back episode! 🎉 Kelly and Ashley dive into the booming trend of home education (or home schooling for our US friends) , revealing why more parents in the UK and US are opting to deregister their children! They explore compelling reasons like mental health concerns, dissatisfaction with traditional schools, and the desire for educational flexibility to protect kids from bullying, peer pressure and in some cases even danger. This episode isn't just about...

This is a BONUS episode, Hi, this is Kelly here - co-host of The Big Home Ed Conversations. I run this workshop live regularly on my TikTok account @Banish.Home.Ed.Burnout but if you want to listen on the go, you can listen now to this clean recording made just for you! Home Education is an incredible opportunity and one that can create so much freedom and easefulness for your family, but I know as well as anyone, that it can also be a recipe for burn out!  Burn out tends to look like -...

In this episode, Kelly and Ashley discuss the benefits of traveling with kids and the value of hands-on experiences in education. They share personal stories of their recent travels and how it has enhanced their children's learning. They also express their frustration with schools cracking down on attendance and the lack of freedom for families to make their own choices. The conversation highlights the importance of curiosity, play, and learning alongside children. The conversation explores...

In this episode, Kelly and Ashley discuss the US school system for a compare and contrast on the UK system discussed last time. The conversation explores the flaws and limitations of the traditional school system, highlighting issues such as poor teaching, lack of support and resources, inflexibility, and missed opportunities for learning. It discusses the pressures and stress that students face, the negative messaging and social dynamics within schools, and the constant need to compare and...

In this episode, Kelly and Ashley discuss the UK school system and the issues they have with it. They talk about the compulsory schooling age, the emphasis on standardized testing, the lack of play-based learning, the long hours children spend in school, and the elitism associated with academia. They also touch on the challenges faced by teachers, including large class sizes, lack of support for children with special needs, and the disillusionment and frustration many teachers experience....

In this episode, Kelly and Ashley explore the concept of de-schooling and how traditional schooling has affected individuals as adults. They discuss the origins of schooling and the ideologies behind it, highlighting the influence of wealthy white men in history and now the affluence of the elite industrialists in how we are educated. The conversation delves into the arbitrary nature of educational standards and the need to question the current school system. The hosts recommend books that...

In this conversation, Kelly and Ashley discuss the impact of Western culture on parenting and home education. They explore the importance of slowing down, being present, and meeting our own needs as parents, the role of technology and the challenges of balancing screen time with other activities and the need to observe and appreciate our children's natural behaviours and to create a home education / homeschooling environment that allows for flexibility and individuality. Overall, they...

In this conversation, Kelly and Ashley discuss the myth that home-educated kids are sheltered. They explore what people mean by sheltered and why it's important not to shelter children too much. They also discuss the possible limitations of home education and how to overcome them, including the importance of street-wiseness and resilience.  Please follow us on Instagram: Kelly - @offroadingmotherhood and Ashley - @Homeschool.in.progress. Or TikTok - Kelly -...

This is such an interesting conversation, we, Kelly and Ashley, are discussing what has changed for human existence in the last 30 years - and how much of it as schooled children was it beyond our wildest dreams. Therefore, how important it is to have access to time and intrinsic curiosity to be able to explore the current day and imagine what it could be in the future. If we constantly have someone - an adult - present us with what is important to spend our time learning about, will we...

In this conversation, we, Kelly and Ashley, discuss the impact of limiting beliefs on home education. We explore the conflicting beliefs that parents often face and the challenges of balancing individuality with societal expectations. Overall, this conversation highlights the importance of questioning and dismantling beliefs that do not serve our home education journey. We delve into the concept of unschooling and personalized learning and talk about how we recognize and challenge our own...

This podcast is intended to be thought provoking, to give you pause and allow you to develop your own ideas, but if you could do with a bit more of a helping hand, this bonus content is how we have developed our beliefs and conviction in this area and gives ideas on how to do that for yourself.  00:00 Introduction 00:59 Internal Work and Role Modelling 04:12 Scaffolding and Celebrating 05:33 Building a Meaningful Life 06:32 Open Conversations and Honest Communication 07:01 Modelling Our Own...

Are you aware of how the messages we receive around what success and failure are in our western culture are poisoning your home education journey? Even if you spend your time objecting to them? In this episode we dive into what we believe success looks like if you can free yourself from the reigns of what others feel life 'should' be. As usual, join the conversation by reaching out on Instagram or TikTok - @offroadingmotherhood or @homeschool.in.progress, or if you find yourself wanting more...

What did you believe your home education experience would look like? What were you fearful of? What did you think would be hard? What did you think would be easy? And what has the reality been? These are some of the questions we ask ourselves in this episode, getting into the real talk of what our home education experience has been and what can happen if we hold too much stock on outcomes both for ourselves and our children. Follow us at @offroadingmotherhood and @homeschool.in.progress on...

Welcome to The Big Home Ed Conversations with your hosts Kelly Rigg, Home Education Mentor & Coach, founder of Offroading Motherhood and Ashley Vanerio, Home Educating mother of 3, ex-teacher and so insightful! This episode will tell you a bit about us, our stories as home educating mothers and why this podcast exists, what you can expect and why you should keep on listening. Tune in and come say hi!