Discovering Cognitive Strengths: A Guide for Homeschool Parents
As a homeschooling parent, you’re always on the lookout for ways to support your child’s educational journey. Understanding and tapping into their cognitive strengths and struggles can make all the difference.
Parenting neurodivergent children comes with its unique set of challenges and rewards.
Dr. Amy Moore recently joined our podcast, sharing insights into understanding and supporting our children’s cognitive development. Her expertise as a cognitive psychologist, homeschool mom, and advocate provides invaluable guidance to families navigating these waters.
A recurring theme is the balance between acceptance and support. The societal narrative often tempts us to label conditions like ADHD as “superpowers.” However, Amy urges us to call it what it is—a difference in the brain that can cause a struggle in learning and in participating in your child’s desired activities. It doesn’t diminish the child; instead, it creates space for supporting and nurturing their unique needs.
Dr. Moore’s approach begins with recognizing each child’s struggle and engaging them in conversation. Acknowledging that our children already sense their difficulties, she advises embracing the “I notice, and I wonder” framework. This perspective, also known as declarative language, avoids the imperative commands that can validate an experience and also open the door to forming collaborative partnerships in setting goals for improvement. For example, in A Chameleon Tale, instead of telling Seth, the chameleon, to “calm down”, Mama says, “Seth, I wonder if chomping this bug will be enjoyable.” This helps both parent and child to notice a struggle and search for a solution.
For those pondering the logistics of such support
Dr. Moore highlights cognitive training’s power. Tailored interventions can reinforce a child’s cognitive abilities. LearningRX offers 1:1 training sessions in their world wide centers. Amy also offered some practical tools like the use of a metronome to enhance skills such as processing speed and memory.
The metronome can be used during the homeschool day as a helpful tool because it provides visual and auditory feedback improving timing, rhythm, and synchronization in the brain. This timing impacts everything we do including movement and balance as well as coordinating our eyes for reading and writing. In addition, research on programs such as interactive metronome state that a metronome can strengthen the connections between the parietal and frontal lobes of the brain. These areas include the executive functioning skills of attention and working memory; these are two of the areas affecting ADHD symptoms. Dr. Moore additionally states that it is used in session as part of Learning RX because it increases the intensity of sessions.
This approach is not limited to professional environments. In homes and co-ops, similar principles can apply. When we homeschool, it’s vital to create an environment where challenges are faced with encouragement and guided support. It’s about understanding your child’s needs and adapting to them, much like how we navigate multi-age learning environments in home or co-op settings.
Ultimately, every brain is unique, akin to thumbprints. The goal isn’t to compare but to uncover where a child’s cognitive strengths lie and address the weaker areas with compassion and expertise. Dr. Moore, through her work and life experiences, reflects how powerful it can be when we view education as a journey we embark upon together with our children.
Nurturing neurodivergent children involves understanding their unique cognitive profiles and meeting them where they are. By partnering with them, celebrating each success, and addressing each struggle with supportive interventions, we lay the groundwork for a fulfilling learning journey. As parents, educators, or caregivers, being proactive, informed, and loving guides in their educational path will always yield beautiful, rewarding results.
OT is IN #62 Strategies for Enhancing Cognitive Skills in Children
Dr. Moore, a cognitive psychologist and the Director of Psychology and Research at LearningRx, brings her wealth of knowledge and experience. With a background that spans cognitive training, homeschooling, and ADHD, Dr. Moore is an advocate for understanding and nurturing the unique cognitive landscapes of every individual.
We’re getting into the intersection of cognitive science, homeschooling, and the challenges faced by neurodivergent learners. Dr. Moore shares her journey of using cognitive training to support her own children and clients in overcoming difficulties related to ADHD and other cognitive challenges. We discuss the role of metronome-paced activities in enhancing cognitive skills, the importance of explaining the ‘why’ behind these tasks to both children and adults, and how these techniques can support learners in real-life scenarios.
In this episode you’ll hear about:
- Introduction of Guests and Podcast Collaboration
- Dr. Amy Moore’s Background and Experience
- Cognitive psychologist and director of psychology and research at LearningRx.
- Board-certified Christian counselor, licensed pastor.
- Various roles: curriculum coordinator, classroom teacher, host of Brainy Moms podcast, ADHD mom
- Educational qualifications in education and psychology.
- Homeschooling Experience and Challenges
- Homeschooling her children during different stages.
- Merging Roles: Cognitive Science, Faith, and Education
- Integrating her roles as a pastor, scientist, and educator.
- Viewing every mind as uniquely beautiful and addressing struggles compassionately.
- Supporting Neurodivergent Children
- Critique of labeling ADHD or neurodivergent traits as a “superpower.”
- Importance of acknowledging and supporting struggles rather than masking them.
- Understanding Cognitive Rehabilitation and Training
- Definition and explanation of cognitive training versus brain games.
- Unique human-delivered, intense training tasks to strengthen cognitive skills.
- Use of metronome pacing in cognitive training.
- Metronome Utilization in Training
- Connecting metronome use to neuroplasticity and brain processing.
- Different methods for pacing and intensity management during training.
- Real-Life Application of Cognitive Training
Links and Resources From Today’s Show
- Why Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?
- How To Use A Metronome To Increase Attention
- How To Improve Working Memory- The OT Toolbox
- Visuals For Talking About The Brain
- Free Stuff From Dr. Amy Moore
- Dr. Amy Moore’s Website
- Learning RX
- The Brainy Moms Podcast
- Episode 11: Exploring Unique Learning Paths in Homeschooling with Guest Amy Bodkin
- Episode 15: From Morning to Night: Incorporating Social Emotional Learning in Homeschool
- Episode 19: Understanding Screen Time Effects on Children’s Development and Relationships
- Episode 27: Preserving Childhood in a Digital World: Greta Eskridge’s Expertise for Families
- Episode 54: Strengthening Executive Functions through Play: Insights from Carol Brown of Equipping Minds
- Connect With Dr. Amy Moore on Instagram
- Connect With Dr. Amy Moore on Facebook
- Connect With Sarah on Instagram
Connect with our Guest, Dr. Amy Moore
Dr. Amy Moore is a cognitive psychologist, clinical researcher, board certified Christian counselor, TEDx speaker, host of the Brainy Moms podcast, an ADHD mom, and a mom with ADHD. She is the Director of Psychology & Research for LearningRx in Colorado Springs, CO at the headquarters of the largest network of cognitive training centers in the world. Her ground-breaking neuroplasticity research has been published in peer-reviewed medical and psychology journals and presented at conferences around the country. She has a master’s degree in early childhood education, a PhD in psychology, and 30 years of experience working with children and families. Dr. Amy and her husband Jeff have been married for 27 years and have 3 grown sons.
