One of the most common concerns I hear from parents is, “My child isn’t listening.”

A Note from the InkandescentKids editors: If it’s Friday, it’s time for our weekly spotlight on HomeschoolOT founder Sarah Collins, who will be sharing her insights with us. See our first post below, and be sure to follow Sarah at homeschoolot.com.

By Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L

Image: commons.wikimedia.org

Maybe you’ve experienced it too.

You ask your child to put away their shoes, grab their math book, and meet you at the table. A few minutes later, they’re staring out the window, one shoe is missing, and the math book is nowhere to be found.

It’s easy to assume they weren’t paying attention.

But what if they were listening?

Hearing and understanding are not the same thing.

A child may hear every word you say and still struggle to process that information quickly enough to act on it. By the time they’re trying to remember the second instruction, the first one may already be gone.

This is especially important for homeschool families because we spend so much time with our children that we naturally adapt to their needs. We repeat directions, break tasks into smaller pieces, and offer reminders without even realizing it.

Those supports are often helpful. But they can also make it harder to recognize when a child is working harder than expected just to keep up with language.

One simple observation this week: Notice how your child responds to directions.

Do they do better when you give one step at a time?

Do they struggle more when instructions are given verbally instead of written down?

Do they seem capable but inconsistent?

These observations can provide valuable clues about how your child processes language.

Understanding how your child learns is one of the greatest gifts homeschooling gives us. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is pause and observe before assuming a child is being difficult or inattentive.

The goal isn’t to find what’s wrong.

The goal is to better understand how your child learns.

Want to learn more about how language, listening, and learning work together? Listen to my conversation with speech-language pathologist Amanda Owens on The OT is IN podcast, where we explore how children can hear information but still struggle to process and use it effectively.

Sarah Collins, founder of HomeschoolOT

About Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L, occupational therapist, homeschool mom, author, and founder of HomeschoolOT.

With more than 17 years of experience supporting children and families, she helps parents understand how learning, movement, sensory processing, executive functioning, and daily life skills work together.

Since beginning her own homeschool journey in 2017, Sarah has combined her professional expertise with real-life experience, helping families create learning environments that honor each child’s unique strengths and challenges. Through HomeschoolOT and The OT is IN podcast, she shares practical strategies that help parents move beyond curriculum choices and better understand how their children learn best.

Sarah believes that homeschooling is not about recreating school at home. It is about helping children grow into capable, confident learners while building strong family relationships along the way.

Learn more: homeschoolot.com