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Teaching Kids to Speak Up: Confidence Without the Classroom

Teaching Kids to Speak Up: Confidence Without the Classroom

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If you're a homeschool parent worried about your child's social skills—or finding yourself facing questions like, "But how will your child be socialized?"—you're in good company. Many families wonder if their kids are getting enough real-world practice talking with others, especially adults, or if there's a practical way to help children who aren't naturally outgoing or confident in conversations. In this episode of The OT is IN, Sarah talks with George Rivera, homeschool dad and entrepreneur, about how his son Leo's interest in podcasting became an unexpected way to build social and communication skills. They explore the practical side of teaching kids to interact, reflect, and grow—whether through structured support, "throwing them in the fire," or connecting learning to something meaningful. If you're looking for relatable, real-life ideas for supporting your child's conversations and confidence, especially outside typical classroom settings, this episode offers stories, tips, and nuance for families who want to nurture their children's strengths. In this episode you'll hear about: Why social participation for homeschoolers is more than just having friends or joining a co-opConcrete examples of helping kids interact with adults, from making real estate offers to asking for help in public settingsThe difference between preparing a child with scripts and models versus encouraging them to try new things with supportHow interests—like starting a podcast—can be leveraged as authentic opportunities to practice social and communication skillsUsing metacognition and self-reflection to help children understand conversations and grow from experienceNavigating perfectionism and supporting kids when they worry about getting things "just right" Related Resources Moving From Knowing To Doing- NICE GuideEpisode 31: Cultivating Calm: Understanding Nervous System Dysregulation in Children and Practical Solutions for ParentsEpisode 43: Collaborative Problem-Solving in Education and ParentingEpisode 79: How to Spot and Support Social and Executive Functioning Skills in Your ChildEpisode 80: Raising Resilient KidsEpisode 81: Understanding Social Pressures and Masking in Kids Thank you to our sponsor: CTC Math Thank you to CTCMath for sponsoring this episode of The OT is IN. As we explored in today's conversation, helping our children build confidence and independence isn't just about giving them more opportunities to interact with others. It's also about recognizing their strengths, providing the right support, and knowing when to step back and let them try something on their own. That same approach applies to learning at home. One reason CTCMath has worked well in our homeschool is that its short, clearly organized video lessons and step-by-step instructions give children opportunities to work more independently while still having the structure and support they need. Just as George shared how he coached Leo through conversations before giving him more room to lead, we can take a similar approach with academics. We can model a skill, provide guidance, encourage practice, and gradually give our children more ownership of their learning. Because whether we're helping our children communicate confidently with others or tackle a math lesson independently, the goal isn't to do everything for them. It's to give them the tools, encouragement, and opportunities to grow in confidence and capability. You can try CTCMath for free and find the HomeschoolOT discount through the links below. You can check out their FREE trial here. You can get 40% off here. Connect With Our Guest, George Rivera George Rivera is a husband, father, and 31-year entrepreneur whose life changed after his late father left him with one simple piece of advice: "Don't miss Leo's games." That message led George to redesign his business so he could become a fully present dad and intentionally invest in his son, Leo, who has been homeschooled his entire life. At eight years old, George taught Leo to negotiate his first real estate deal, and by age eleven Leo had interviewed more than 150 guests on his podcast. Together they co-founded Leo Interviews Academy, helping other kids develop confidence, communication skills, curiosity, and meaningful relationships through podcast interviewing. George's WebsiteLeo Interviews Academy
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