Here’s Why Hands-On Learning Works Best for Neurodivergent Kids

(and what I’m doing differently next year)

I’ll be honest. When I first started homeschooling my neurodivergent son, I thought I needed a better planner. Or a more “engaging” workbook. Or a reward chart with just the right amount of stars and stickers.

I thought if I could just get him to sit still and focus like those kids on Pinterest, we’d be golden.

Spoiler: that didn’t happen.

What did happen was this—
One day, we ditched the curriculum and built a pulley system with a jump rope, a bucket, and a pile of LEGOs. He was so focused, so excited, so completely immersed that I just sat there and thought…
This. This is what learning looks like for him.

And that moment cracked something open in me. I started paying attention. And the more hands-on our learning became, the more my son came to life. Because the truth is: Neurodivergent kids don’t need more discipline. They need more discovery.

And hands-on learning gives them exactly that. So, here is a little bit of encouragement to get you going.

1. It Meets Their Need for Movement

My son cannot sit still. Like, ever.
Even while watching a movie, he’s bouncing on the couch, upside down, asking questions like, “Why do pigeons bob their necks like that?”

But here’s what I’ve learned: that movement isn’t a distraction—it’s regulation. His body needs to move so his brain can learn.

Hands-on learning makes room for that. It lets him build, explore, test, mess up, and try again—all while moving. We’ve measured with our feet, spelled words in shaving cream, and built a zipline to rescue a monkey.

Was it loud? Yes.
Was it chaotic? Also yes.
But it was working.

2. It Takes the Pressure Off “Performing”

Let’s talk about how many tears were shed trying to get through a spelling workbook.

(Answer: more than I care to admit.)

For neurodivergent kids—especially those with ADHD, dysgraphia, or anxiety—learning isn’t always about what they know. Sometimes it’s about how they’re being asked to show it.

Hands-on learning says, “Show me what you know—in your way.”
That might be:

• Building a scene from a book out of blocks
• Creating a stop-motion animation to explain the water cycle
• Pretending to be a news anchor reporting on the Civil Rights Movement (yes, we did this, and it was iconic)

It’s not about lowering the bar. It’s about widening the path.

3. It Activates the Whole Brain

One of our favorite projects this year was turning our kitchen into a science lab. We mixed up baking soda potions, made our own lava lamp, and experimented with magnetic slime.

The magic wasn’t just in the reactions—it was in the engagement. My son was touching, observing, pouring, and narrating every step.

Because hands-on learning isn’t just about doing—it’s about connecting.
Multi-sensory experiences light up more parts of the brain, which means better understanding and better memory retention—especially for neurodivergent kids.

4. It Leans Into Their Interests

This might be my favorite part.
My son can go from “I hate reading” to “Did you know that some snakes have 400 bones in their backs?” if the topic is right.

Once I stopped fighting against his passions and started using them as the starting point for our learning, everything shifted.

His Minecraft obsession turned into a math and architecture unit.
His curiosity about spy gadgets led to a DIY STEM challenge to create a periscope and a persuasive writing project titled “Why I Need Night Vision Goggles Immediately.”

Neurodivergent kids often have deep, passionate interests. When we follow those, we don’t just teach—we ignite.

5. It Builds Real-World Skills

When he’s creating something—whether it’s a LEGO zipline, a homemade snack shop, or a cardboard robot—he’s not just “playing.” He’s problem-solving. Innovating. Communicating. Learning how to manage time, take risks, and bounce back when things flop.

(And yes, many things have flopped. RIP to the cardboard rocket that met an early end via sprinkler.)

These are the skills he’ll actually use in real life. And no worksheet can replicate the lessons we’ve learned from baking, building, and breaking things together.

What I’ve Learned (and What I’m Doing Differently Next Year)

This year taught me something big:
My job isn’t to control the learning. It’s to facilitate it.

And when I leaned into what works best for my kid—when I stopped trying to recreate school at home—everything got easier. More joyful. More real.

So here’s what I’m doing next year:

✔ Swapping workbooks for real-world projects
✔ Letting interest drive the plan (even if that means studying bugs… again)
✔ Designing learning experiences that allow movement, creativity, and conversation
✔ Valuing the process more than the product

And most of all? I’m trusting that learning doesn’t have to look traditional to be transformational.

It’s Your Turn!

If this sounds like the kind of learning your neurodivergent kid craves, download my free Interest-Led Project Planner. Or even if your kid is not neurodivergent, but just needs more than seat work, this is for you.
It’s designed to help you turn your child’s passions into powerful learning experiences—without the pressure, the tears, or the worksheets.

Because your kid deserves an education that celebrates how they learn best.
And you deserve a homeschool that actually feels good.

Be sure to sign up for my newsletter, so we can learn and grow together and be the best homeschool moms our kids deserve!