Often we just need a new vantage point.🌄
Over the weekend, I was lucky enough to attend the National Street Rods event here in Hawke’s Bay.
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love my street rods and hot rods, so it was an absolute joy. Great people, some very cool cars, and that shared appreciation that only fellow enthusiasts really understand.
One of the events we joined was a drive in the 1940 coupe out to Cape Kidnappers. Not just to the end of the public road, but right up the private road. At the end, we parked up and walked a short distance to the lookout.
The views were magnificent. Right across the bay and beyond. The weather was superb, and the whole scene was pretty special.
I’ve seen Cape Kidnappers a thousand times since living in the Bay. But never from that perspective.
It genuinely stopped me in my tracks.
And it got me thinking.
So often in learning, we’re doing the same thing, the same way, over and over. Seeing the same struggles from the same angle. Trying harder, persisting longer, adding more effort, yet nothing really shifts.
But what if the learning isn’t the problem?
What if it’s the perspective?
Just imagine, for a moment, being able to approach the same learning in a different way. One that suits how your brain actually works. One that feels clearer, more interesting, and yes, even a little awe inspiring.
Sometimes nothing needs fixing.
Sometimes we just need a new vantage point.
That idea of perspective is exactly what led me to my latest article and YouTube presentation.
Over the years, I’ve watched many well-intentioned parents follow all the advice they’re given, try strategy after strategy, and still feel like something isn’t quite adding up. Not because they’re doing anything wrong, but because much of the advice assumes one way of learning fits everyone.
In my latest article, When Learning Advice Doesn’t Add Up: Understanding What Parents Really Need, I explore why so much learning advice misses the mark, what’s often being overlooked, and why clarity and understanding matter far more than doing more.
For those who prefer to listen and reflect, I’ve also shared the same ideas in a longer YouTube presentation.
You can explore them here, in whichever way suits you best:
Read the article: When Learning Advice Doesn’t Add Up: Understanding What Parents Really Need
Watch the YouTube presentation: When Learning Advice Doesn’t Add Up: Understanding What Parents Really Need
At the heart of both is a simple idea I keep coming back to in my work: when learning is designed to fit how someone actually thinks, things begin to make sense. Effort becomes more productive. Confidence grows. Progress feels possible again.
Before I finish, I also wanted to share something that’s sparked a lot of interest in conversations this week.
I recently had the opportunity to watch the documentary Who Knew: Dyslexia Is a Way of Thinking through an online screening, and it stayed with me.
It reflected so many of my own experiences, and the experiences I see every day in the children, teens, and adults I work with. What struck me most was how clearly it showed the intelligence, creativity, and depth that can sit alongside learning challenges, especially when those differences are understood rather than misunderstood or pushed aside.
Since mentioning it, I’ve had quite a few people ask about the film and whether there might be an opportunity to watch it themselves.
Because of that interest, I’m exploring the idea of hosting an online screening toward the end of March, so families and educators here in New Zealand can view it and talk about it together.
If this is something you’d be interested in, I’d genuinely love to hear from you.
Just reply to this email and let me know.
There’s also a short trailer available if you’d like a feel for the film before deciding.
And if reading is stressful in your household right now, I’ve also created a free guide called:
Discover the Secrets to Stress-Free Reading
It’s designed to help you understand what might be getting in the way and what actually helps.
Until next time,
Nikki
P.S. If you’re doing some quiet thinking about learning or confidence this year and want to talk it through, you’re very welcome to get in touch.
Dyslexia Unpuzzled
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
