Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children

Author and early intervention specialist Amanda Morin introduces listeners to Understood.org, an in-depth, free online resource for parents whose kids have learning and attention issues.Connect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special kid’s POV edition of the podcast, Asher and Debbie take listeners inside their homeschooling world. They're about to begin year four of this unexpected homeschooling journey, and after much trial and error, they’ve found their rhythm and flow (for now) for what works best in their school.Asher and Debbie talk about the transition into homeschooling, what works and what doesn’t, how Asher really feels about being homeschooling, how they co-designed they school, and what a typical day looks like. Asher also shares his thoughts on how their relationship has changed as a result of the homeschooling dynamic.Debbie Reber is the founder of TiLT and the host of the TiLT Parenting Podcast. 12-year-old Asher is Debbie’s son and is regularly featured on the podcast. Things You'll Learn from This Episode: The pros and cons of homeschooling from a kid’s POV How Asher and I have co-designed our school structure, schedule, and curriculum How structure and flexibility can actually co-exist What a typical school day looks like in our world What I see as the biggest benefits of homeschooling Asher How Asher perceives our teacher-student relationship versus mother-son  Resources Mentioned: Image of our homeschooling daily schedule Khan Academy Kerbal Space Program Kurzgesagt YouTube Channel Ted-Ed Videos Support the showConnect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, I’m talking with Casey O’Roarty of Joyful Courage, Positive Discipline trainer and parent coach who is not only passionate about the power of positive discipline, but is a fierce believer in supporting parents in becoming courageous and joyful as they navigate the ups and downs of raising kids.Because I’ve personally experienced the profound impact of positive discipline in my relationship with Asher, I was excited to sit down with Casey for a deep dive into the heart and soul of the positive discipline parenting philosophy and neurodivergent children— respectful communication, fostering connection, and supporting a child in growth and learning through a marriage of kindness and firmness. I believe wholeheartedly that positive discipline is an incredibly effective approach for all parents, but especially for parents raising differently wired kids. I have a hunch that after listening to this episode, you’ll feel the same way.Casey O’Roarty is a Positive Discipline trainer and parent coach in the Pacific Northwest who teaches parent classes and leads teacher trainings. She is the founder of Joyful Courage, an online business featuring a blog, videos, and e-courses, as well as the host of the Joyful Courage Podcast.Things you’ll learn from this episode What Positive Discipline is as a parenting and teaching philosophy Why it’s critical that our kids feel connected Why a parent’s emotions are their biggest clues as to what’s going on with their “misbehaving” children How the balance of kindness and firmness works so well for children Why positive discipline isn’t a “permissive” parenting style Why “punishments” and time outs don’t help our children develop skills Resources mentioned for positive discipline and neurodivergent children Casey O’Roarty’s website, Joyful Courage The Joyful Courage Podcast Positive Discipline by Jane Nelson Positive Discipline for Children with Special Needs: Raising and Teaching All Children to Become Resilient, Responsible, and Respectfulby Jane Nelson The Mistaken Goals Chart – Downloadable PDF from PositiveDiscipline.com The Whole Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind by Dan Siegel Support the showConnect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Ellen Braaten describes slow processing speed in children—what it is and how it shows up—and gives her insights on how parents (and teachers) can best support kids for whom this is a challenge.Connect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special kid’s POV edition of the podcast, Asher answers questions from listeners -- specifically our kid audience -- about his social life.Connect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, I talk with Jill Emmelhainz, the mother of a 14-year-old differently-wired daughter who struggles with severe anxiety. Over the years, Jill and her husband noticed their daughter Anna’s anxiety was greatly reduced when she spent time outdoors and in nature, so this past year, they decided to try something radical and fully immerse themselves in nature for extended periods of time to see what would happen. For six weeks in fall 2015 and five weeks in spring 2016, Jill and her daughter have hiked the Appalachian Trail in the eastern U.S. The result? During those weeks in nature, Anna’s anxiety all but disappeared, and she’s found ways to bring the learnings from those experiences back into her day-to-day life in a helpful way. JIll and her daughter’s story is fascinating…we have a sense you’ll think so, too! Jill Emmelhainz says: “I have had the privilege of raising and homeschooling our seven children. Travel and creativity have always been part of our family life. Now that we have only one child still at home, she and I enjoy outdoor adventures as a way to help her cope with significant life challenges.” THINGS YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE: How trying something completely new and radical can sometimes have unexpected, positive consequences The power of having shared, powerful experiences with a child (especially one who’s a teenager) Suggestions for getting kids more excited about and engaged in outdoor time and nature  RESOURCES MENTIONED: Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv Jill’s blog, The Big Epic Support the showConnect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For this episode I talk with Becca Wertheim, a second-grade teacher at an inclusion school in North Carolina. What I hear from so many parents in the Tilt community is that navigating the world of school is one of the biggest challenges their families face, so this episode is the first of what I hope will be many featuring the perspectives and voices of the teachers who work with our differently-wired kids every day.Becca tells us about her experience as a teacher charged with meeting the individual educational needs of a group of students with diverse learning styles, and her insight for parents who are looking for better support and communication with the teachers in their children’s lives. Becca Wertheim is a 2nd grade teacher at Claxton Elementary School in Asheville, NC. She is the creator GOAL Getters (Global Opportunities, Awareness, and Leadership), an initiative featured at Clinton Global Initiative University, which teaches youth about global citizenship and social responsibility. She is also the author of Live High on Life for Teens, an inspirational book that empowers teens to dream big, and was profiled in TiLT founder Debbie Reber’s inspirational book for teen girls, In Their Shoes. THINGS YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE: How an “inclusion school” model works in the classroom Why inclusion schools can benefit all types of learners and work to everyone’s advantage Suggestions and strategies for navigating the parent-teacher relationship, from a teacher’s perspective Why honesty and open communication, as is true in any relationship, is key to a successful parent-teacher relationship How parents can approach a teacher if they are concerned about their child’s behavior either at school or at home What a teacher’s goals are in the relationships they have with their students’ parents  RESOURCES MENTIONED: Claxton Elementary School Becca Wertheim on Huffington Post Support the showConnect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special kid’s POV edition of the podcast, Asher and I share our best tips and strategies for making travel run more smoothly and having successful vacations with neurodivergent kids. As much as many families and their children may love going on vacation, the change in routine, different foods, shifting expectations, and new stimuli can even turn a trip to “The Happiest Place on Earth” (Disneyland) into one full of stress, anxiety, meltdowns, and other challenges. And while we know this rings true for pretty much any and every family, for parents raising differently wired kids, the extremes highs and lows can bigger.In this episode, Asher and I share what we’ve learned over the years when it comes to making sure everyone’s needs and expectations on any given vacation are met, or at the very least, addressed, and walk listeners through the different schedules and planners we’ve we incorporated into our vacation prep. (We also share our planning templates below for free download!). We hope you take away a tip or two to make your next family holiday a more peaceful experience for the whole family!Debbie Reber is the founder and CEO of Tilt Parenting and the host of the TiLT Parenting Podcast. 11-year-old Asher is Debbie’s child and is regularly featured on the podcast.  Things you’ll learn from this episode The benefits of talking through and getting clear on expectations (for all members of the family) prior to leaving for a vacation A strategy for using the collaborative problem solving approach to identify, address, and pre-solve concerns ahead of time How to make departure day go more smoothly The benefits of exploring and researching aspects of a vacation time well in advance of the trip (including accommodations, activities, etc.) A strategy for using written schedules coupled with frequent reviews during a vacation keeps everyone’s expectations in check The benefits of bringing a child into the planning process (and letting them determine some of what will happen on vacation) Why it’s useful to work with your child to discover what they need most on vacation and then incorporating it into your daily plan (ie: rest, chill time, etc.)  Resources mentioned for successful vacations with neurodivergent kids Download a PDF of our Family Goals Worksheet Download a PDF of our Vacation Concerns Worksheet Download a PDF of our Daily Vacation Planner Worksheet Look at our Departure Plan whiteboard Support the showConnect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s episode features a conversation with ADHD coach Margit Crane Luria (now Yafa Crane Luria) of Blocked to Brilliant. Margit, who has ADHD herself, brings a powerful perspective to the podcast as a passionate advocate for children and teens with ADHD. Her mission? To change the way ADHD and ADD is perceived by the rest of the world (educators, parents, and society at large) while also helping kids and teens with ADHD embrace their creativity and gifts and become the world changers they naturally are.We cover a lot of territory in this episode which, incidentally, is the first TiLT Parenting Podcast we’ve done on this topic. In forty minutes, we explore the myths, the misconceptions, the challenges, and the gifts of ADHD. If you have a child with ADHD, or you know of other children with ADHD (which we all do!), this is one episode you won’t want to miss.Yafa Crane Luria is a 30-year veteran teacher and school counselor, a Positive Discipline Trainer, and the author of the Mom’s Choice Award®-Winning book: How To Train Your Parents in 6 ½ Days and the Amazon Kindle bestseller: Getting Schooled: 102 Practical Tips for Parents, Teachers, Counselors, and Students about Living and Learning with ADHD. Margit specializes in helping ADHD families who have tried everything and are still frustrated and confused by their child’s or teen’s Blocked but Brilliant brain. Fun fact: Yafa was one of the first adults to be diagnosed with ADHD, back in 1980.THINGS YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE: How ADHD and ADD are defined and what the markers look like in children What obtaining diagnosis can be challenging because of co-existing symptoms Why ADHD / ADD has such a negative stigma associated with it and why that needs to change Whether or not ADHD is being overdiagnosed The many (awesome) gifts that come with having ADHD A thoughtful way to consider the use of medication in children with ADHD How change can happen in the brains of people with ADHD What parents who suspect their child has ADHD should do to get started  RESOURCES MENTIONED: YafaCrane Luria / Blocked to Brilliant ADHD Videos Why French Kids Don’t Have ADHD (Psychology Today) French Kids DO Have ADHD (Psychology Today) Understanding the Challenges and Gifts of Dyslexia with Heidi Nord (Tilt Parenting Podcast) The Role of Executive Functioning in Differently-Wired Kids with Julie George (Tilt Parenting Podcast) Support the showConnect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’m excited to be bringing parenting coach Margaret Webb back to the podcast this week. Margaret helps parents find more peace in parenting the child they didn’t expect when they were expecting, and part of her work is supporting parents survive summer break. Many parents (and not just parents raising differently-wired kids) limp across the finish line of a long school year only to find themselves facing the stress of summer — new schedules and routines, different expectations, wants, and needs for everyone in the family, and lots of other changes.In our conversation, Margaret shares her personal strategy for not only surviving summer break, but thriving. She walks us through her Summer Survival Skills Package, a free toolkit comprised of MP3s and worksheets designed to help struggling parents have a summer that works for the whole family.Margaret Webb is a certified Master Life Coach, parenting coach, nature-based coach, former teacher, wife and mother. As a life and parenting coach, she weaves together her experience as an elementary education teacher with the tools she’s learned in Martha Beck’s Life Coach Training, Sagefire Institute’s Nature-Based Coach Training, and what she’s applied to her own life as a mom of a child with special needs. Things you’ll learn from this episode How “reality versus expectations” creates unnecessary stress for many parents over the summer Why having “leadership energy” as a parent can help a family thrive The importance of getting clear on both your personal needs as a parent and your child’s needs and wants for the summer break What scheduling, mapping, and tracking have to do with surviving summer holidays How focusing on our own experience and fostering personal self-care actually supports our children Why nature can be so restorative for parents raising differently-wired kids How to envision your ideal day as a way to begin creating a more peaceful reality  Resources mentioned for surviving summer break Margaret Webb’s Summer Survival Skills Package — download link The Families That Can’t Afford Summer – New York Times article Finding Peace in Parenting the Child You Didn’t Expect – Tilt Parenting Podcast Episode 1​ Support the showConnect with Tilt Parenting Visit Tilt Parenting Take the free 7-Day Challenge Read a chapter of Differently Wired Follow Tilt on Twitter & Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices