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

Dr. Roberto Olivardia, a Clinical Instructor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School, talks about the relationship between ADHD and sleep challenges, and offers strategies for children struggling with sleep. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this conversation, I talk with clinical psychologist and author Dr. Naomi Fisher about self-directed education, and why it can be such a powerful approach for neurodivergent kids, especially those with a PDA profile. Naomi shares why agency is so important in learning, how traditional school can chip away at a child’s self-worth, and what it looks like when we truly support demand-avoidant kids in ways that work for them. We also get into the challenges parents face when stepping outside the norm and why keeping the parent-child relationship at the center is key. About Dr. Naomi Fisher Dr. Naomi Fisher is a clinical psychologist who specialises in trauma, autism and alternative education. She is the author of several books including When the Naughty Step Makes Things Worse and the Teenager’s Guide to Burnout. She runs webinars for parents and more of her work can be found at www.naomifisher.co.uk Things you'll learn from this episode Why agency in learning is essential for neurodivergent children to build confidence, reduce anxiety, and stay engaged How self-directed education supports children—especially those with PDA—by minimizing pressure and honoring their natural pace Why respecting a child’s right to say no is foundational for creating a safe, trust-based learning environment How understanding the cycle of demand avoidance helps reframe “bad behavior” as a response to overwhelm, not defiance Why shifting away from rigid definitions of academic success can open the door to more authentic growth and capability How prioritizing the parent-child relationship and finding community support helps families confidently navigate less conventional paths Resources mentioned Dr. Naomi Fisher’s website Naomi Fisher on Substack A Different Way to Learn by Naomi Fisher Eliza Fricker Talks About Parenting a Child with PDA (Tilt Parenting Podcast) Eliza Fricker’s website The Family Experience of PDA by Eliza Fricker Eliza Fricker / Missing the Mark on Facebook Changing Our Minds: How Children Can Take Control of Their Own Learning by Naomi Fisher What Can We Do When School’s Not Working: An Illustrated Handbook for Professionals by Naomi Fisher Dr. Ross Greene’s Collaborative and Proactive Solutions Model Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special mini-episode, Debbie reflects on the Tilt Parenting revolution nearly 10 years after it began and invites listeners to complete a short survey to help assess what’s working and what still needs to change for families raising neurodivergent kids today. This is your chance to help shape the future of the movement to shift the parenting paradigm and ensure it continues to create more ease, possibility, and joy for neurodivergent children and their families. Please share this episode and the survey! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Blake Boles, founder of Unschool Adventures and author advocating for self-directed learning, dives into the relevance of traditional schooling. He explores the rise of unschooling during the pandemic, emphasizing its benefits and challenging common misconceptions. Boles critiques the traditional education system and discusses the emotional complexities parents face in choosing educational paths. His insights on nurturing children's interests highlight innovative learning solutions and the importance of self-care for parents in the process.

This week I’m joined by Zach Morris for a thoughtful conversation about the challenges of parenting neurodivergent teens who are approaching adulthood. We dig into a listener question about an almost-18-year-old who’s still really struggling, despite years of support. Zach and I explore the pressures parents face, the grief that can come up, how to hold boundaries with empathy, and why we need to rethink what success and failure actually mean. We also talk about the importance of understanding each child’s unique developmental timeline—and how to give ourselves and our kids space to pause, regroup, and keep going.   About Debbie: Debbie Reber, MA is a parenting activist, bestselling author, speaker, and the CEO and founder of TiLT Parenting, a resource, top-performing podcast, consultancy, and community with a focus on shifting the paradigm for parents raising and embracing neurodivergent children. A regular contributor to Psychology Today and ADDitude Magazine, and the author of more than a dozen books for children and teens, Debbie’s most recent book is Differently Wired: A Parent’s Guide to Raising an Atypical Child with Confidence and Hope. About Zach Zach Morris is a thought leader in education who is committed to helping people increase compassion, collaboration, and learning. Zach supports individuals, families, and organizations who aim to develop a greater sense of safety and empowerment in themselves, in their relationships, and in their communities. Gently guiding humans through the resistance they encounter is at the core of Zach’s work. Learn more about Zach here   Things You'll Learn from This Episode Why parenting neurodivergent teens near adulthood requires extra patience, flexibility, and a long-view approach How societal expectations can increase stress and make it harder to trust our child’s unique path Why processing grief is a necessary part of coming to terms with unmet expectations and ongoing struggles How setting and holding clear, compassionate boundaries helps support both safety and autonomy Why redefining success and failure can reduce pressure and create space for authentic growth How taking breaks, leaning on support, and staying attuned to our child’s timeline can nurture long-term resilience  Resources Mentioned The Self-Driven Children with William Stixrud and Ned Johnson (Tilt Parenting Podcast) Dr. Dan Peters on The Teen Years & Preparing to Launch (Tilt Parenting Podcast) The Autistic Burnout Workbook: Your Guide to Your Personal Recovery Plan by Dr. Megan Anna Neff A Conversation with Dr. Megan Anna Neff About Autistic Burnout (Tilt Parenting Podcast) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this conversation, I talk with neuropsychologist Lisa Rappaport about the realities of living with dyslexia—something she knows firsthand. We get into what dyslexia really is (and isn’t), how awareness and support have evolved, and why early diagnosis and strong advocacy matter so much. Lisa shares insights from both her personal and professional experience, and we talk through ways parents can support their kids with dyslexia at home and in school.    About Lisa Rappaport, PhD Lisa Rappaport, PhD, is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Manhattan with a specialty in working with and diagnosing learning disabilities. She has extensive training and experience in treating adults and children with dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, and anxiety disorders. In addition to her private practice, Dr.Rappaport is also on the faculty at the Rose F. Kennedy Center Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She lives in Manhattan. Things you'll learn from this episode Why early diagnosis and intervention are essential to support dyslexic children’s learning and confidence How parental advocacy can play a powerful role in securing school accommodations and support Why stigma and misunderstanding around dyslexia can negatively impact self-esteem—and how to counter it How gaps in teacher training contribute to delays in recognizing and addressing dyslexia in the classroom How consistent support at home and school can help dyslexic children thrive academically and emotionally Resources mentioned Dr. Lisa Rappaport’s website Parenting Dyslexia: A Comprehensive Guide to Helping Kids Develop Confidence, Combat Shame, and Achieve Their True Potential by Lisa Rappaport, PhD and Jody Lyons, MEd Parenting Dyslexia on Hachette Author Micki Boas on Advocating for Dyslexic Students (Full-Tilt Parenting) One in Five: How We’re Fighting for Our Dyslexic Kids in a System That’s Failing Them by Micki Boas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Psychotherapist and author Tina Payne Bryson talks about what showing up for our kids looks like and the theory of secure attachment and how it affects our children on a neurological level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Laura Markham to unpack the often messy world of sibling dynamics—especially when one or more kids are neurodivergent. We talk about why peaceful parenting starts with connection, how to handle those inevitable "it's not fair!" moments, and how to repair after conflict. Laura shares thoughtful, practical strategies for supporting each child’s unique needs while nurturing more positive sibling relationships, even when things feel really hard. About Dr. Laura Markham Dr. Laura Markham is the author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How To Stop Yelling and Start Connecting, Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How To Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life, and The Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids Workbook: Using mindfulness and connection to raise resilient, joyful children and rediscover your love of parenting. Dr. Laura Markham earned her PhD in clinical psychology at Columbia University and has worked as a parenting coach with countless families across the world. Over 170,000 moms and dads enjoy Dr. Laura’s free weekly coaching posts via email. You can sign up on any page of her website, Peacefulparenthappykids.com, which serves up Aha! Moments for parents of babies through teens. Dr. Laura’s aspiration is to change the world, one child at a time, by supporting parents. The proud mother of two thriving young adults who were raised with her peaceful parenting approach, she lives with her husband in New York. Things you'll learn from this episode Why parenting that prioritizes connection over strategy lays the foundation for healthy sibling dynamics How self-regulation in parents shapes the emotional tone and effectiveness of conflict resolution between siblings Why it’s important to embrace sibling conflict as a normal and teachable part of growing up, while guiding repair and emotional processing How acknowledging each child’s unique needs and avoiding comparison fosters a sense of fairness and individual worth Why modeling compassion, calm, and appropriate behavior teaches kids how to navigate conflict and build emotional intelligence How recognizing the goodwill in children and validating their feelings helps strengthen sibling bonds, even during tough moments Resources mentioned Dr. Laura Markham’s Peaceful Parent Happy Kids website Raising Peaceful Siblings with Tools to Ease Jealousy and Build Connection (Free Guide) Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting by Dr. Laura Markham Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How to Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life by Dr. Laura Markham Dr. Laura Markham on Facebook Dr. Laura Markham on Instagram Self-Compassion for Tough Moments Printable Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amanda Morin, an author, speaker, parent advocate, former early childhood educator and in-house expert for Understood, talks the importance and power of fostering empathy in our children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, I’m talking with pediatrician and author Ken Ginsburg about his new book Lighthouse Parenting. Ken shares his powerful framework for showing up as a steady, loving guide for our kids—offering both support and boundaries as they grow. We get into what it means to really know and prepare our kids, how to be their safe harbor in tough times, and why our own self-care matters just as much as theirs, especially in today’s world of social media and constant pressure. About Dr. Ken Ginsburg Dr. Ken Ginsburg practices Adolescent Medicine at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Ginsburg practices social adolescent medicine – service with special attention to prevention and the recognition that social context and stressors affect both physical and emotional health. His research over the last 35 years has focused on facilitating youth to develop their own solutions to social problems and to teach adults how to better serve them. He is the Founding Director of The Center for Parent and Teen Communications which works to empower parents with the skill-sets to strengthen their family connections and position them to guide their teens to become their best selves. It works to shift the cultural narrative about adolescence from being a time to survive to one in which development is to be optimized. His books include, Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings; Congrats- You’re Having a Teen!: Strengthen Your Family and Raise a Good Person; and Lighthouse Parenting:Raising your Child with Loving Guidance for an Enduring Bond. All of these works are published by The American Academy of Pediatrics. He currently works with Covenant House International’s 35 sites to solidify and magnify their practice model rooted in the healing power of loving and respectful adult connections with youth. Things you'll learn from this episode What “lighthouse parenting” is and how it offers a research-backed framework for guiding kids to grow up as resilient, thriving adults What it means to be a “secure base” for our kids and the power of stability in fostering resilience in all children Why preparing kids for life’s challenges starts with feeling unconditionally loved and truly known Why self-care, authentic modeling, and genuine repair are essential for strong parent-child relationships What it means to “actively see the best in our child” and why it matters  Resources mentioned About Dr. Ken Ginsburg Center for Parent and Teen Communication Fostering Resilience Lighthouse Parenting: Raising your Child with Loving Guidance for an Enduring Bond by Dr. Ken Ginsburg Congrats—You’re Having a Teen! Strengthen Your Family and Raise a Good Person by Dr. Ken Ginsburg Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings by Dr. Ken Ginsburg Dr. Devorah Heitner on Helping Kids Thrive in a Digital World (Tilt Parenting Podcast) Dr. Devorah Heitner on Parenting Kids Growing Up in Public (Tilt Parenting Podcast) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices