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

Latest Episodes:

TPP 005: Julie George on the Role of Executive Functioning in Differently-Wired Kids Apr 26, 2016

Show notes

This episode of the TILT Parenting Podcast features a conversation with behavior and education consultant, Julie George. I heard Julie speak at a lecture on emotional regulation at the University of Washington many years ago and immediately knew I wanted her to work with my son, Asher. She is an expert on all things emotional regulation and executive functioning, and her approach for supporting kids in strengthening their skills in both these areas is powerful and successful.

For this episode, I ask Julie to share her insights specifically on executive functioning—what it is, why it matters, how deficits in it can impact differently-wired kids, and how we can help our kids develop these skills. Nearly all differently-wired children struggle with some aspect of executive functioning, and Julie’s insights will give you ideas for supporting your child that you can begin implementing right away. We also spend a little time at the beginning of our conversation talking about the unique way girls on the autism spectrum present and why it’s not as easily recognized.

Julie George, M.Ed, BCBA, is a behavior and educational consultant. She received her master’s degree in elementary education from Northern Arizona University in 2006. She provides ABA therapy to adolescents with high functioning autism (ages 10-18) in the areas of social skills, executive functioning and emotion regulation in her private practice in Seattle.

THINGS YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE:

What exactly executive functioning is and why it’s so critical
The age at which executive functioning deficits start to negatively impact differently-wired kids
Why middle school is a particularly challenging time for kids with executive functioning deficits
How to build up support at home for strengthening executive functioning skills in a way that respects their personal developmental timeline
Why twice-exceptional (2e) kids aren’t developing their executive functioning at the same rate as their peers
The 4 steps to supporting executive functioning development in kids

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Julie George: Email julie.george@outlook.com and telephone: 206-941-4667
The University of Washington Autism Center
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed by Jessica Lahey
Smart But Scattered: The Revolutionary “Executive Skills” Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare

Support the show

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

TPP 004: Kate Berger on What Mindfulness Can Do for Kids and How to Get Started Apr 08, 2016

Show notes

For this episode of the TiLT Parenting Podcast, I sit down with Kate Berger, a child and adolescent psychologist, Mindfulness instructor, and owner of the Netherlands-based therapy practice, Expat Kids’ Club, for a conversation about the benefits of mindfulness in kids and ideas for how to begin weaving mindfulness into our families’ lives.

Kate is heavily engaged in the movement to bring mindfulness into schools and other children’s communities, and is a big believer in the benefits of mindfulness in kids, especially with regards to emotional and mental well-being, both in school and in their inner lives.

Kate Berger, MSc is a child and adolescent psychologist, consultant, and the founder of The Expat Kids Club which has provided counsel to hundreds of youngsters and, their families, as well as major corporations, from the U.K., Germany, Singapore, and the U.S. Kate is also the Co-Chair & Co-Founder of the Families In Global Transition affiliate in The Netherlands, and is a dedicated mindfulness meditation practitioner and certified instructor who teaches mindfulness to young people through the collaborative Mindfulness International.

THINGS YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE:

What mindfulness actually is
Why developing a mindfulness practice is a natural fit for children
How mindfulness can specifically benefit differently-wired kids
How mindfulness can support a parent in especially intense or difficult moments
Tips and ideas for introducing, encouraging, and supporting a mindfulness practice in your family

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Kate Berger’s practice The Expat Kids’ Club
Mindfulness in Schools Project
Mindful Schools
MindUP Foundation
Sitting Still Like a Frog (book)
Headspace mindfulness app (iTunes)
“When Mindfulness Meets the Classroom” (The Atlantic Article)
Free mindfulness course through Future Learn

Support the show

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

TPP 003: 11-year-old Asher on What ADHD, and Getting Distracted, Feels Like Apr 04, 2016

Show notes

This episode is the first of a new regular feature of the TiLT Parenting Podcast—a special kid’s POV edition. Every few weeks, I’ll be sharing a conversation with my 11-year-old child Asher, in which we discuss an issue that’s particularly relevant to families with differently-wired kids. Asher hopes that by sharing his perspective on the kinds of things we as parents can struggle to navigate, moms and dads everywhere will better understand what’s happening with their child, as well as gain new inspiration for moving through tough situations in a way that best serves everyone involved.

In this episode, we tackle what ADHD feels like, and specifically the issue of DISTRACTION, something that has been a significant challenge for us as a family, and more recently, has become frustrating for Asher himself. In our short conversation, Asher shares what the experience of getting distracted actually feels like for him, as well as how frustrating getting distracted can actually be. We also discuss some of the strategies we’re using to help Asher stay on-task as we work to develop his focusing muscles.

Debbie Reber is the founder of TiLT and the host of the Tilt Parenting Podcast. 11-year-old Asher is Debbie’s son and is regularly featured on the podcast.

Things you’ll learn from this episode

Asher’s thoughts on what ADHD actually feels like, including what it’s like to always be distracted
Why it’s frustrating for the kids themselves to get distracted
What might motivate a child to work on staying focused
The strategy we’re using to help Asher stay focused and on-task while using his screen time

Resources mentioned for Asher’s perspective on what ADHD feels like

Support the show

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

TPP 002: Alison Bower on When School Isn't a Fit: What to Expect and How to Handle It Apr 04, 2016

Show notes

I’m sharing with you my go-to expert on raising differently-wired kids—my friend + educational / curriculum advisor, Alison Bower. Alison has been supporting, guiding, and advising me on all things Asher since he was a little guy, and her understanding of how children experience the world, ability to be frank and gentle at the same time, and warmth and sense of humor, has literally gotten me through some of the trickiest times in my life as a parent.

It was hard to narrow down what to focus on for this first conversation, but we ultimately decided to talk about how to navigate the tricky situations (yet common for parents raising differently-wired kids) that arise when it becomes clear that a school may not be the best fit for a child and/or that the way a school is supporting a child isn’t adequately meeting their needs. For many parents of atypical kids, school fit is a major issue, and often an incredibly frustrating one, as there is no manual for how to best navigate through it, let alone advocate for one’s child in a way that is best for everyone concerned.

For this episode, Alison brings her unique perspective as both an educator and a parent who’s been in our shoes, to share what it looks like from both sides of the equation.

Alison Bower is the professional development and communications manager for the ed tech startup, Enlearn, as well as a parenting, relocation, and educational consultant and parent educator through her own company, Alison Bower Consulting. Alison has more than 16 years experience in teaching, administration, curricular planning, management, and professional development for early childhood, elementary and middle schools.

THINGS YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE:

What it means when a school says “We’re not sure this is the best fit for your child”
How and what to ask for in terms of accommodations and support for your child
What parents can expect in navigating school fit challenges, both in private and public schools
What a school’s responsibility is when there’s a question of appropriate fit for a student
Things to consider when looking at school options for a differently-wired child
How much parents should disclose about their child when applying to schools

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Support the show

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

Tilt Parenting Trailer Apr 01, 2016

Show notes

Tilt Parenting is the first podcast for parents raising differently wired children — learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, gifted, twice-exceptional, and more — and features transformational interviews and conversations between Tilt founder Debbie Reber and authors, parenting experts, educators, and other parents, from a neurodivergent-affirming lens.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TPP 001: Margaret Webb on Finding Peace in Parenting the Child You Didn't Expect Mar 27, 2016

Show notes

In this premiere episode of the TiLT Parenting Podcast, I’m thrilled to share with you a conversation with Margaret Webb. Margaret is a Martha Beck certified Master Life Coach, parenting coach, nature-based coach, and former teacher. She’s also the mother of a 12-year-old differently-wired son, and has spent many years helping other parents on unexpected journeys find more joy and peace in their parenting experience.

Margaret believes that while many of us as parents are busy trying to meet our child’s unique needs, we’re often neglecting our own. In our conversation, she shares her ideas for how parents can shift this dynamic in a way that results in a more peaceful, more rewarding experience all around. The bonus? Our kids reap the biggest benefits.

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 to feel empowered as a parent so you can be proactively peacefully instead of reactive
What the process of letting go of the expectations we have of ourselves and who our children “should” be looks like
How the energy we bring to the table can either positively or negatively impact day-to-day challenges
The benefits of community support for parents raising differently-wired kids
What is at the root of much of the frustration we as parents experience
The simple act with huge benefits: deep breaths
How taking care of ourselves in rough moments is great modeling for our kids

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Support the show

Connect with Tilt Parenting