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Dr. David Palmer, Ed.D.
I am truly grateful every day for the opportunity to empower others as a father, a family life coach, and a special education teacher. As I work with many neurodivergent children and teenagers and their families, I aim to always share the valuable insights and resources I've gained throughout the years and pass them on to others so that they can experience transformation in their lives and families.
That’s why I was honored to facilitate yesterday’s workshop, "10 Ways to Nurture and Support Your Exceptionally Wired or Neurodivergent Child at Home." Throughout the workshop, I was entrusted to share my personal experiences and professional expertise to assist parents in better supporting their neurodivergent children.
Today, I'd like to share a few key takeaways from that time with you.
Thriving Resilience Model and Framework
During the workshop, I explored the ideas of thriving and resilience, using the metaphor of a sequoia tree to illustrate both concepts. Just like these impressive trees, our children have the potential to grow tremendously and be strong and connected. We saw that resilience is much more than bouncing back in adversity; it is the capacity to grow in who they are and who they are becoming so that they can live their lives intentionally with purpose and passion.
I introduced my Thriving Resilience Model/Framework that included six essential elements for our kids to develop thriving resilience: feeling valued, understood, loved, respected, and having the opportunity to grow and be heard. By focusing on these, as well as on their strengths rather than weaknesses, we empower our children to seek true happiness and fulfillment, even when they encounter life's inevitable obstacles. This is the essence of thriving: the freedom and power to embrace their true selves and reach their full potential.
Cultivating a Growth Mindset in Children
During our conversation, we emphasized the significance of instilling a growth mindset in our children. Instead of solely focusing on their accomplishments, we should celebrate their efforts and progress, which can significantly influence how they face challenges and their ability to conquer them.
By nurturing and supporting our children in the areas where development is needed (what I call their “stretches") and by encouraging them to tackle problems with our consistent guidance and support, we help them acquire the necessary skills to become more resilient and thrive.
We discussed many ways to do this, such as encouraging our children with specific affirmations that recognize their efforts and validating the difficulties they face as “construction in progress” moments. We also discussed how we can exemplify a growth mindset in our own lives and support our children's development by demonstrating that struggle and effort are appreciated, essential, and lead to thriving.
Parenting Strategies for Resilience and Growth
Raising a neurodivergent child requires staying strong, being consistent, and taking care of yourself. As parents, we should think of ourselves as coaches who encourage a positive attitude toward resilience by offering the right mix of challenge and support. Promoting independence while acknowledging the importance of working together (interdependence) helps children view failures as opportunities to learn rather than setbacks.
By integrating these principles into your parenting approach, you can empower your child to develop resilience and thrive. It's all about creating an environment where they feel secure enough to take chances, make mistakes, and learn from them.
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Self-Reflection, Continuous Improvement
A highlight for me was when we delved into the significance of self-reflection and ongoing improvement. One participant emphasized the need to concentrate on specific areas and to seek assistance and resources when necessary (YAY!).
Overall, I know those there left super-encouraged and ready to implement what they had learned in their homes. We discussed many insights and parenting strategies that you can use right away!
The journey is long, difficult, and full of frustrations and failures, but it is also full of strengths, supports, and successes, and is totally worth it for ourselves and our children.
If you weren’t able to attend yesterday, I’ve made the workshop available for you on our media page HERE.
I also included the PDF Workbook for you to engage with as you implement these ways to better understand and support your exceptionally wired children at home.
New Resources are In the Works!
Exciting news! I'm expanding my family and group coaching services to offer personalized strategies and goal-setting tailored to your needs. After the school year starts, we'll be launching a group coaching cohort in addition to offering retreats and courses for extra support.
If you're interested, I encourage you to schedule a 15-minute discovery call to determine the best coaching package for you. Plus, as a special offer, we're giving a 20% discount on your first or next coaching package with the coupon code "webinar20."
Your partner in cultivating thriving resilience,
Dr. David
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