Raise Differently

Raising empowered neurodivergent children
"You don't have a broken child,
You have a broken system.
Raise Differently."
"You don't have a broken child, you have a broken system.
Raise Differently."
Polina Shkadron

When most common parenting advice fails

Most parenting advice is not geared toward neurodivergent families. For Autistic and ADHD kids, outdated and conflicting methods hinder the parent-child relationship, especially when you are stuck in the paradigm of reward and punishment. The fallout is troubling, leaving families grappling with frustration, disconnect, and uncertainty.

It is time to Raise Differently.

Raise Differently is a 3-step process

Raising differently is about understanding, supporting, and celebrating each child’s uniqueness, ensuring their strong sense of self and social-emotional well-being.
Accept: Accepting dysregulation as a discomfort means that you are your child’s anchor

Attune: Attuning to your own and your child’s emotional regulation builds trust

Advocate: Advocating from a place of deep self-reflection ensures effective communication

Acceptance + Attunement =
 Resilient ND Families

Raise Differently is a movement that embraces neurodivergence and encourages you to question what you know. It redefines advocacy, inspiring parents, caregivers, and educators to seek the child’s perspective in order to truly build resilience.

Raising differently is as strength-based approach to child development and family connection.

It starts with joining a child’s inner world and embracing their exploration. Emotional regulation and executive functioning are foundational to reach the pinnacle of self-advocacy. For children who think and interact uniquely, the goal is to foster authentic relationships free from rewards and consequences.

Strong language and the knowledge of how you learn are crucial for interactions, self-expression, and life-long skills. Raise differently celebrates the diverse communication styles of Autistic and ADHD kids, ensuring a strong parent-child bond and establishing a platform for self-efficacy.

Behaviors and emotions are natural responses. Rather than anxiously avoiding meltdowns, we meet the child where they are. Our dynamic approach is research-backed from across disciplines, easily molded to the entire family.

How Raise Differently challenges traditional parenting models:

Aspect Traditional Model Strength-Based Model
Focus Identifying and correcting deficits Recognizing and building on strengths
Approach to challenges Reactive, often with consequences or rewards Proactive, using challenges as a knowledge base
Relationship Often authoritarian, focusing on compliance Collaborative, building trust and self-efficacy
Communication Directive and corrective Open, empathetic, and supportive
Perception of ND kids Seen through the lens of their limitations Valued for their unique contributions and perspectives
Outcome goals Conformity to standard behavioral norms Individual growth, self-acceptance, and resilience
Emotional support Limited, with emphasis on changing the child Integral, focusing on emotional regulation and self-awareness
Parental role Enforcer of rules and norms A guide with boundaries
Learning environment Often rigid, with a one-size-fits-all model Dynamic, tailored to the child’s nervous system and skills
Success measurement Based on external standards and comparisons Based on personal milestones and individualized progress
Attitude toward failure Seen as a setback Viewed as a creative opportunity

How Raise Differently challenges traditional parenting models:

Perception of ND kids

Neurodivergent kids in the traditional model are seen through the lens of their limitations. Emotional support is minimal with an emphasis on changing the child and the parental role is that of an enforcer. The strength-based model values ND kids for their contributions and perspectives. Through an integral process, parents are a guide for emotional regulation and self-awareness.

Successful outcomes

Outcome goals differ significantly with the traditional model that aims for conformity to social norms. In a rigid learning environment success is measured according to external standards and comparisons. The strength-based model is resilience oriented, tailored to the child’s nervous system and skillset. Success is based on personal milestones and failure is part of the creative process.

Relationships

Traditional models have a reactive, authoritarian style, focusing on identifying and correcting deficits from a compliance perspective with consequences and rewards at the forefront. The strength-based model emphasizes trust and self-advocacy using a proactive approach. Collaborative problem solving regards conflicts as potential learning opportunities.

Raise Differently

with the power of play

Schedule a call with Polina to learn how to foster authentic connections and support emotional regulation in your child.
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