According to neuropsychologist Dr. William Stixrud, parents should be their kids’ consultants, not their managers. When we spend our time trying to control our kids, we weaken them and exhaust ourselves. In this episode, Diana talks with Dr. Stixrud about his book The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives. Additionally, they discuss how to support healthy development, self-motivation, and emotional resilience in our kids. This episode is a game-changer for parents and clinicians, but, of course, “It’s your call” if you want to listen!
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Listen and Learn
- Why giving kids more sense of control sets them up to thrive
- A more effective approach to homework battles, technology use, and underage drinking
- The parenting magic of the words, “It’s your call”
- How to prepare your kids for college (and it’s not practicing SAT’s!)
About Dr. William Stixrud:

William R. Stixrud, Ph.D., is a clinical neuropsychologist and founder of The Stixrud Group, a lifespan neuropsychology practice. He is also a member of the faculty at Children’s National Medical Center, and he is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the George Washington School of Medicine.
Additionally, Dr. Stixrud is a frequent lecturer the author of scientific articles and book chapters on Transcendental Meditation and other topics. Most recently, he is the author–with co-writer Ned Johnson–of The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives. Dr. Stixrud has been quoted often in publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Times of London, Scientific American, Time.com, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, Businessweek, and Vogue. He is also a rock and roll musician and plays in the band Close Enough.
Resources
- The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives by William Stixrud and Ned Johnson
- The Stixrud Group: A Lifespan Neuropsychology Practice
- When a College Student Comes Home to Stay – The New York Times
- On Leave: College Wellness, Mental Health and Not Returning to Campus – On Point