Want to help your kids be successful and resilient? A Fort Collins educator wrote a new handbook

In The NOCO

Parents worry about getting parenting right: limiting screen time, teaching responsibility, helping with homework. It’s a lot of pressure.

Author Deborah Winking is an elementary school educator in Fort Collins. And she found her fears about raising a well-rounded child magnified after one of her children, Jack, was diagnosed with Sotos syndrome, a rare neurological disorder. Doctors weren’t optimistic that Jack would be able to live a full life.

But Deborah figured out how to support her son through childhood and school. Along the way she developed some guidelines for what it means to be a supportive parent.

Her newest book, Raising Capable Kids, distills years of her research and experience into a set of 12 habits for parents. She wrote it with families of neurodivergent kids in mind, but says she hopes her book is useful to any parent or teacher who wants their kids to grow into strong, curious and independent human beings.

Deborah spoke with host Erin O’Toole about some of the advice she offers to parents.

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Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole
Producer: Ariel Lavery
Executive Producer: Brad Turner

Theme music by Robbie Reverb
Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions
In The NoCo is a production of KUNC News and Community Radio for Northern Colorado.