In a time when many children are misunderstood for how they express their needs, how can we shift from reacting to truly relating?

Every child carries a world within them—especially those who experience life through the lens of neurodivergence. As grown-ups, the invitation isn’t to fix, but to listen—to meet our kids with empathy, patience, and a willingness to see what lies beneath the surface.

And so, a neurological nurturer is leading that conversation—bridging science and story to help families connect through compassion, recognize the beauty in difference, and empower children to better understand themselves and the world around them.

Neurologist & Children’s Author, Dr. Shafer Stedron, joins our John Masiulionis and Little Forrest on Episode #239 of PR From The Heart’s Children’s Books Spotlight Series to share her inspiring journey, the launch of her new children’s book, The Boy and His Brightly Colored Blocks (published by Little House of Dreams Publishing), the importance of compassionate approaches to supporting children with PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) and other neurodivergent conditions, the value of understanding the underlying needs of our youth rather than focusing on surface-level behaviors, the power of prioritizing connection over correction with our kids, strategies to help children understand and manage their emotions in a supportive, non-judgmental manner, how pursuing one’s passion can lead to meaningful work that positively impacts others, plus much more.

We encourage you, our fellow neighbors, to support Dr. Shafer by grabbing your copies of The Boy and His brightly Colored Blocks and enjoying this empowering read with your little ones: https://bit.ly/42SDiAu.

The Boy and His Brightly Colored Blocks copyright © 2025 by Dr. Shafer Stedron • Illustrations copyright © 2025 by Katerina Valerieva. Courtesy of Little House of Dreams Publishing. All Rights Reserved.

️ Stay connected with Dr. Shafer online and on social media:

Official Website: https://bit.ly/42MJjin

YouTube: https://bit.ly/4jIaror

TikTok: https://bit.ly/4iW0TVP

Instagram: https://bit.ly/4iSgN3E

Facebook: https://bit.ly/430CFUq