Watch a recording of our LiveTalk with Lucie Brixí Tamášová in an enlightening live Q&A featuring William R. Stixrud, Ph.D., a clinical neuropsychologist, faculty member at Children’s National Medical Center, and co-author of the bestselling book The Self-Driven Child. In this inspiring session, Dr. Stixrud shares powerful insights on how nurturing a healthy sense of control in children lays the foundation for resilience, motivation, and emotional well-being. Drawing from neuroscience, psychological research, and decades of clinical experience, he explains how autonomy—not overprotection—is key to helping children thrive. Throughout the hour, he highlights how Montessori education beautifully aligns with these principles, offering a respectful, choice-based environment that fosters independence. This conversation offers practical tools for parents and educators alike, grounded in empathy, validation, and trust in the child’s innate capability.
00:00 – Welcome and Introduction
01:00 – The Power of a Sense of Control in Children
08:00 – The Neuroscience of Autonomy and Stress Response
14:00 – Principles for Raising a Self-Driven Child
20:00 – Promoting Independent Problem-Solving
26:00 – Supporting Anxiety Without Reinforcing Avoidance
32:00 – Building Resilience Through Autonomy
38:00 – The Value of Radical Downtime
44:00 – Modeling Calm: The Non-Anxious Presence
50:00 – Trusting Child-Led Play and Decision-Making
