Raising R.A.D. Kids

Raising R.A.D. Kids is a practical, real-world parenting book for anyone raising or supporting children and wondering what's really happening beneath behaviour.

R.A.D. stands for Regulation, Autonomy, and Daring, three essential elements that support emotional wellbeing, resilience, and confidence in children. Each section gradually builds on the last, helping adults respond with more calmness, consistency, and understanding, even in challenging moments.

Written with the brain in mind, this book helps parents and educators understand how children's nervous systems and developing brains shape emotions, behaviour, and learning. Instead of quick fixes or rigid strategies, it provides clarity, context, and practical tools that work in real homes with real kids.

The book is divided into four sections, guiding readers through the basics of brain-based parenting and how it appears in everyday life. Across 19 short, story-rich chapters, readers are encouraged to understand behaviour, foster emotional safety, strengthen connection, and raise children who feel secure enough to grow, try, and take healthy risks.

With over 25 years of experience as an educator and mum of two teens, Rachel Russell writes from a brain-based, real-world perspective that helps parents understand behaviour and respond with calm and confidence.