The Interest Led Path

Dr. Kunjal Dharod

What happens when we stop trying to "mold" our children and start actually noticing them? Welcome to The Interest Led Path. This is a space for parents who are ready to move away from the pressure of traditional teaching and step into a life of natural discovery. I am Dr. Kunjal Dharod, MSPT, DPT and I am deeply passionate about this path because I’ve seen what happens when we trust a child’s innate drive to learn. This philosophy is for every child and every family. Whether your child is neurotypical or neurodivergent—ADHD, Autistic, a "Deep Diver," or a "Scanner"—this path honors the way their unique brain is wired. For many neurodivergent children, interest isn't just a preference; it is the essential "hook" that makes learning possible and joyful. What you can expect: The Power of the Rabbit Hole: How a single obsession is the engine for science, history, math, and life skills. Neuro-Affirming Perspectives: Celebrating hyper-fixations and unique learning rhythms as strengths, not "deficits." The "Clue" Mindset: How to curate an environment rich with tools, books, and digital resources that invite exploration. Autonomy & Respect: Strategies to help you let go of the "results" and focus on the human being in front of you. We aren't here to manage outcomes or replicate school at home. We are here to follow the spark. If you believe that curiosity is a birthright, you belong here. theinterestledpath.substack.com

الحلقات

  1. The Blank Answer Sheet

    ٤ مايو

    The Blank Answer Sheet

    He paced the room. Stimmed. Handed in a blank answer sheet. And then answered every question perfectly when asked verbally - with more depth and insight than the question even required. He also told his teacher, by the way, I am autistic and have ADHD. I process differently. Thank you for being flexible. Nine years old. No prompting. All him. When I shared this story a few family members pulled me aside with a concern: “You need to teach him to not leave the paper blank. He will not survive in the real world this way.” This episode is my response to that concern. Because I think they are asking the right question, and arriving at exactly the wrong answer. In this episode I talk about: — The full story of Yuvraaj’s Jainism year end exam — Why the blank answer sheet is not the problem — What the family’s reaction reveals about how we were taught to measure intelligence — Why the skills traditional education rewards are the exact skills becoming less relevant — What the future actually requires from our children — Why there is more than one way to show what you know — and why the future depends on us remembering that — What Yuvraaj’s moment in that exam room tells us about what nine years of interest-led learning actually builds This one is for every parent whose child has ever been missed by the system because their knowledge didn’t fit the format. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestledpath.substack.com

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  2. Don’t stop the rabbit hole. Here’s why.

    ٢١ أبريل

    Don’t stop the rabbit hole. Here’s why.

    It started with the color yellow. And it led to an encyclopedia knowledge of space, a bucket list of countries, a deep understanding of marine biology, and a curiosity that never stops finding new doors. In this episode I’m sharing the full story of Yuvraaj’s rabbit holes — from yellow school buses to wheels to Bumblebee to the origin of the universe — and what I almost did that would have stopped all of it. This episode is for every parent who has been told their child’s obsession is too much. Who has felt the urge to redirect, to rush, to move them along to something more educational. Don’t redirect them to what they should be doing instead. Here’s why. Topics covered: — The yellow school bus that started everything — and why it ended up on a wedding invitation — The wheels obsession and what it actually built — The Bumblebee moment I almost redirected — and what it became — What it means when a child owns knowledge rather than just memorizes it — How Aarin learns from Yuvraaj and then takes his own direction — How to drown out the noise when everyone around you questions the obsession — Why not stopping it is not enough — you have to feed it too — Why the child lining up cars is not doing it wrong — Why it always works out — always This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theinterestledpath.substack.com

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حول

What happens when we stop trying to "mold" our children and start actually noticing them? Welcome to The Interest Led Path. This is a space for parents who are ready to move away from the pressure of traditional teaching and step into a life of natural discovery. I am Dr. Kunjal Dharod, MSPT, DPT and I am deeply passionate about this path because I’ve seen what happens when we trust a child’s innate drive to learn. This philosophy is for every child and every family. Whether your child is neurotypical or neurodivergent—ADHD, Autistic, a "Deep Diver," or a "Scanner"—this path honors the way their unique brain is wired. For many neurodivergent children, interest isn't just a preference; it is the essential "hook" that makes learning possible and joyful. What you can expect: The Power of the Rabbit Hole: How a single obsession is the engine for science, history, math, and life skills. Neuro-Affirming Perspectives: Celebrating hyper-fixations and unique learning rhythms as strengths, not "deficits." The "Clue" Mindset: How to curate an environment rich with tools, books, and digital resources that invite exploration. Autonomy & Respect: Strategies to help you let go of the "results" and focus on the human being in front of you. We aren't here to manage outcomes or replicate school at home. We are here to follow the spark. If you believe that curiosity is a birthright, you belong here. theinterestledpath.substack.com