In this engaging discussion, Sam Young, a neurodivergent educator with ADHD and director of Young Scholars Academy, dives into the evolving social lives of twice-exceptional students. He highlights how technology has reshaped peer connections and offers strategies for parents to support their kids through social challenges. Sam emphasizes the importance of mentorship and nurturing a strengths-based approach to social skills. He also introduces innovative methods to foster confidence and community, all while celebrating the unique strengths of neurodivergent youth.
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insights INSIGHT
Reimagine Socializing
Socializing has changed, so parents must reimagine their expectations.
Let go of past social norms and embrace current and future trends.
insights INSIGHT
Tech and Socializing
Kids' social lives are often online, which can be hard for parents to accept.
Many resist this, viewing online connections as less genuine.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Evaluate Online Interactions
Don't dismiss online communities; observe if kids connect, share, and build relationships there.
Ask if online interactions fulfill desired social needs, even in unconventional spaces like gaming.
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Raising an Exceptional Child in a Conventional World
Debbie Reber
Ready Player One
Trivia-on-Books Staff
In 'Ready Player One', Ernest Cline introduces Wade Watts, an 18-year-old living in a dystopian future where people escape their harsh reality through the OASIS, a vast virtual reality world. The story revolves around Wade's quest to find an Easter egg hidden by the OASIS's creator, James Halliday, which would grant the finder immense wealth and control over the OASIS. Wade, known as Parzival in the OASIS, must compete against other 'gunters' and the corporate-sponsored Sixers to achieve this goal. The novel is filled with 1980s pop culture references, adventure, and social commentary, making it a deeply engaging and nostalgic read.
The world has changed so very much in the past few years, including in no small way how our kids relate to other kids. I get a pang of nostalgia when I think about how I used to form friendships when I was younger in a more analog world, but I can also feel excitement about the many possibilities that have opened up for kids like ours to find their communities thanks to the technology they’re growing up with.
In this episode, Sam Young is going to talk with us about what a meaningful and healthy social life might look like for our differently wired kids, and how we can support them in the process. We explored how online communities have impacted socializing for neurodivergent kids, how parents can support kids in developing the skills to help with social anxiety, key elements to look for in ideal social environments for our differently-wired kiddos, and much more.
Sam Young MEd is a growth-minded, two-time Fulbright Scholar and Director of Young Scholars Academy, a strength-based, talent-focused virtual enrichment center that supports twice-exceptional, neurodivergent, and gifted students and their families. Sam is a neurodivergent educator who has ADHD. As an ADHD learner, he has a tremendous understanding of, experience in, and respect for all things related to neurodiverse education. Before founding Young Scholars Academy, Sam taught in a variety of capacities—including nearly a decade at Bridges Academy—at an array of programs in the US, Europe, and Asia.
Things you'll learn from this episode
What reimagining our kids’ social life really is about
How online communities have impacted our kid’s social lives
What Sam’s students wish their social lives looked like
How parents or adults in kids' lives can support them in building skills to help them with social anxiety
Sam’s thoughts on social skill groups and their efficacy
Expectations that parents have that might be getting in the way of their kid’s social lives
How parents can support a kid who is feeling alone to the point of their self-confidence and self-worth being affected
Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children 
