The Whole Parent Podcast Parenting ADHD Kids (with Dr. Josh & Dr. Tina Payne Bryson) #36
Resources Mentioned:
Punishment Free-Parenting
The Way of Play
Emotional Regulation Game Guide
Traditional Parenting Fails for ADHD Kids.
Growing up with ADHD this is the episode I wish my parents had...
In this episode, I’m sharing why traditional, compliance-based parenting doesn’t work for kids with ADHD and what we can do instead. I sat down with Dr. Josh Wyner and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson—two incredible experts—to break down the science behind ADHD and offer practical, brain-based strategies you can start using today.
We talk about identifying ADHD in kids, what’s really happening in the ADHD brain, why traditional parenting (aka compliance and punishments) backfire. We also give an alternatives: collaboration, creativity, and especially play to completely transform your relationship with your ADHD child.
This episode is personal, practical, and, I hope, incredibly helpful for anyone raising an ADHD kid—or even just trying to parent differently.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- Why traditional parenting strategies fail kids with ADHD.
- How understanding emotional tagging and time blindness can change your perspective on ADHD behaviors.
- Three practical strategies to connect with ADHD kids: collaborative problem-solving, fostering autonomy, and using play to build essential skills.
- BONUS: An exclusive never before heard exerpt from my upcoming book Punishment-Free Parenting
Featured Guests:
- Dr. Josh Wyner: Neuroscientist and founder of Willow Family Health, a nonprofit focused on neurodiversity-affirming mental health care.
- Dr. Tina Payne Bryson: Co-author of The Whole-Brain Child and The Way of Play—and one of the most compassionate voices in parenting today.
My Key Takeaways:
- ADHD isn’t about laziness or bad behavior—it’s about brain's placing different emotional value on things. Understanding those differences is the first step to parenting with empathy.
- Collaboration is everything. When we involve our kids in problem-solving, we’re building lifelong skills and deeper connections.
- Play isn’t just for fun; it’s one of the most effective ways to help ADHD kids build impulse control, emotional regulation, and attention skills.
Call to Action:
If this episode resonates with you, I’d love for you to preorder my book, Punishment-Free Parenting. It’s packed with practical tools and real stories, just like this episode, and it’s designed to help you parent with more connection and less stress—whether your child has ADHD or not.
Thanks for listening to The Whole Parent Podcast! If you found this episode helpful, share it with a friend or on social media—I’d love to keep this conversation going.
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@drjoshuawyner