In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently

Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she investigates the rise of women recently diagnosed with ADHD. Listen to Climbing the Walls now. In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome author and therapist KC Davis. KC is a therapist who hosts the podcast Struggle Care. Her new book Who Deserves Your Love will be out in May 2025. She is also the best-selling author of How to Keep House While Drowning.  KC talks about being a “messy” person and reasons why we could all benefit from caring a little less about messiness. She offers tips for getting your home to “work for you.” And she helps us understand reasons to care less about the mess.Related resourcesMessy room? How to help your child keep it neatWhy kids with executive function challenges have trouble starting tasksListen: ADHD and messiness (Jeannie’s story)My Home Is Messy, and I Don’t Feel Bad About It (KC in The New York Times)Timestamps(3:08) What makes us special can also be what makes us scattered(4:41) The tendency to be messy(5:52) Identifying solutions(7:32) Executive function and home management(10:18) The steps involved in a task(11:20) Helpful tips(14:28) Focusing on function(16:37) How you talk about messFor a transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the episode page on Understood.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at init@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she investigates the rise of women recently diagnosed with ADHD. Listen to Climbing the Walls now.In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome professional parent advocate Danielle Ward. Danielle started out advocating for her own kids, several years ago. Now, through her company Encompass Parent Solutions, she offers families of kids with learning and thinking differences non-legal help with advocacy, support, and education counsel. Danielle chats with Gretchen and Rachel about some of the most important dos and don’ts for parents who are advocating for their child at school. Danielle outlines the steps to take when your child is struggling and how to recognize when a parent advocate might be necessary. She also explains the difference between a parent advocate and a special education attorney.For a transcript and more resources, visit the In It page on Understood.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at init@understood.org.Related resources8 steps to advocating for your child at schoolWhere to find legal helpThe difference between special education advocates and attorneysWhat is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)?Listen: An attorney’s advice on special education disputesTimestamps(00:59) What does a parent advocate do?(02:56) Description of Danielle’s first IEP meeting(04:57) Understanding the difference between parent advocates and lawyers(08:13) Whether or not kids should be in meetings at school(09:22) Steps to follow when you sense your child is struggling(10:33) What to do when your child has a diagnosis(15:24) Tips for writing an effective letter or email(19:02) Dos and don’ts for child advocacy(22:06) Guidelines for recording meetings Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she investigates the rise of women recently diagnosed with ADHD. Listen to Climbing the Walls now.In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome parenting coach Mary Van Geffen. Mary offers online classes including a special one for moms of what she calls “spicy ones.” She also shares fun, funny, and relatable posts every day on Instagram.Mary talks with Gretchen and Rachel about parenting spicy kids and how to know if you, too, are spicy. What does it mean to be spicy? Are you spicy? And what should you do about it?Related resourcesParenting tips when you and your child have ADHDBody doubling for ADHD: What it is and how it works5 oddly specific ADHD strategies that help me workListen: ADHD and: Parenting failsListen: Double trouble: ADHD moms share what it’s like to parent kids with ADHDMary Van Geffen: Parent Coach for the Spicy OnesTMTimestamps  (1:10) Defining “spicy ones”(4:41) Parents’ worries about themselves as parent  (7:36) What impacts children most(8:59) Dealing with sensory overload as a parent(16:51) Organization challenges for parents with ADHD(18:55) Body doublingFor a transcript and more resources, visit the In It page on Understood.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at init@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she investigates the rise of women recently diagnosed with ADHD. Listen to Climbing the Walls now.For kids who struggle with ADHD, building skills like executive function and self-advocacy can be difficult. In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome Dr. Andy Kahn. Andy is a licensed psychologist and the associate director of behavior change and expertise here at Understood. He’s also the host of the podcast Parenting Behavior with Dr. Andy Kahn.Andy discusses why skill-building is important for kids with ADHD. He also shares many ways families can help.Related resourcesUnderstanding impulsivity in kidsThe 3 areas of executive functionADHD medication shortages: 8 ways to copeListen: Talking through social strugglesListen: The power of self-advocacy for kids at IEP and 504 meetingsTimestamps  (1:27) Reasons why some kids do not take meds (3:42) Areas where skill-building can help kids with ADHD (5:33) Skill-building for executive function (10:38) Skill-building for social situations(15:40) Skill-building for impulsivity (19:25) Understanding and working on self-advocacy (23:00) The connection between access to medication and skill-buildingFor a transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the In It page on Understood.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at init@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she investigates the rise of women recently diagnosed with ADHD. Listen to Climbing the Walls now.What makes learning to read difficult? And how does having dyslexia make it even more challenging?In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome literacy expert Louise Baigelman. A former teacher, Louise is the co-founder and CEO of the literacy organization Storyshares. She explains why reading can be so challenging for kids who struggle with dyslexia, and shares tips and strategies to help.Tune in to get Louise’s expert advice on how to help struggling readers.Related resources9 terms to know if your child has trouble with readingThe difference between dyslexia and dyscalculia9 free public library resources for your child (and you)What is explicit instruction?Listen: Dyslexia is more than mixing up lettersTimestamps (1:08) Why reading is such a challenge for kids with dyslexia(2:06) The meaning of explicit instruction(2:37) Common reading struggles for kids with dyslexia(4:18) Reasons learning to read gets harder as kids get older(5:19) Ways to engage struggling readers(8:14) How audiobooks can help(12:16) The science of reading(17:11) Activities to help support reading  (22:53) Next steps and tips for parents of struggling readersFor a transcript and more resources, visit the In It episode page on Understood.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at init@podcast.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Parenting can often feel socially isolating. On this episode of In It, we hear from a few parents who have felt socially isolated while raising kids with learning and thinking differences. They share some of the challenges they have run into and talk about some strategies they’ve found for building relationships with other adults. Related resources8 things I wish people knew about parenting a child with ADHDWhy some kids have trouble making friends7 ways to prepare kids for visiting relatives and family friendsListen: ADHD and puberty: What to expectListen: Guided meditation for stressed parentsListen: Homework battles: What really mattersTimestamps  (1:10) Parent friendships(1:59) When your parenting style is misunderstood or judged(5:48) Finding parents who can relate(7:34) Realizing the risks that come with sharing experiences with other parents(8:49) Being friends with parents of kids who are not friends with your own kid(10:31) When the parent is neurodiverseFor a transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the In It page on UnderstoodWe love hearing from our listeners! Email us at init@understood.org Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

What is dyscalculia? How can parents spot it? And is it anything like dyslexia?Find out about all of this and more from Brendan Hodnett. Brendan is a middle school special education and math teacher. He is also an adjunct professor at Hunter College in New York City, where he offers courses on inclusive ways to teach math.Tune in to learn more about early signs of dyscalculia, how it affects kids inside and outside the classroom, and tips that can help.Related resources10 surprising ways dyscalculia impacts kidsSigns of dyscalculia at different agesDyscalculia and managing moneyListen: Math anxiety, dyscalculia, and other reasons math can be hard for kidsListen: What if the teacher has learning differences too?Timestamps(1:04) How to pronounce dyscalculia(1:38) How dyscalculia relates to dyslexia(2:48) How it affects a child’s concept of time and sense of direction(4:34) Early signs (5:29) Exploring a diagnosis(10:24) How dyscalculia shows up outside of math class(13:48) Understanding moneyFor a transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the In It page on Understood.org.We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at init@understood.org Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

From school to friends to home, being a teenager is tough. Also tough? Raising one! On this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome Karen Wilson. Karen is a clinical neuropsychologist, director of West LA Neuropsychology, and host of the Diverse Thinking, Diverse Learning podcast.Tune in to get Karen’s expert advice about supporting your child through the teen years.Related resourcesHow to help high schoolers gain self-controlDevelopmental milestones for teenagersWhat to do when your teen or tween is lonelyListen: When kids and teens have tantrums: how to helpListen: Unpacking the teen mental health crisis: How we got here and what to do about itTimestamps  (01:35) What’s going on in teens’ brains(06:10) When teens want more independence(16:56) Sexual and gender identities(21:48) The awesome side of teensFor a transcript and more resources, visit the In It page on Understood.orgWe love hearing from our listeners. Email us at init@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Money. Budgeting. Savings. They’re all stressful. And when you factor in the added expenses that can come with raising a child with learning and thinking differences, it can feel like too much.In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome personal finance expert Kim Palmer. Kim is a mom to three kids and she writes for NerdWallet. She’s also the author of three books about money: Smart Mom, Rich Mom; The Economy of You; and Generation Earn.Tune in to get Kim’s expert advice about budgeting when you have kids with learning and thinking differences.For a transcript and more resources, visit the In It page on Understood.orgWe love hearing from our listeners. Email us at init@understood.org.Related resourcesLong-term financial planning for a child with special needsChecklist: Saving for collegeListen: Impulse buying, negative bank balances, and the ADHD taxTimestamps  (1:38) Unanticipated expenses(5:54) Budgeting tools(10:53) Emergencies and the struggle to save(22:23) Letting kids in on the financesFor a transcript and more resources, visit the In It page on Understood.orgWe love hearing from our listeners. Email us at init@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

We’ve all been there: Our child is refusing to do something that, to us, seems super reasonable. Do we offer them a reward to get them to cooperate? Where is the line between bribery and rewarding a child? Will we ruin them?In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome Dr. Andy Kahn back to the show. Dr. Andy is a licensed psychologist and Understood’s associate director of behavior change and expertise. He’s also the host of the podcast Parenting Behavior with Dr. Andy Kahn.Tune in to get Andy’s expert advice about bribes and rewards.Related resourcesWhat are positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS)?7 ideas for using rewards and consequencesThe power of motivation for kids who learn and think differentlyHow to give praise that builds kids’ self-esteem“I’m not yelling—you’re yelling!” Tips for staying calm when kids act outTimestamps (1:22) The difference between a bribe and a reward(5:08) Pairing verbal praise with reinforcement(8:31) How close to the behavior should the reward be(16:03) Money as a reward(21:08) Behavior charts and LTDs(25:14) Helping kids change behaviorsFor a transcript and more resources, visit the In It page at Understood.orgWe love hearing from our listeners. Email us at init@understood.org.  Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give