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.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

Dr. Nekeshia Hammond, a psychologist and motivational speaker specializing in burnout, joins the conversation to tackle parental exhaustion. She emphasizes the importance of self-care and taking 'adult time-outs' for mental health. Nekeshia offers practical strategies for establishing boundaries and accepting help, highlighting the need for a supportive community. She also addresses feelings of isolation among parents and encourages self-compassion, reminding us that we don’t have to do it all alone to raise resilient kids.

This week on In It, a crossover episode! Co-host Rachel Bozek chats with Mallory Yee, PhD, who is a host of Shining With ADHD, a parenting podcast from The Childhood Collective. Mallory is also a licensed psychologist specializing in kids with ADHD. On this episode, the two talk about how they handle moments and situations when their personal and professional lives meet. We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at init@understood.org.For a transcript and more resources, visit the In It page on Understood.org. Timestamps(04:30) Relating to our kids’ teachers(09:20) Being able to look back and laugh(12:54) Mallory on our personal vs. professional selves(14:29) Rachel on taking experts’ advice in real life(16:00) Thinking about our own advice and expectationsRelated resourcesShining With ADHD from The Childhood CollectiveHygiene battles: Tips from an ADHD expertSocial media and parenting: How much is too much? 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

The news is often scary, confusing, and sometimes overwhelming. And kids who learn and think differently may have an especially hard time with intense news cycles. In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek talk with returning guest Dr. Kristin Carothers. Kristin is a clinical psychologist based in Atlanta and New York City who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy and behavioral interventions. She’s also an adjunct associate professor of psychiatry at Morehouse School of Medicine and an expert contributor for Understood. Kristin offers tips and strategies to help parents and caregivers navigate difficult news cycles with kids who learn and think differently.To get a transcript of this show and check out more episodes, visit the In It podcast page at Understood.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at init@understood.org.Related resourcesHow scary news can impact kids who learn and think differentlyWhat is perseveration?Racism and violence: How to help kids handle the newsADHD parenting tips from a Black clinical psychologistTimestamps(3:18) Understanding the effect the news is having on your child(6:45) Flexible thinking(9:50) Respecting different points of view(13:32) Perseveration(17:08) Managing the impulse to overshare(17:44) Understanding levels of disclosure  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

Roberto Olivardia, a clinical psychologist and ADHD expert, discusses the intricate link between ADHD and addiction. He highlights how brain chemistry can lead to increased risk-taking behaviors in those with ADHD. Roberto shares compelling statistics about this heightened risk and the phenomenon of self-medication. He emphasizes the importance of open communication with children regarding substance use and the need for parents to teach assertiveness skills. His insights offer hope and guidance for families navigating these challenges.