In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently

Sometimes, parents and caregivers can feel overwhelmed or burned out. Caring for children can feel exhausting and add up without us even realizing it.What’s a parent to do?In this episode of In It, we talk with Dr. Nekeshia Hammond. Hammond is a psychologist, executive function coach, and motivational speaker. She specializes in helping people navigate burnout and exhaustion, as well as how to build resiliency.During our conversation, Nekeshia shows us ways to answer the following questions:How am I doing?What do I need?What steps can I take today to make some improvements in my life?She also talks about the importance of finding support you can lean on and understanding that you, as a parent or caregiver, don’t have to do everything. Timestamps(02:08) Taking a minute(04:47) Adult time-outs for managing parental burnout(06:28) Long-term strategies for your mental health and finding boundaries(11:11) Delegating tasks and accepting help(14:07) What to do when we lose it(17:10) Knowing when to walk away(20:25) Feeling isolatedRelated resourcesParenting guilt: Tips to get past itA personal conversation about being a mom (and woman) with ADHD“I’m not yelling—you’re yelling!” Tips for staying calm when kids act outBuilding self-compassion skills32 examples of workplace accommodationsFor a transcript of this episode and additional 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

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.

This week on In It, we’re sharing an episode of another podcast we love called Good Inside with Dr. Becky.The show’s host, Dr. Becky Kennedy, is a clinical psychologist and mom of three. Each week, she talks to parents, experts, and trusted friends and colleagues about strategies and tips for the stickiest parenting situations.We’re sharing an episode called The ‘more’ kids, featuring Dr. Becky in conversation with Debbie Reber, the founder of Tilt Parenting. The two define what it means to have a “more” kid. These are kids we might describe as “deeply feeling.”From resistance to tears and meltdowns, “more” kids have big reactions, and yes, usually more often. Listen to learn about strategies for navigating life with a “more” kid. 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

If you like this show, consider making a donation this holiday season. 100% of your donation will go towards helping us create more podcasts (like this one!). Click here to make a gift today.Gus Walz is the son of vice presidential nominee Tim Walz. You may have seen him cheering for his dad at the Democratic National Convention in August. At that time, many of us learned that he has a nonverbal learning disability or NVLD.In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek talk with Dr. Andy Kahn. Andy is a psychologist, and he’s the associate director of Expertise and Strategic Design here at Understood. He also hosts the Understood podcast Parenting Behavior. Listen as Andy explains what it means to have an NVLD. He also talks about the relationship between NVLDs and ADHD. 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 resourcesWhat are nonverbal learning disabilities?Classroom accommodations for nonverbal learning disabilitiesVideo: A young woman opens up about growing up with NVLDTimestamps  (02:16) Defining NVLD(03:44) More details about NVLDs(07:21) ADHD and NVLDs(08:30) Neurodivergence in the news  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

If you like this show, consider making a donation this holiday season. 100% of your donation will go towards helping us create more podcasts (like this one!). Click here to make a gift today.You might have heard or seen the acronym STEM in education circles. It stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. And it can be very helpful for kids with learning and thinking differences.In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek talk with Kara Ball. Kara is the author of 50 Strategies for Teaching STEAM Skills. She has been a science and special education teacher, and a STEM education specialist for Baltimore public schools. She was also a finalist for National Teacher of the Year in 2018. 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.Timestamps(1:18) Defining STEM(3:16) Kara’s dyslexia and dyscalculia diagnoses(5:07) Why Kara became a special education teacher(8:23) Understanding where STEM and learning and thinking differences meet(20:31) Working on communication and collaborationRelated resources:What is dyslexia?What is dyscalculia?Video: Are boys better at math than girls?What if the teacher has learning differences, too?Kara’s book: 50 Strategies for Teaching STEAM Skills 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

Brushing their teeth. Taking a shower. Cleaning up after themselves. What’s going on when kids seem to ignore these must-do tasks? And what can parents and caregivers do to change that?In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek talk with Brendan Mahan. Brendan is an executive function coach and the host of the podcast ADHD Essentials. He offers tips and strategies to help parents and caregivers understand why some kids avoid working on their personal hygiene.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 resourcesWashing hands: How to get kids in the habit ADHD and messinessA day in the life of a child with slow processing speedBrendan’s podcast, ADHD EssentialsTimestamps(01:51) Cleanliness and self-care(06:43) Executive function, room cleaning, and more(18:07) Social concerns(21:07) Reward systems(23:07) Hygiene late bloomers 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

Gearing up for a new school year can feel overwhelming. As the first day of school gets close, kids have so much to think about. And so do parents and caregivers. In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek talk with Kate Garcia. Kate is a high school teacher with lots of back-to-school experience and tips. For a transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the In It episode page at Understood.org.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at init@understood.org.Related resourcesBedtime battles: Why won’t my child just go to sleep?The best way to ease the back-to-school transitionCheck out Understood’s back-to-school support guideDownload: Backpack checklistGoblinTools: Magic ToDoTimestamps(1:22) Getting back on a sleep schedule  (3:36) Picking out clothes(6:40) Getting organized(9:55) How to communicate with the school  (13:24) Helping kids have good food to fuel their day 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 us for new episodes of In It, a podcast on raising kids who learn differently.  Hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek continue to offer advice, camaraderie, stories of successes, and — let’s be real — failures.We’ll hear from experts, parents, and caregivers on a range of topics — from bribes vs. rewards to managing some of the unanticipated costs of raising neurodivergent kids. 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