In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently

By Understood.org, Gretchen Vierstra, Rachel BozekHealth & Fitness Mental Health Education Parenting Kids & Family How To

In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently episodes

January 30, 2025Feeling socially isolated as a parent? You’re not alone
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 resources
8 things I wish people knew about parenting a child with ADHD
Why some kids have trouble making friends
7 ways to prepare kids for visiting relatives and family friends
Listen: ADHD and puberty: What to expect
Listen: Guided meditation for stressed parents
Listen: Homework battles: What really matters
Timestamps
(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 neurodiverse
For a transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the In It page on Understood
We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at [email protected]
Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at u.org/give

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15 min
January 16, 2025Signs of dyscalculia and other tips from a math expert
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 resources
10 surprising ways dyscalculia impacts kids
Signs of dyscalculia at different ages
Dyscalculia and managing money
Listen: Math anxiety, dyscalculia, and other reasons math can be hard for kids
Listen: 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 money
For 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 [email protected]
Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at u.org/give

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
25 min
January 02, 2025What were they thinking? An expert on teenage brains explains
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 resources
How to help high schoolers gain self-control
Developmental milestones for teenagers
What to do when your teen or tween is lonely
Listen: When kids and teens have tantrums: how to help
Listen: Unpacking the teen mental health crisis: How we got here and what to do about it
Timestamps
(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 teens
For a transcript and more resources, visit the In It page on Understood.org
We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected].
Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at u.org/give

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
25 min
December 19, 2024Another lost sneaker? How to cover the unexpected costs of raising a kid
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.org
We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected].
Related resources
Long-term financial planning for a child with special needs
Checklist: Saving for college
Listen: Impulse buying, negative bank balances, and the ADHD tax
Timestamps
(1:38) Unanticipated expenses
(5:54) Budgeting tools
(10:53) Emergencies and the struggle to save
(22:23) Letting kids in on the finances
For a transcript and more resources, visit the In It page on Understood.org
We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected].
Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at u.org/give

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
27 min
December 05, 2024Candy or money as a reward? The answer might surprise you
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 resources
What are positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS)?
7 ideas for using rewards and consequences
The power of motivation for kids who learn and think differently
How to give praise that builds kids’ self-esteem
“I’m not yelling—you’re yelling!” Tips for staying calm when kids act out
Timestamps
(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 behaviors
For a transcript and more resources, visit the In It page at Understood.org
We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected].
Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at u.org/give

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
30 min
November 21, 2024Parental burnout? What to do before you lose it
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 isolated
Related resources
Parenting guilt: Tips to get past it
A personal conversation about being a mom (and woman) with ADHD
“I’m not yelling—you’re yelling!” Tips for staying calm when kids act out
Building self-compassion skills
32 examples of workplace accommodations
For 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 [email protected].
Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at u.org/give

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
26 min
November 07, 2024Do parenting podcast hosts always take their own advice?
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 [email protected].
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 expectations
Related resources
Shining With ADHD from The Childhood Collective
Hygiene battles: Tips from an ADHD expert
Social media and parenting: How much is too much?
Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at u.org/give

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
20 min
October 24, 2024Is the news stressing your kids out? Tips for getting through it
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 [email protected].
Related resources
How scary news can impact kids who learn and think differently
What is perseveration?
Racism and violence: How to help kids handle the news
ADHD parenting tips from a Black clinical psychologist
Timestamps
(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 is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at u.org/give

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
29 min
October 10, 2024ADHD and addiction: Knowledge is power
You may have read or heard that kids with ADHD are at a higher risk for addiction. Is this true? If so, why? And what can we, as parents and caregivers, do about it?
In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek talk with Dr. Roberto Olivardia. Roberto is a Massachusetts-based clinical psychologist. He has spent years evaluating people for learning and thinking differences including ADHD. And he was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult.
He shares helpful information to help families understand the relationship between the risk of addiction 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 [email protected].
Related resources
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Suicide and Crisis Hotline
5 common concerns parents have about ADHD medications for kids
Study finds that ADHD medication reduces risk of drug abuse for people with ADHD
ADHD medication misuse, sharing, and abuse: What you need to know
Timestamps
(02:01) Chemistry of ADHD
(02:40) Helpful statistics about risk and ADHD
(06:15) Self-medication studies
(13:28) Risk of addiction
(15:34) Talking to younger kids
(21:22) The importance of communication
(22:16) Assertiveness skills for kids
Understood is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at u.org/give

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
29 min
September 26, 2024 The “more” kids (from the “Good Inside with Dr. Becky” podcast)
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 is a nonprofit where millions of people who are navigating neurodivergence find clear guidance, practical tools, and people who get it. To help us continue this work, donate at u.org/give

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
37 min

About In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently

From the publisher's feed

Discover In It, a podcast that explores the joys and frustrations of supporting kids with learning disabilities and ADHD. Join hosts Rachel Bozek and Gretchen Vierstra as they talk with parents,…