Many parents of neurodiverse young people struggle with how to support their children when they transition to University. It’s a huge step and a time when these these young people are quite vulnerable. Linda Philips is a Speech and Language therapist who specialises in this area and in this episode she answers the question - What’s Just One Thing Parents can do to support their neurodivergent child while they are away at university.

Linda highlights the unique challenges faced by university students with autism and ADHD as they transition and how parents can support them. She emphasizes the importance of regular check-ins for parents, shifting from giving advice to facilitating problem-solving through active listening.

We also cover strategies for building resilience, understanding individual needs, and fostering social connections through clubs and interests. Please have a listen and I know all parents will find some useful ideas from this episode. 

In this episode, we explore how parents can support teenagers in building resilience through healthy stress. Matilda, an expert in evidence-based parenting, explains that healthy stress involves manageable challenges that help teens develop coping skills for future difficulties, without exposing them to toxic stress or leaving them unsupported.

We discuss the science behind this approach, including studies on squirrel monkeys and controlled tree growth, highlighting the benefits of mild stress exposure. Matilda also shares practical strategies for recognizing normal stress versus serious issues, emphasizing the importance of understanding your child’s unique behavior patterns.

In today’s social media-driven world, where normal variation in emotions can be misinterpreted as disordered, this conversation provides valuable insights for fostering resilience and raising confident, capable teens.

In this episode of the podcast Just One Thing For Parents, we tackle the question of how parents can help their children develop a healthy relationship with screens.

Our guest, Dr Naomi Fisher challenges the traditional focus on screen time, which can become somewhat of an obsession for well intentioned parents. Doing this distracts from more important considerations when it comes to screens, such as what children are actually doing on the screen, how they connect with their activities and helping them to develop those all-important self-regulations skills.

She encourages parents to engage with their kids’ screen-based interests rather than just limiting time,  showing an interest and perhaps joining them. When we look closely, there is usually a developmental value of children's chosen screen activities. As we share interests with them we build trust in our relationship which will serve them and our relationship (and therefore influence on them) well in the long term.

Ultimately, the message is to join children in their digital experiences, validating their interests and building a foundation for communication as they grow.

In this episode of JOT for Parents, Bettina is joined by the renowned Peg Dawson to explore effective interventions for executive skill difficulties in older kids.

Executive functions, like planning, organizing, paying attention, and managing time, are crucial for managing everyday life and reside in the brain’s frontal lobes. Many children struggle with these skills, leading parents to mistakenly think their kids are being difficult or lazy when they actually haven't developed the necessary brain circuits or habits.

Peg Dawson, the author of "Smart but Scattered," shares her expertise and introduces a simple yet powerful five-minute intervention designed to help parents enhance their child’s executive skills. This episode is a must-listen for every parent, as it addresses a universal challenge in supporting children’s development.

Professor Roz Shafran is a highly experienced Clinical Psychologist who really knows about what works for parents. She talks about the power of problem solving as a parent and problem with our kids. It is not only incredibly helpful for us to approach something we feel stuck on but when we do it with kids we built their future ability to manage their lives/ Most importantly, it works.

Roz talks us through the the IDEAL method—Identify the problem, Describe the outcome, Explore strategies, Anticipate outcomes, Act, and Look and learn. I always think a template is helpful for parents to find new skills in these highly emotive situations.

Roz talks us through some everyday examples all parents will struggle with - when a child won’t leave a playdate or with a child who has an eating disorder. This is a technique parents can use when they are struggling but also can be used with adolescents to collaboratively problem solve how they could find a solution to their difficulties.

It’s an episode that everyone can get something from. 

This is an episode for any parent whose children are ‘demand avoidant’ (i.e. resist being told what to do). Actually all kids have a drive for autonomy particularly as they get older, but some kids (often those on the autism spectrum) are highly avoidant of any request or demand by an adult and this can cause huge family problems.

Responding to a listener's request, Bettina interviewed Linda Murphy with a big focus on the concept of declarative language. Linda explains what declarative language is and how it encourages young people to cooperate more effectively. She discusses the numerous benefits of this communication style for children's development and how it strengthens the parent-child relationship.

Tune in to hear as Bettina and Linda explore this powerful approach to communication.

In this episode, Jo Steer joins us to discuss actionable steps parents can take while awaiting an ADHD assessment for their child.

We highlight the importance of adopting a needs-based approach, focusing on each child’s unique strengths and challenges. Parents can access valuable resources from organizations like the ADHD Foundation (https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/) and ADDISS (http://www.addiss.co.uk/) without needing a formal diagnosis. We cover key strategies for identifying and addressing struggles such as impulsivity, hyperactivity, and emotional regulation.

Jo says that while medication can be helpful, it’s always advised to combine that with behavioural intervention - making small adjustments to the child’s environment that can really help. One key bit of advice is to talk to your child’s teacher to get them onboard to help. We touch on how ADHD can present differently in girls, often leading to underdiagnosis due to less visible hyperactivity.

Understanding the individual nature of ADHD and tailoring strategies to meet each child's specific needs is crucial during the waiting period.

This week I was joined by Courtney Adamo who is the mother of five children ranging in age from 7 to 19 years of age. Courtney has created courses and provides resources for parents including a great programme for parents of tweens and teens that I contributed to when I wrote The incredible teenage brain.

I asked her the question ‘What’s just one think you’ve learned about parenting so many children”. She emphasises how each child requires personalized strategies due to their distinct temperaments, needs and developmental stage. Effective communication with one child may not work with another, so we have to tune into what they need from us. She also encourages parents to view parenting as a journey of self-discovery, reflecting on personal triggers and growth opportunities presented by each child.

Courtney is so warm and engaging in how she discusses her children and I know all parents will learn something from listening to her.

In today's episode of Just One Thing for Parents, Bettina had the pleasure of talking to Callum Brown, founder of Be More Me. Callum assists young people post education to find a career pathway. With A level results just released in the UK this week, young adults and their parents are likely to have this topic on their mind. And it’s often a stressful journey for everyone.

How do parents guide their kids to make the right choices? What distinguishes Callum is his holistic approach to this topic. He talks about the importance of helping young people discover their true selves, enabling authentic and fulfilling career choices. He offers valuable advice for parents on nurturing their children's self-reflection and motivation, along with practical tips to help young individuals take the first steps towards their career goals.

Join us to learn more about Callum's insightful methods and discover how to confidently navigate this critical transition.

In this episode - the third in this mini-series about technology - we delve deeper into the relationship between technology and young people, emphasizing the importance of children’s ages when managing their use of social media and phones. Beth Kerr, a teacher by profession and consultant on wellbeing learning and digital habits, joins us. We discuss how understanding the science of the teenage brain and using that knowledge enables adults to protect and guide teenagers.

Beth highlights that developing skills, such as managing impulses and resisting the temptation of phone notifications, takes time. We also tackle the recent movement led by Jonathon Haidt, advocating for a ban on mobile phones for under-16s. We debate whether such a ban is sensible and feasible, with Beth providing a critical analysis of Haidt's research. She argues that his solutions, while well-intentioned, are overly simplistic, impractical, and fail to consider the individual needs of young people.

This episode is essential listening for parents and teachers, who are navigating the complex world of social media, phones, and teenagers.