My guest is Melissa Jackson, educational consultant and neurodiversity advocate. On today’s episode, Melissa shares her personal neurodivergent journey and expertise on supporting parents who are raising neurodivergent kid(s) that may include ADHD, dyslexia, and twice-exceptional (2e) diagnosis.  She is a former educator in the special ed and general ed settings. She is certified in Twice-Exceptional (2e) Education. You can find out more about Melissa at www.theneurodiversityadvocate.com.
 
In this episode, Melissa and I discuss the following:
Her personal neurodivergent journey as an individual and parent
Her professional journey now to support other parents who are raising neurodivergent children
Importance of supporting a child’s strengths
Proper definition of a neurodivergent brain
What percentage of the population is neurodivergent?
Definition of a Twice-Exceptional (2e) individual
Is it possible for a twice -exceptional (2e) child also have ADHD?
What does “gifted” mean?
Recommendations to help a neurodivergent child get  homework done?
Why writing assignments can be difficult for a neurodivergent child and how to help?
Overall wisdom for parents who are raising a neurodivergent child.
 
Brought to you by ADHDKidsCanThrive.com. Thank you for listening and please share!
 
#adhd
#adhdparent
#adhdparentsupport
#adhdsupport 
#neurodiversity
#adhdkid
#adhdunderstood
#anixous
#depressed
#dyslexic
#2e
#twiceexcpetional
#neurodivergent

Melissa Jackson, educational consultant and neurodiversity advocate

Join Kate of ADHDKidsCanThrive, LLC as she explores and learns more about ADHD from thought leaders, experts and advocates. Kate hopes to engage parents, educators and the general community to help ADHD people reach their highest potential.  Kate is a parent, author of How We Roll -A Parent’s Journey of Raising an ADHD child,  founder of ADHDKIdsCanThrive.com and former media executive. You can find me at https://www.adhdkidscanthrive.com/.

Kids & Family

Parenting

My guest is Dr. Elisa Song, a Stanford-, NYU-, UCSF-trained integrative pediatrician - and she is on a mission to revolutionize the future of children’s health! In 2005, the New England Journal of Medicine predicted that for the first time in history, our children are expected to have a shorter lifespan than us, their parents. Fast forward almost 20 years, and things aren’t much better. She does just that with her groundbreaking new book, Healthy Kids, Happy Kids: An Integrative Pediatrician’s Guide to Whole Child Resilience. Creating a resilient, thriving microbiome is the key to raising resilient, thriving kids from the inside out. In Healthy Kids, Happy Kids, Dr. Song shares her proven and practical plan for creating Microbiome Magic every day—for your whole family!
Learn about the significance of gut health in children and understand its profound impact on overall wellness, particularly for neurodivergent children. Dr. Song educates on the role of food, diet, and lifestyle in maintaining children's health. It sheds light on the gut-brain connection and how nurturing this dynamic can regulate children's moods, mental health, attention, and focus. Listen in to unravel how gut microbiome issues can cause allergies, asthma, and behavioral problems, and understand the power of 'psychobiotics' in regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.
This episode is a perfect blend of critical insights into achieving better health for children through conscious nutrition and lifestyle choices, building stronger gut health, and understanding the role of the gut in overall physical and mental health. Dr. Song helps parents chart a course for healthier environments and shares guidance on tackling common childhood ailments naturally.
Learn More:https://www.healthykidshappykids.com/book/
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Topics covered in this episode:
How are our brain and our gut connected?
What does our skin indicate about our health?
What does our poop indicate about our health?
How can a child buy into their own health?
How are ultra-processed foods hurting an individual?
What role can antibiotics play in disrupting our gut health?
How do we use natural remedies to support our health?
A suggested protocol of supplements if ADHD is involved?
Dr. Song’s words of wisdom for parents raising neurodivergent kids?
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Thank you for listening! 
 
#adhd
#adhdkid
#adhdparent
#adhdkidscanthrive
#adhdparentsupport
#adhdsupport 
#specialed
#parenting
#ADHDkidhealth
#brainhealth
#anxiety
#depression
#learningdisabilities
#dyslexia
#executivefunctioning
#dyslexic
#foodismedicine
#rootcausemedicine

An Integrative Pediatrician’s Guide to Whole Child Resilience

My guest is Jim Rajan, an international seer. He started his professional life working in film and TV and then moved to study world healing methods, including shamanism, reiki, Traditional Chinese medicine, and Daoist training. Jim grew up struggling with attention and learning. He was highly sensitive and a feeler of rejection. As a child, they thought he was autistic. He failed to thrive as a baby, and they put it down to transmitted anxiety. Receiving anxiety from others was painful and confusing for Jim. Now, he does deep healing work for others.
Listeners are given an intimate peek into Jim's journey of self-discovery through his own struggles. The conversation illuminates the art of raising highly sensitive children while navigating the accompanying fears. 
This episode engages in educational critiques, calling attention to the educational system's failure to appropriately address the needs of children with emotional fluxes. Despite the pitfalls of parenting, Jim emphasizes the unique 'mission' it offers. He draws upon Buddhist beliefs and personal motivation, discussing the role of suffering in instilling growth and resilience.
Learn More on Jim Rajan: https://jimrajan.com/
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Topics covered in this episode:
What is a Seer?
Jim shares his own journey growing up and struggles with going to school.
Jim shares his definition of a highly sensitive person.
How does Jim’s family support him?
How did Jim build resilience in his life?
His words of wisdom for parents.
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Thank you for listening! 
 
#adhd
#adhdkid
#adhdparent
#adhdkidscanthrive
#adhdparentsupport
#adhdsupport 
#specialed
#parenting
#ADHDkidhealth
#brainhealth
#anxiety
#depression
#learningdisabilities
#dyslexia
#executivefunctioning
#dyslexic

Growing Up Highly Sensitive

My guest is Dr. Katja Fredriksen, a reputed pediatric neuropsychologist and the co-author of the informative new book Different Thinkers: ADHD. Her book aims to clarify the ambiguity around ADHD for both children and adults, offering practical coping strategies while celebrating their potential.
In this illuminating conversation, we dissect the intricacies of ADHD—an often-observed neurodevelopmental condition in children. Dr. Fredriksson guides us through various challenges: recognizing symptoms, difficulties in diagnosing ADHD, especially in girls, and the influence of digital screens on ADHD. She further highlights the importance of understanding the exclusive developmental traits of children with ADHD and how early identification can foster a healthy mindset and address self-deprecating beliefs.
We then explore the inspiration behind 'Different Thinkers: ADHD.' The book hopes to embolden children with ADHD, equipping them with knowledge about their unique cognition and honoring their distinct ways of thinking. Don't miss out on this insightful episode loaded with valuable insights for your ADHD journey.
This episode further illuminates the experiences of children with ADHD and underscores the need to empathize with their unique worldviews. It suggests coping mechanisms, emphasizes recognizing their strengths, and discusses the transformative power of child-friendly resources to encourage discussions about neurodiversity.
It underscores children's need for self-advocacy, teaching them to stand up for themselves, fostering self-esteem, and enabling them to navigate social and academic landscapes successfully. This episode celebrates the positive traits of ADHD, including augmented creativity and innovation.
Parents and caregivers are advised to acknowledge their child's developmental stage and abilities. This encourages compassion and patience. Moreover, the episode extols the critical role of self-care for parents and caregivers—indispensable to their wellness and critical for their ability to care for and nurture their children effectively.
More on Different Thinkers: ADHD by Dr. Fredriksen and Dr. Rothman: https://www.boystownpress.org/different-thinkers-adhd-softcover/
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Topics covered in this episode:
What is ADHD, and how is it diagnosed?
What to do when suspicious of ADHD but school isn’t on board yet?
Is ADHD being overdiagnosed?
Why are girls so tricky to diagnose?
How can a child be a part of the process of diagnosis?
Why write a children’s book?
What are the strengths of ADHD?
Dr. Katja Fredriksen's words of wisdom for parents.
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Stay connected to Kate at ADHD Kids Can Thrive: ADHD Kids Can Thrive Sign Up
 
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Thank you for listening! 
 
#adhd
#adhdkid
#adhdparent
#adhdkidscanthrive
#adhdparentsupport
#adhdsupport 
#specialed
#parenting
#ADHDkidhealth
#brainhealth
#anxiety
#depression
#learningdisabilities
#dyslexia
#executivefunctioning
#dyslexic

Clarifying the ambiguity around ADHD in Kids

My guest is Dr. Mark Bertin, an acclaimed developmental-behavioral pediatrician, assistant professor at New York Medical College, and author specializing in ADHD management. We delve into the world of ADHD, breaking down its complexities and how integrating mindfulness can transform the lives of families grappling with it.
Dr. Bertin extensively elaborates on the concept of ADHD as a developmental delay in managing daily life skills such as attention, organization, planning, time management, emotion, and effort. He reaffirms the effectiveness of mindfulness and self-compassion in managing ADHD-related stress and building resilience.
Taking a closer look at mindfulness, we explore how being fully present can help parents and children navigate the hurdles that come with ADHD. With mindfulness, parents can become more patient, responsive, and resilient, improving both their own well-being and their child's behavior.
We consider the complexities of modern life and school pressures, discussing how a mindful parenting approach can significantly enhance family life. Focusing on the importance of balancing our inherent negativity bias with gratitude and mindfulness, Dr. Bertin shares insights on elevating our general happiness amidst our digital age distractions.
As we delve deeper into the trials of parents dealing with ADHD, we examine societal pressures, misunderstandings, and the value of incorporating self-compassion into mindfulness practice. Self-compassion can improve our overall well-being, change our interactions with others, and boost our persistence and patience.
Finally, Dr. Bertin advocates for parents to prioritize their needs, be it through mindfulness practices or daily activities that maintain sanity. Parents need to be patient, resilient, and mindful in navigating the unique challenges imposed by ADHD.
More on Dr. Mark Bertin: https://developmentaldoctor.com/
Dr. Bertin’s Mindfullness Resources: https://developmentaldoctor.com/mindfulness-resources/
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Topics covered in this episode:
What is mindfulness?
What is it about ADHD that makes life for parents more stressful?
How can you be mindful in a fast-moving world?
What are the types of mindful practices?
What is a self-compassion practice?
Dr. Bertin’s words of wisdom for parents?
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Stay connected to Kate at ADHD Kids Can Thrive: ADHD Kids Can Thrive Sign Up
 
—------
Thank you for listening! 
 
#adhd
#adhdkid
#adhdparent
#adhdkidscanthrive
#adhdparentsupport
#adhdsupport 
#specialed
#parenting
#ADHDkidhealth
#brainhealth
#anxiety
#depression
#learningdisabilities
#dyslexia
#executivefunctioning
#dyslexic

How to Use Mindfulness and Self-Compassion for Complexities of ADHD

My guest is Nathan Clarkson, a celebrated actor, best-selling author, and filmmaker who takes us through his remarkable life journey. Nathan, best known for his vivid creativity and a member of the esteemed Clarkson family, grew up facing numerous hurdles that included ADHD, OCD, anxiety, and learning disabilities. His thought-provoking experiences form the basis of the best-selling book "Different: The Story of an Outside-the-Box Kid and The Mom Who Loved Him," a collaborative effort with his proud mother, Sally Clarkson.
Nathan details his journey from feeling out of place as a youth to a self-assured adult. The discourse underscores the paramount role of parents in providing for physical needs, engaging in meaningful conversations, demonstrating compassion, and showering unconditional love.
Nathan's story serves as a beacon of hope to everyone dealing with mental health and learning challenges. It underscores the possibility of a resilient, fulfilling life filled with self-love, acceptance, and overall wellness.
"Different: The Story of an Outside-the-Box Kid and Mom Who Loved Him" is Nathan and his mother's joint effort to narrate their inspiring tale of perseverance. His story is significant for individuals feeling out of place, indicating hope and strength in unconventional journeys.
Nathan emphasizes his deep sense of spirituality and its pivotal role in his resilience. He credits his belief in a purposeful divine design for his strength, making it his anchor in uncertain times.
Coming into his own as a thriving adult in the creative industry, Nathan delights in his roles as an actor, filmmaker, and writer, bearing testament to his inspiring journey. He concludes the episode with practical tips for parents and educators on appreciating and enhancing the uniqueness of children with ADHD.
Join Nathan to explore the beauty in uniqueness, the strength in accepting one's self, and the power in erasing societal molds to reveal our true selves.
More on Nathan Clarkson: https://www.instagram.com/nathanjclarkson/
Link to his book “Different” on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PZbK5J
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Topics covered in this episode:
Nathan Clarkson gives us some history on the type of kid he was growing up.
Why did he write the book with his Mom about his journey?
The arc of his life from a child to a young adult?
How does Nate’s spiritual life play a role in his own resiliency?
What Nate is doing now as an adult?
What are Nathan’s words of wisdom for kids and/or parents who feel like out-of-the-box kids?
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Stay connected to Kate at ADHD Kids Can Thrive: ADHD Kids Can Thrive Sign Up
 
—------
Thank you for listening! 
 
#adhd
#adhdkid
#adhdparent
#adhdkidscanthrive
#adhdparentsupport
#adhdsupport 
#specialed
#parenting
#ADHDkidhealth
#brainhealth
#anxiety
#depression
#learningdisabilities
#dyslexia
#executivefunctioning
#dyslexic

Melissa Jackson, educational consultant and neurodiversity advocate

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