Parenting Behavior with Dr. Andy Kahn: Your Guide to Getting Through the Hard Times

It can be really tricky to know when to step in and help your kid when they're having anxiety. Unfortunately, this is a really common situation: 10 percent of kids have diagnosable levels of anxiety. 

So on this episode of Parenting Behavior with Dr. Andy Kahn, we're going to learn three key things:

• What is anxiety?
• How can you help them manage it?
• When should you step in as a parent?

Related resources

• The difference between typical anxiety and an anxiety problem
• Classroom accommodations for anxiety
• The connection between anxiety and stress   

Timestamps

• (0:54)   What is anxiety?
• (3:28) How can I respond to my child's anxiety? 
• (9:37)  How should we talk about anxiety with kids?
• (14:03 ) How parents can project on kids 

Getting your child the support they need at school shouldn’t feel like a fight. But for millions of families, it does. In Zero Reject, an investigative podcast from Understood.org, award-winning journalist Anya Kamenetz looks at how changing federal policies are reshaping special education — and what’s at stake for families trying to access the support their children are legally entitled to. Start listening now.

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.

Parenting is tough enough. But when differences in processing or development come into play, it can become even more complex.

As you begin making parenting decisions, it’s common to experience self-doubt, guilt, and confusion. These feelings are understandable — and there are ways to manage them.

In this episode of Parenting Behavior, Dr. Andy Kahn explores parenting self-doubt and offers guidance on how to navigate and support those difficult emotions. Plus, tips on how to care for yourself along the way.

Related resources

• Guided meditation for stressed parents
• 8 things I wish people knew about parenting a child with ADHD
• Navigating your child’s diagnosis: Self-care tips for parents

Timestamps

(1:05)  What’s causing the self-doubt?

(2:38)  What does it look like when self-doubt takes over? 

(6:35)  How to manage your self-doubt physically

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Parenting Behavior page on Understood.

We love to hear from our listeners. Email us at [email protected].

Getting your child the support they need at school shouldn’t feel like a fight. But for millions of families, it does. In Zero Reject, an investigative podcast from Understood.org, award-winning journalist Anya Kamenetz looks at how changing federal policies are reshaping special education — and what’s at stake for families trying to access the support their children are legally entitled to. Start listening now.

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.

When a child lies, it can be really tricky for parents. Even overwhelming at times.

What’s the difference between a white lie and a serious one? How do I handle it if my kid keeps lying over and over? Can I ever lie to my child? 

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn will share information on why your child lies, what those lies are telling you, and how to help your child learn to tell the truth.

Related resources

• ADHD and lying: Why kids with ADHD might lie a lot
• Why does my child lie so much?
• 8 ways to help your grade-schooler with ADHD stop lying
• Teens with ADHD and lying

Timestamps

(00:46)  What do kids’ lies look like? 

(04:08)  How do I make sense of my kid’s lies? 

(07:41)  How can I help my child be more truthful? 

(13:06)  Why parents should admit their own mistakes

(17:25)  White lies vs. serious lies  

(19:11)  Is it ever OK to lie to your kid?

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Parenting Behavior page on Understood.

We love to hear from our listeners. Email us at [email protected].

Getting your child the support they need at school shouldn’t feel like a fight. But for millions of families, it does. In Zero Reject, an investigative podcast from Understood.org, award-winning journalist Anya Kamenetz looks at how changing federal policies are reshaping special education — and what’s at stake for families trying to access the support their children are legally entitled to. Start listening now.

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.

Joining a club, sports team, or other extracurricular activity can be a rite of passage for kids. It’s a great way to make new friends, practice life skills, and learn about themselves. 

With this, we also expect — or at least hope — our neurodivergent kids will succeed in those environments just like their neurotypical peers. But there’s no guarantee that adult leaders, like coaches, understand learning and thinking differences. Since we rely on them, it can be in your and your child’s best interest to share helpful information with them ahead of time.

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn discusses why it’s important to share information about your child with the other adult leaders in their life — and tips that can help.

We’d love to hear from you. You can email us at [email protected].

Related resources

• 6 ways to improve your child’s self-esteem with extracurricular activities
• Do IEPs cover extracurricular activities?
• How to get your child involved in sports

Timestamps

(00:56) Why you should share information about your child 

(03:01) How to talk about your child

(06:15) Finding the right activity for your child

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Parenting Behavior page on Understood.org.

We’d love to hear from you. You can email us at [email protected].

Getting your child the support they need at school shouldn’t feel like a fight. But for millions of families, it does. In Zero Reject, an investigative podcast from Understood.org, award-winning journalist Anya Kamenetz looks at how changing federal policies are reshaping special education — and what’s at stake for families trying to access the support their children are legally entitled to. Start listening now.

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.

 If your child is on medication for ADHD, you may have heard of a medication vacation or a drug holiday. In short, it means taking a break from their usual medication — for a few days, weeks, or even months. It sounds simple enough, but deciding whether it’s right for your child is a different story.

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn talks with Dr. Liz Harstad, a pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital, to get the scoop.  

Related resources

• All about ADHD medication
• The difference between stimulant and non-stimulant medication for ADHD
• A history of ADHD medication

Timestamps

(1:30) Why would someone take a “drug holiday”?  

(2:29) How has thinking evolved over time?

(3:42) What are the impacts of a break?

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Parenting Behavior page on Understood.org.

We’d love to hear from you. You can email us at [email protected].

Getting your child the support they need at school shouldn’t feel like a fight. But for millions of families, it does. In Zero Reject, an investigative podcast from Understood.org, award-winning journalist Anya Kamenetz looks at how changing federal policies are reshaping special education — and what’s at stake for families trying to access the support their children are legally entitled to. Start listening now.

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.

 In general, it’s an advantage when kids have two parents caring for them. But it gets challenging when those parents have a strained relationship. 

Things can get really tricky when your child is neurodivergent. Many questions come up: Should we get a special education evaluation for our child? Should they be on medication? Should our child have counseling? 

Not only are these difficult questions, but they’re also sources of potential conflict with parents.

On this episode of Parenting Behavior with Dr. Andy Kahn, you’ll learn how to navigate disagreements between co-parents and figure out how to advocate for your child’s best interests.

Related resources

• Parenting disagreements: How to get on the same page
• 11 tips for working with your ex to parent your child
• 8 ways to help kids with ADHD cope with divorce
• How to build strong parent-child bonds

Timestamps

(0:56)  Why it’s key to identify shared beliefs

(2:34) Do we agree on what we’re seeing?

(4:19) How do I take the lead on getting help?

(8:14) Nothing seems to work. What now?

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Parenting Behavior page on Understood.org.

We love to hear from our listeners. You can email us at [email protected].

Getting your child the support they need at school shouldn’t feel like a fight. But for millions of families, it does. In Zero Reject, an investigative podcast from Understood.org, award-winning journalist Anya Kamenetz looks at how changing federal policies are reshaping special education — and what’s at stake for families trying to access the support their children are legally entitled to. Start listening now.

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.

When you ask a child what they want to be when they grow up, you’ll hear all sorts of creative answers. Some kids have surprisingly practical goals—others, not so much.

Neurodivergent kids are particularly interesting because they're creative and think about all kinds of outside-the-box things. 

On this episode of Parenting Behavior with Dr. Andy Kahn, you'll learn about how to help kids create appropriate and realistic career goals and help them work on the path toward having real, reinforcing work in their lives.

Related resources

• All about careers for kids who learn and think differently
• 8 steps to help your child set personal goals
• 6 steps for easing the transition to work

Timestamps

(0:54) How to encourage skill development

(1:59) What can help kids with learning differences?

(4:04) How to turn interests into actual skills

(9:49) Accurate self-assessments and neurodivergent kids

For a transcript and more resources, visit the episode page on Understood.org.

We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

Getting your child the support they need at school shouldn’t feel like a fight. But for millions of families, it does. In Zero Reject, an investigative podcast from Understood.org, award-winning journalist Anya Kamenetz looks at how changing federal policies are reshaping special education — and what’s at stake for families trying to access the support their children are legally entitled to. Start listening now.

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.

Is your child having difficulties with reading? Do they struggle to recognize letters, understand what they read, or sound out words on a page?

In this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn explores how to identify dyslexia in kids. Tune in to learn the common signs of dyslexia and what steps to take if you think your child may have this learning difference.

Related resources

• What is dyslexia?
• Video: Dyslexia and the brain
• Signs of dyslexia at different ages

Timestamps

(0:44) What is dyslexia?

(1:50) Common signs of dyslexia

(4:02) How can you be sure your child has dyslexia?

(6:42) How is dyslexia diagnosed?

(10:45) What to do if you feel overwhelmed

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Parenting Behavior episode page on Understood.

We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

Getting your child the support they need at school shouldn’t feel like a fight. But for millions of families, it does. In Zero Reject, an investigative podcast from Understood.org, award-winning journalist Anya Kamenetz looks at how changing federal policies are reshaping special education — and what’s at stake for families trying to access the support their children are legally entitled to. Start listening now.

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.

Even if summer seems far in the future, it’s probably not too early to begin planning for what your child will do during their break from school. 

Once you find a program that looks interesting, then comes the rest of the work. Is it a good fit for my child? How am I going to pay for it? 

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn talks about the best time to start planning for summer camps and the key questions parents should ask. He also shares insights on choosing the right camp or program for your child.

Related resources

• Summer guide for families
• 8 types of summer camps for kids who learn and think differently
• Checklist: Questions to ask when evaluating summer camps

Timestamps

(00:50) What type of program is right for your child?  

(03:57) When should I start planning?

(07:37) How can you pay for camp?

(09:38) How to get the best information on a camp

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Parenting Behavior page on Understood.org.

We’d love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] 

Getting your child the support they need at school shouldn’t feel like a fight. But for millions of families, it does. In Zero Reject, an investigative podcast from Understood.org, award-winning journalist Anya Kamenetz looks at how changing federal policies are reshaping special education — and what’s at stake for families trying to access the support their children are legally entitled to. Start listening now.

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.

It’s common for adults to take a supplement like melatonin to help when they’re having trouble falling asleep, or just need a really good night of rest. 

Melatonin has been shown in numerous studies to help people fall asleep, and in some cases, improve the quality of their sleep. Plus, it’s sold over the counter at many kinds of stores. 

But when it comes to kids, some questions come up. On this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn gets some advice from Dr. Liz Harstad. 

Liz is a developmental behavioral pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School. She has more than 15 years of experience caring for children with learning and attention differences and developmental conditions.

Is it OK to give your child melatonin? What about other supplements or medications? What does a sleep problem look like in a child, anyway? 

Listen or watch to get Liz’s answers. 

Related resources

• How ADHD can affect your sleep
• 4 ways lack of sleep affects how kids learn
• Child can’t wind down at night? Why some kids struggle to go to sleep   

Timestamps

(1:20) How can you tell if there is a sleep problem?

(3:42) What are the benefits of melatonin?

(6:38) What are the risks of taking it?

(8:37) Are there alternatives?

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Parenting Behavior page on Understood.

We love to hear from our listeners. Email us at [email protected].

Getting your child the support they need at school shouldn’t feel like a fight. But for millions of families, it does. In Zero Reject, an investigative podcast from Understood.org, award-winning journalist Anya Kamenetz looks at how changing federal policies are reshaping special education — and what’s at stake for families trying to access the support their children are legally entitled to. Start listening now.

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.