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].

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

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].

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

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] 

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

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].

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

Siblings don’t always get along. Fights, disagreements, jealousy — it’s a common thing.

These clashes can get even more complicated when one or more of your kids is neurodivergent. 

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn will share tips for managing sibling conflict to benefit both you and your kids.

Related resources

• 7 ways to help your kids build a strong relationship
• How to talk with kids about their sibling’s challenges
• ADHD and siblings: Tips from an expert

Timestamps

(0:35) What do these problems look like?

(3:32) Strategies for how to respond

(11:18) Managing the emotional components

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

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

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

Please note: Dr. Andy Kahn is a licensed psychologist and does not prescribe medication. This episode is for informational purposes only. For further questions about ADHD medications, please consult your medical provider. 

Once your child has been prescribed ADHD medication, that’s not the end of the journey. 

You might be wondering: What are the possible side effects? And what if we need to change the dose? 

Tune in to this episode of Parenting Behavior to get expert advice from host Dr. Andy Kahn on side effects, fine-tuning medication, talking to providers, and more. 

Related resources

• All about ADHD medication
• How ADHD medication works
• Types of ADHD medications

Timestamps

(0:39) Side-effects and dosing

(2:52) How and when to tweak medications

(4:57) Questions to ask your child’s provider

(7:02) Other key points on medication 

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

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

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

Please note: Dr. Andy Kahn is a licensed psychologist and does not prescribe medication. This episode is for informational purposes only. For further questions about ADHD medications, please consult your medical provider. 

Are you considering medication for your child with ADHD but need more information?

In this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn gives an overview of ADHD medications for kids. He shares the ins and outs of stimulant and non-stimulant medications, what the research says, and important side effects to consider.

Tune in to learn more about ADHD medications and how to get medication management services for your child.

Related resources

• All about ADHD medication
• How ADHD medication works
• Types of ADHD medications

Timestamps

(1:16) An important disclaimer

(2:12) Stimulant medications

(04:19) How stimulants work

(6:36) Non-stimulant medications

(08:11) Getting medication management services for your child

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

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

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 Parenting Behavior,  we’re sharing an episode of another great Understood.org podcast, In It, where Dr. Andy Kahn is a regular guest. The show is all about raising kids who learn and think differently.

On this episode, Andy joins the In It  hosts to talk about a big parenting debate: Bribes vs. rewards.  

You probably know how it goes: Your child is refusing to do something that, to you, seems super reasonable. Do you offer them a reward to get them to cooperate? Where is the line between bribery and rewarding a child? Will that ruin them?

Listen to get Andy’s expert advice, and follow In It wherever you get your podcasts. 

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.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

There’s nothing quite as heartbreaking as the question, “Is my child lonely?”

It’s common for parents to worry if a child is having challenges connecting, or if their social skills seem like they're not aligned with their peers.

But it’s also important to consider our perceptions as parents. Are the concerns legit, or do we just need to look differently at our child? 

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn talks about loneliness and social skills for kids.

For a transcript of this episode 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].

Related resources

• Why kids who learn and think differently might feel lonely
• My child likes being alone. Does this mean he’s lonely?
• What to do when kids say “no one will play with me”

Timestamps

(00:51) Is it loneliness, or is it you?

(03:00) How does your child feel about the situation?

(06:09) How do I help my child with social struggles?

(09:51) Quick recap

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

Sometimes, our kids just won’t try anything new. This can be something small, like not wanting to try a new food. But it can also be a bigger issue, like your child refusing to go to a new after-school activity they’ve joined. 

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn will talk about how to get your child to engage in new activities, especially those that make them feel afraid or anxious. 

Related resources

• What is growth mindset?
• Why kids have trouble following a routine or schedule
• Behavior: What is it, and how can parents affect it?

Timestamps

(0:47) Coping with discomfort

(4:11) Developing a “growth mindset”

(6:37) Watch-outs for parents

For a transcript of this episode 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].

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