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

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 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 understood.org/podcast-donate.

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

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 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 understood.org/podcast-donate.

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

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 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 understood.org/podcast-donate.

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

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 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 understood.org/podcast-donate.

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

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 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 understood.org/podcast-donate.

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

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 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 understood.org/podcast-donate.

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

Assistive technology can be a bit of a buzzword in parenting and educational circles. It’s not always well-defined or well-understood. 

But assistive technology can be helpful for people with ADHD. Options range from virtual calendars and voice recording apps to things that don’t even seem like “technology” at all. 

Related resources

• 5 low-cost ways to create a sensory-friendly chair
• 6 types of fidgets for kids with ADHD
• 7 apps to help teens with ADHD manage everyday challenges

Timestamps

(0:48) What is assistive technology?  

(3:00) Specific examples  

(6:32) Artificial intelligence vs. assistive technology

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

A transcript for this episode is available on Understood.org.  

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 understood.org/podcast-donate.

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

For parents, the happiest time of the year can also be the most stressful. 

Busy parties. Strange foods served to picky eaters. The dread of worrying how your child will respond if they don’t like the sweater grandma gave them. 

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn and guest Dr. Karen Wilson share five key tips to prepare your family for the holiday season. 

Karen is a clinical neuropsychologist and, like Andy, a parent. So, get ready for tips that come from a mix of professional expertise and real-life parenting. 

Related resources

• How to make the holidays more fun for your child  
• 16 holiday survival tips for kids with ADHD
• Understood Assistant 

Timestamps

(00:55) What makes the holidays so hard?  

(02:45) Tip #1: Prepare yourself for stress

(03:59) Tip #2: Set up your child for success

(06:35) Tip #3: Create a schedule that works for you

(09:04) Tip #4: How to teach your child to accept gifts

(11:31) Tip #5: Plan ahead for picky eaters

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

A transcript for this episode is available on Understood.org.  

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 understood.org/podcast-donate.

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

The concept of self-esteem can seem abstract.  

And when it comes to improving your child’s self-esteem, it can be an uphill battle for parents.  

But host Dr. Andy Kahn has some practical strategies for boosting your child’s self-esteem that he’ll share on this episode of “Parenting Behavior.”

Related resources

• The importance of positive self-esteem for kids
• ADHD and self-esteem: What to say to your child
• Why kids say negative things about themselves

Timestamps

(00:47) What is self-esteem?

(02:15) Practical strategies

(07:37) Social media and self-esteem

(10:41) The importance of love and care

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

A transcript for this episode is available on Understood.org.  

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 understood.org/podcast-donate.

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

Bullying can be one of the most difficult parts of being a kid and being a parent. 

And for neurodivergent kids with learning and thinking differences like ADHD and dyslexia, it can be an additional challenge.

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn talks about handling those challenges — whether your child is being bullied, or is engaging in bullying behavior themselves.

Related resources

• 8 steps to take if your child is being bullied at school
• Bullying and being bullied: Why it happens and what families can do
• Bullying, learning differences, and how to help

Timestamps

(00:49) What is bullying? 

(02:49) How to talk to your child about bullying

(04:13) Bullying and neurodivergent kids

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

A transcript for this episode is available on Understood.org.  

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 understood.org/podcast-donate.

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