Let’s face it. Embarrassment is a big part of growing up. And it can impact kids in many ways.

They may worry that trying a new outfit will embarrass them in front of their peers, or feel ashamed when a classmate comments on their appearance. Embarrassment and the emotions that come with it can be tough to navigate, for both kids and parents.

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn explains how to help young children deal with embarrassment and strategies for getting ahead of it. 

Related resources

• Social and emotional skills at different ages
• Managing emotions
• I’m letting go of the shame I felt about my ADHD and learning disabilities

Timestamps

(01:04) Embarrassment vs. shame
(02:06) How to help kids prepare for anxiety-provoking situations
(02:58) How learning or thinking differences can affect embarrassment  
(04:28) Making yourself ‘in’ on the joke

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.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

One of the most frustrating parts of parenting is when your child won’t listen to you. It can be difficult to tell the difference between when your child is ignoring you and when they can’t pay attention to you.

If reading this is already stressing you out, take a deep breath — this episode is here to help. 

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, Dr. Andy Kahn will explain the many possible reasons why your child may have difficulties with listening or understanding. And he’ll go over some ways you can help.

Timestamps

(0:52) Anxiety, fear, and emotional distractions

(4:29) Focus and attention issues 

(5:48) What does “developmental” really mean? 

(7:51) Understanding your child’s comprehension challenges

(9:50) When to use consequences and punishments

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

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

Related resources

• Why some kids don’t listen
• How I got my child to listen (without yelling)
• Trouble with receptive language: What you’re seeing
• Understanding why kids have trouble with focus

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

If you have a young child, bedtime can be one of the hardest parts of your daily routine.

Kids often have a lot on their mind at night. There’s Roblox, Netflix, and 100 other things competing for their attention as they try to go to sleep. Plus, they have a full day of school ahead. 

But as a parent, you need some time for yourself at night, too. It’s your “me” time to relax, get tasks done, or spend time with a partner. This can create tension between you and your child at bedtime.

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, Dr. Andy Kahn shares tips for how to handle the communication issues that come up at bedtime. Plus, how to create a healthy bedtime routine and more. 

Related resources

• Download: Bedtime checklists for kids
• Child can’t wind down at night? Why some kids struggle to go to sleep
• My child with ADHD can’t fall asleep. But I’m so tired. What can I do?

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

Many things we do as parents can make us feel awful afterward. Whether it’s raising our voice in frustration or setting a firm limit and watching our child cry in response.

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, Dr. Andy Kahn shares tips for handling things in the moment when your child acts out. He also talks about striking a balance between giving yourself grace for your actions and taking time for self-reflection. 

Plus, he shares tips for picking your battles and preparing a default response when emotions are high. 

Related resources

• How to manage behavior problems in young kids
• Listen: How to tell the difference between tantrums and meltdowns
• 5 tips for taking a mutual time-out with your child

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

Many parents think about behavior as something negative, a problem they don’t want to deal with. However, behavior is really a form of communication.

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, Dr. Andy Kahn explains the truth behind kids’ actions. He also shares how parents can respond to their kids’ challenging behaviors.

Related resources

• Listen: Understanding your child’s behavior as communication
• How to manage behavior problems in young kids
• The difference between discipline and punishment

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

Parenting is one of the toughest things we do in life. It can be even harder when we can’t get our kids to do the things we need them to do.

On Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn offers bite-size tips for all kinds of parenting challenges. From how to stay calm when your child is acting out to helping with bedtime battles, listen as Dr. Kahn shares both evidence-based and mindful approaches for helping your child.

Tune in for upcoming episodes wherever you get your podcasts and on Understood’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/understoodorg.

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

Parenting is stressful. In this six-minute guided meditation, psychologist Dr. Andrew Kahn helps you calm your mind and body so you can respond to your child more effectively.  

This is the last episode of What Now? A Parent’s Guide to Tantrums and Meltdowns. Explore the rest of Season 1 for more strategies to help you confidently handle your child’s big emotions.  

For more resources, visit the episode page on Understood. 

Related Resources

• Self-care for kids: 6 ways to self-regulate

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

Your child’s tantrums or meltdowns can make you angry or upset. But it’s harder to think clearly when you’re having big emotions. That’s why it’s essential to learn your parenting triggers and use self-calming skills to help you parent more effectively during heated moments.  

In this seven-minute episode of What Now? A Parent’s Guide, psychologist Dr. Andrew Kahn teaches you how to look inward and notice signs you’ve been triggered. You’ll also learn common ways kids trigger their parents and quick mindfulness strategies to help you calm down. 

For more resources, visit the episode page on Understood. 

Related resources

• What your child’s anger might be telling you

Timestamps

(00:39) Why you need to know your parenting triggers  
(01:40) How to identify your parenting triggers
(04:31) What to do after you identify what triggers you  
(05:47) What you can practice ahead of time  

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

Do your child’s outbursts seem to come out of nowhere? In this seven-minute episode of “What Now? A Parent’s Guide,” psychologist Dr. Andrew Kahn explains how to find your child’s behavior triggers to prevent tantrums and meltdowns.  

Learn which details to track to help you spot patterns, like time of day, what your child was doing just before the outburst, and who else was there. 

For more resources, visit the episode page on Understood. \

Related resources

• What your child’s anger might be telling you

Timestamps

(1:08) Why parents need to be detectives  
(2:53) How to identify your child’s triggers  
(5:27) What you can practice ahead of time  

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 may sound surprising, but praising your child for what they did correctly when they got upset can help prevent future tantrums or meltdowns.  

In this five-minute episode of What Now? A Parent’s Guide, psychologist Dr. Andrew Kahn explains how to notice your child’s self-calming efforts and give detailed praise so they’ll know what you want them to do again in the future.  

For more resources, visit the episode page on Understood.  

Related resources

• The best way to praise kids who learn and think differently

Timestamps

(00:40) Why the right kind of praise can make a big difference  
(02:38) How to praise proactively  
(03:45) What you can practice ahead of time  

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