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Discover the often-missed signs of ADHD in girls — so you can spot them early and get the right support.
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Ever wondered what ADHD actually feels like from the inside? In this intimate first episode of our special summer series, I'm joined by my daughter Alexandra who courageously opens up about her experience living with ADHD before and after diagnosis.

The morning battlefields we once faced will sound painfully familiar to many parents – shouted instructions, missed cues, and escalating frustration on both sides. Alexandra brilliantly articulates why seemingly simple tasks like "get ready for school" became impossible mountains to climb for her ADHD brain. "I would get distracted by my Alexa, my dog toys, even the slightest thing that made me out of place," she explains, painting a vivid picture of how environmental stimuli hijack attention.

Her description of entering the "red zone" – those moments when emotions become uncontrollable storms – provides rare insight into emotional dysregulation that often accompanies ADHD. We explore how strategic supports from understanding teachers and breaking down instructions into manageable steps created turning points in Alexandra's journey. The transformation from our pre-diagnosis struggles to her current independence is nothing short of remarkable.

Whether you're a parent suspecting your child might have ADHD, already navigating a diagnosis, or simply want to understand neurodivergent experiences better, this conversation offers both practical strategies and emotional resonance. Join us next week as we delve into Alexandra's experience with medication – the fears, questions and life-changing results that followed. And don't forget to download my free guide "The Five Most Misunderstood Signs of ADHD in Girls" through the link in the show notes!

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What if your child's meltdowns or shutdowns aren't actually about behavior, but biology? 

Nicola McAllister, education consultant with 30+ years of experience and mother to an autistic son, reveals the science behind self-regulation that transforms how we support our neurodivergent children. Through her compassionate lens, we discover that what looks like "difficult behavior" is actually a stress response—our children's bodies responding to perceived threats with the only tools they currently have available.

The conversation unveils Nicola's brilliant "brain house" model, explaining how our children's brains develop from the bottom up, and how stress can trap them in the "basement" of survival responses. When traditional parenting approaches fail, it's because we're trying to reason with a child who physiologically cannot access their reasoning brain in that moment.

Instead, Nicola guides us through her self-regulation framework: Goal, Predict, Plan, Do, Review—a collaborative approach that builds executive function skills through practice rather than punishment. Through vivid real-world examples, including her son's struggle with a Mario t-shirt at a social club, she demonstrates how validating our children's concerns and building plans together creates pathways to success.

Perhaps most powerfully, she introduces the "Regulate, Relate, Reason" approach—understanding that our children need to feel calm before they can connect, and only then can they reason. This shifts our parenting from reactive to intentional, what Nicola calls "premiership parenting"—requiring us to be several steps ahead, carefully considering our words and approaches.

Whether you're struggling with morning routines, hygiene battles, or emotional outbursts, this episode provides both the understanding and practical tools to build meaningful connections with your child. Listen now and transform your approach to supporting your child's developing nervous system.

Nicole Mcallister Website:  The Regulated Child

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Sara Donnelly, a head teacher of 14 years, shares why she's leaving education leadership after witnessing the system repeatedly fail neurodivergent children, in particular, girls. We also delve into why:

• Girls with neurodiversity are often missed because they present differently than the stereotypical profile
• Signs to watch for in autistic girls include subtle stimming, hypervigilance, and struggling to maintain (not make) friendships
• Many professionals still believe myths like "she can't be autistic because she makes eye contact" or "she has friends"
• Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) should be addressed by fixing the environment, not the child
• Creative solutions like normalising ear defenders for everyone can help neurodivergent children without singling them out
• The education system needs radical reform: smaller class sizes, less testing, and personalized learning

Join our private WhatsApp community to connect with other parents navigating their neurodiverse journey.

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The digital world offers a unique sanctuary for neurodiverse children—a place where they can connect, explore, and engage in ways that might feel challenging in person. But this digital refuge comes with hidden costs as platforms silently harvest our children's personal data, using it in ways most parents don't fully understand.

Deputy Commissioner Emily Keaney from the Information Commissioner's Office pulls back the curtain on what's really happening when your child scrolls through social media or plays online games. From recommender systems that create detailed profiles of your child's interests to geolocation settings that can expose their physical whereabouts, the conversation reveals the mechanics of data collection that operate just beneath the surface of your child's favourite apps.

What makes this discussion particularly valuable is its practical approach. Rather than inducing panic, Keaney shares concrete successes where regulatory pressure has forced major platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) to implement stronger privacy protections specifically for young users. She explains how sophisticated age verification technologies are becoming increasingly common, ensuring children receive appropriate safeguards even when they've managed to circumvent parental controls.

For parents of neurodiverse children who may be especially vulnerable online, the episode offers a perfect balance of technical insight and practical guidance. Learn why simply checking privacy settings isn't enough and how ongoing conversations about digital safety can be naturally integrated into family life. Discover the power of showing genuine curiosity about your child's online experiences rather than approaching them with suspicion.

What emerges is a heartening message: parents aren't alone in this fight. Through significant fines and regulatory action, the ICO is steadily shifting the burden of protection away from overwhelmed parents and onto the powerful platforms profiting from our children's attention. Join us to understand how you can better protect your child while still allowing them to benefit from the connection and community the digital world provides.

Got questions about protecting your child online? Join our private WhatsApp community where parents share experiences and support each other through the challenges of raising neurodiverse children in a digital age.

ICO Website 

Children's Code

Emily Keaney’s Blog – Protecting Children’s Data

Press Release on TikTok and Investigations 

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The gap between what neurodiverse children need and what traditional education provides continues to widen, leaving parents desperate for answers while waiting years for diagnoses and appropriate support. In this eye-opening conversation, Lizzie Shearing and Liz Britton share how Learning DNA's revolutionary approach is transforming outcomes for children with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other neurodevelopmental differences.

At the heart of their methodology is the recognition that most children don't fit neatly into diagnostic boxes. "I think what really struck me in my role as a SENCO was that there isn't really one child I've ever met that only has one difficulty," explains Lizzie, highlighting why the traditional siloed pathways to support often fail our most vulnerable learners. Their 360-degree assessment evaluates fourteen distinct learning skills, creating a comprehensive picture that prioritizes interventions based on individual needs rather than diagnostic labels.

One of the most fascinating revelations is how frequently visual processing difficulties are misdiagnosed as dyslexia. Lizzie shares how proper screening and intervention improved her own daughter's reading speed by 25% overnight through specialized glasses and vision therapy. This exemplifies Learning DNA's evidence-based approach, which looks beyond labels to identify and address the root causes of learning barriers.

The conversation explores their innovative therapeutic programs, including movement therapy using AI tracking technology, personalized learning programs, vision therapy, and auditory integration training. What makes their approach particularly powerful is how they bring together families, schools and specialists to create holistic support systems with practical strategies for both home and classroom environments.

For parents navigating the overwhelming journey of supporting a neurodiverse child, this episode offers both hope and practical guidance. Discover how understanding your child's complete learning profile – rather than chasing diagnoses – could be the key to unlocking their potential and transforming their educational experience. Could your child's learning challenges be different than you think?

Click here for Learning DNA enter SEND30 for a 30% discount

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We dive into a powerful conversation about parenting neurodivergent children from the inside out with guest Diane Dempster, coach, speaker, and co-founder of Impact Parents. Diane shares her personal journey as a "recovering yelling mom" and how she discovered that the way we show up as parents matters more than what we do.

• How the "Super Mom trap" catches neurodivergent parents who try to do everything for their children
• Why parents are "the missing link" in helping neurodivergent children thrive 
• Recognising when you're having a "wobbly" day and what to do about it
• Practical tools like the "3-5 challenge" for setting realistic expectations
• Questioning whether difficult behaviours are "naughty or neurological"
• Reframing self-care as "bringing your needs into the equation"
• The importance of asking for help and modelling this skill for your children
• Setting an intention to do something for yourself every day, no matter how small
• Breaking free from internal critical voices that may not even be your own

If you're looking for a safe space to connect with other parents navigating their neurodiverse journey, our private WhatsApp community offers support, insights and real conversations with like-minded parents who truly understand. Join the conversation today. You can find the link in the show notes.

Click here for Impact Parents

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What if your journey to help your child with ADHD actually begins with healing yourself? Randy Free, founder of Aspire Coaching, offers a refreshing perspective that might just transform your family dynamics.

When traditional parenting approaches fail with neurodivergent children, parents often feel trapped in cycles of conflict, meltdowns, and mutual frustration. Randy's personal story of raising two children with ADHD resonates deeply—the hours spent on homework, the struggles within an inflexible education system, and the constant worry about how their story would end. Through this journey, he discovered a profound truth: healing the family system creates space for the child to thrive.

The heart of our conversation explores Randy's PEACE framework (Perspective, Ease tension, Attune, Connect, and Empower), offering a structured path toward calmer, more connected parenting. We unpack how children's emotional outbursts aren't manipulative or defiant but distress signals from a brain where logic becomes inaccessible during emotional moments. Randy introduces practical tools like the STOP method for identifying emotional warning signs and creating personalised calming strategies before reaching full meltdown.

Perhaps most importantly, we challenge the misconception that gentle parenting means permissiveness. Randy articulates the crucial balance between empathetic connection and maintaining clear boundaries, showing how fewer, more focused expectations actually create space for children to thrive. The conversation takes a beautiful turn as we recognize how neurodivergent children flourish when their education aligns with their passions—like Randy's son who struggled to get out of bed for school but achieved perfect attendance at motorcycle mechanics school.

Whether you're in the trenches of daily ADHD challenges or simply seeking to better understand neurodivergent minds, this episode offers compassionate insight alongside practical strategies. Join us to discover how one breath, one conscious choice at a time, you can transform both your parenting approach and your relationship with your wonderfully unique child.

Click here for Randy Free

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Financial planning for neurodivergent children is not just about money but about love, responsibility, and the legacy we leave when we're no longer here.

• Cara explains how her journey with her autistic son during COVID lockdown led to creating SendProtect after noticing financial advisors weren't addressing SEND-specific needs
• SendProtect offers free educational events, webinars and consultations to help SEND parents understand long-term financial planning
• Life insurance policies should be written in trust to prevent inheritance tax and provide immediate access to funds
• Children's ISAs can become problematic at age 18 if your child lacks financial capacity, requiring court applications
• Vulnerable person's trusts provide a government-approved way to save money for SEND children without affecting benefits
• Even £5 per week can provide meaningful financial protection through properly structured life insurance
• Having a will with children's guardianship specified is essential to prevent SEND children entering temporary care
• Workplace support for SEND parents is crucial—employers need to understand the additional caring responsibilities

Join the conversation in our private WhatsApp community where SEND parents connect for support, insights and understanding. Find the link in the show notes.

Click here for SEND Protect

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What happens when the child you thought you knew begins to slip away? For Guy Shahar, watching his one-year-old son Daniel lose words, self-feeding abilities, and connection was heartbreaking. "It's like you're losing your child," Guy shares, describing the helplessness that washed over him and his wife as traditional medical pathways offered little beyond frustration and dismissal.

Their story takes an unexpected turn when they follow their intuition to a small therapy center in Israel, emptying their savings on what Guy calls "stronger than a whim, but without any rational basis." What follows is nothing short of remarkable - a transformation that begins on the very first day when Daniel, who hadn't touched solid food in over a year, sits calmly at a table feeding himself. The magic, Guy explains, isn't in mysterious techniques but in learning profound attunement and containment - creating safety while truly seeing and responding to what his son actually needed rather than what conventional parenting expected.

Guy's journey doesn't end with Daniel's progress. While establishing the charity Transforming Autism, he discovers his own neurodivergence, adding layers of insight to his understanding: "Autistic children are often particularly sensitive and empathic - turbocharged even. It's overwhelming, that's why they shut down." This revelation reshapes his advocacy work, focusing on helping parents understand their children's extraordinary potential from the earliest moments. Through intensive home-based therapies and accessible online parent groups, his charity now guides families toward the confidence to parent neurodivergent children on their own terms.

For parents just beginning this journey, Guy offers compassionate wisdom: allow yourself to grieve the future you imagined, seek community with those who understand, and remember that while the path may not resemble what you expected, the connection waiting on the other side can be more profound than you ever thought possible. Connect with the Send Parenting WhatsApp community through the link in our show notes, where you'll find others walking similar paths with open hearts and shared understanding.

Click here for Transforming Autsim

Click here for Guy's book Transforming Autism

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Dr. Olivia Kessel speaks with Lisa Danahy, Founder & Director of Create Calm, yoga therapist and author of Create Calm in the Classroom, a book about understanding and supporting children's nervous systems through breath and movement techniques. She talks about why playful approaches work better than verbal instructions for neurodivergent children and:

• Why we need to understand behaviours as nervous system communications rather than problems to fix
• How to use the "volcano" movement exercise to release tension and anxiety
• The importance of validating emotions rather than labelling them as good or bad
• Practical ways to help children navigate emotional storms through body awareness

Click here for Lisa's book Creating Calm in the Classroom

Join our private WhatsApp community for support, insights and real conversations with like-minded parents who truly understand. 

www.sendparenting.com