Tribe, take a break and have some fun with this week's interview! Dr. Kirsten Milliken is the author of the book PlayDHD, which teaches us the science behind using PLAY to support our brains! She will explain, using science and experience, why fun is necessary, especially today, and how taking time to play can help you be more successful! She also talks about her awesome new project, WorldofADHD.com, which celebrates the art, lives, and creativity of people with ADHD! Links mentioned in the show are in the blog at: sarahkesty.com/blog/episode37. All my love to you, Tribe! Sarah

Tribe, 

I was honored to hear from a listener who wanted to share his story after making it through the school system as a kid with ADHD and ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder). Floyd shares what he found worked, what only worked a little, and how to frame your thinking about your own ADHD brain. His tips will resonate with you! (And, spoiler alert: He made it. He works and is going to school to become an advocate for justice! Floyd's story will give you hope!) 

PS A learning moment for me: I sent Floyd some questions to think about before we talked on the show. Then, I went a little out of order when we recorded. Please forgive his pauses or "ums." Those are my fault, for going out of order. It was just too much great information to not post his thoughts! 

All my love, 

Sarah

Tribe, try-o-meters are not a thing. We cannot assume we know how hard others, especially our kids, are trying. I challenge you to replace your assumptions with only one: Kids do their best. Please listen and share. (This episode is in response to some emails my students and clients received from teachers this week, including, "You need to actually try," and "I won't help you anymore unless you do your part." We can't afford to lose our kids by assuming they aren't trying.) Listen in for some strategies and an empathetic walk in kids' shoes right now. Pep talk at 19:00 (but the whole episode is like a perspective pep talk this week!) All my love, Sarah 

Team, This episode may go against the grain a bit. We all are fighting so hard right now. Fighting to stay safe. Fighting to stay positive. Fighting to stay on top of whatever "school" may look like. We are trying to be in action all the time because we think action is the solution to stress. Today's episode won't ask you to stop acting, but it will empower you to make FUN part of your plan and activities. It is FUN that will keep our brains healthy and able to access strategies and learning. It is FUN that will regulate our brain chemicals to get us into a more productive, happy space. Fun is not a waste of time, and it doesn't have to be separate from what you're doing right now. All my love (and some fun) to you, Sarah 

One of the most common concerns I’ve heard from our Tribe is that of keeping our kids organized and on track for distance learning or hybrid models. This concern touches deep into layers of Executive Function, and I’m going to share some great hacks today. Hey Kid Pep Talk is at 20:10. All my love! Sarah

Tribe, today you'll hear from Ashley Daugherty, who created a planner with embedded executive function supports! I'm so excited for her planner and its potential impact on kids' lives. Check out her website for more information and to order: https://www.studentplannerplus.com/ All my love, Sarah

It's official: no matter how you "school" this fall, you will be overwhelmed at some point. Today's show teaches you how to re-frame overwhelm (for instant relief) and how to deal with the overwhelm that sneaks up and takes over our brains. Tons of strategies for kids and their grown ups in this show! Hey Kid Pep Talk is at 20:45. All my love, Sarah

Hey Tribe, This might be one of my favorite hacks. If you can track your energy levels and then match them with high- and low- demand activities, you and your child will save SO much time and effort fighting against your brains! Using this strategy has helped me get more done, in less time, and I feel less frustrated with myself. (Yes, even coaches need strategies!) Let me know how it goes for you, especially as you prep for distance learning or blended learning (or really even just homework times). All my love, Sarah

What can you do to prepare when you don't know what you're preparing for? In this week's show, we uncover the strategy of dump-and-ask (which probably needs to be renamed) to process anxieties about the unknown. We talk about what to ask teachers so you can mentally prepare and start thinking of strategies to support your and your child's success this fall. We got this! Join our tribe on email by going to Sarahkesty.com/toptips. Hey Kid pep talk is at 17 mins. All my love, Sarah 

Whether or not your child will return to a physical classroom, they will need a system to maintain their school-related belongings and space at home. Without the demands of school right now, you have a great opportunity to think about, test out, and create a space and systems to maintain it. This episode teaches you how to: make a special "workspace" for free or very cheap, get your kid to buy in to organizing, and how to organize the digital space. Pep Talk is at 15:54. All my love, Sarah