In this episode of Growing Up with Dr. Sarah, we discuss ADHD, dyslexia and other learning challenges. As report cards and teacher feedback arrive, many parents wonder if short attention spans, reading struggles, or classroom difficulties warrant concern—or a conversation with a mental health professional. Dr. Sarah Adams sits down with Dr. Kelly Christian, clinical psychologist and Clinical Director of the Schaeffer Center, to break down what’s developmentally expected, what might signal ADHD or dyslexia, how to distinguish learning differences from learning disorders, and how parents can confidently trust their instincts when something doesn’t feel right.

Episode Highlights:

#TitleOne

#IEP

#IndividualEducationPlan

#Multifactored Evaluation

#dyslexia

#evaluatingfordyslexia

#neuropsychologicalevaluation

#psychoeducationaltesting

#ADHD

#LearningDifferences

#504Plan

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Share your thoughts, questions, show ideas:

Have questions about today’s episode, or anything else related to the health and wellness of your family? Either write us an email or upload a voice memo, and send to growingupwithdr.sarah@gmail.com and we’ll try and address your questions in an episode.

RESOURCES:

learning-differences.org

ABOUT Dr. Sarah Adams:

Looking for a place to educate yourself and your family on how to live your best lives? Welcome to Growing Up with Dr. Sarah, where we discuss general health and wellness, parenting, family matters, and real-life challenges that affect every single one of us. As both a pediatrician and a mom, I have unique insight on how to grow healthier, happier, and stronger as individuals, and as families.

The success of the family starts from the top, by helping parents and caregivers address tough questions and everyday concerns. So join me and some of my special guests: physicians, nutritionists, fitness experts, community members, coaches, teachers, and more –and let’s grow up together!

Check out previous episodes of Growing Up with Dr. Sarah at www.growingupwithdrsarah.com

IG: @growingupwithdrsarah

TikTok: @growingupwithdrsarah

This podcast is produced by:

GTS Media, LLC

Audivita Studios

n this episode of Growing Up with Dr. Sarah, Dr. Sarah Adams sits down with Dr. Christopher Bolling, a national leader in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity and a co-author of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ clinical practice guidelines. Together, they unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in pediatrics: childhood obesity. Rather than focusing on numbers or blame, they explore what BMI actually means, why it’s just one vital sign among many, and how to recognize when weight may be affecting a child’s health or happiness. Dr. Bolling explains why weight is so complex, shaped by genetics, development, environment, and behavior, and why compassionate, individualized care matters far more than charts or cutoffs.

The conversation also dives into how families and pediatricians can talk about weight with empathy, avoid shame, and support children in building lifelong healthy habits. Dr. Bolling shares practical guidance on motivational interviewing, nurturing positive body image, honoring hunger cues, and building routines around nutrition, movement, and family meals. From reducing pressure at the table to modeling healthy choices ourselves, this episode offers evidence-based, achievable strategies for raising confident, healthy kids, while reminding parents to give themselves grace along the way.

Episode Highlights:

#motivational interviewing

#positive body image

#honoring hunger cues

#modeling healthy choices

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Have an idea for a show, share your thoughts with us:

Have questions about today’s episode, or anything else related to the health and wellness of your family? Either write us an email or upload a voice memo, and send to growingupwithdr.sarah@gmail.com and we’ll try and address your questions on an episode.

RESOURCES:

2022 Pediatric Cardiology Update: “Childhood Obesity” https://youtu.be/_BCXxmopQNw?si=NDc9Nx-g1a7knLU9

Books: Facing Overweight and Obesity: A Complete Guide for Children and Adults by Dr. Fatima Cody Standford

“Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense” Book by Ellyn Satter

New guidelines recommend early, aggressive treatment for childhood obesity (January, 17, 2023) https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2023/01/17/childhood-obesity-epidemic-pediatrics-guidelines-counseling-treatment

ABOUT Dr. Sarah:

Looking for a place to educate yourself and your family on how to live your best lives? Welcome to “Growing Up with Dr. Sarah,” where we dive into general health and wellness, parenting , family matters, and real-life challenges that affect every single one of us. Being both a pediatrician and a mother has given me unique insight about how to live healthier, happier, and stronger as individuals, and as families.

The success of the family starts from the top, and by helping parents and caregivers address tough questions and everyday concerns. So join me and some of my special guests: physicians, nutritionists, fitness experts, community members, coaches, teachers, even kids, and parents –and let’s grow up together!

Check out previous episodes of “Growing Up with Dr. Sarah” at www.growingupwithdrsarah.com

IG details: @growingupwithdrsarah

TikTok details: @growingupwithdrsarah

This podcast is produced by:

GTS Media, LLC

Audivita Studios

In this episode I talk with experienced psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, and owner of Woodstream Wellness, Emilie Breeding. Together we go in depth about the mental health of children and teens. Nearly one in five young people in the United States experiences mental, emotional and behavioral conditions like ADHD, depression, anxiety, OCD and mood disorders.

We explore how to recognize when a child is struggling, the importance of early intervention, ways to break the stigma around mental health, and why partnership between families, schools, and healthcare providers is crucial. You’ll also hear her firsthand insights about common struggles, emerging trends, and what truly fosters resilience and healing for kids and teens.

Stats included in this episode are grounded in recent CDC findings on the prevalence, risk, and protective factors for mental health conditions in children and teens. They aim to provide listeners with both practical advice and deeper insight into the evolving landscape of pediatric mental health care.

Episode Highlights:

#Teen Resilience

#Openended Questions

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Have an idea for a show, share your thoughts with us:

Have questions about today’s episode, or anything else related to the health and wellness of your family? Either write us an email or upload a voice memo, and send to growingupwithdr.sarah@gmail.com and we’ll try and address your questions on an episode.

RESOURCES:

https://www.charliehealth.com/

https://woodstreamwellness.com/

ABOUT Dr. Sarah:

Looking for a place to educate yourself and your family on how to live your best lives? Welcome to “Growing Up with Dr. Sarah,” where we dive into general health and wellness, parenting , family matters, and real-life challenges that affect every single one of us. Being both a pediatrician and a mother has given me unique insight about how to live healthier, happier, and stronger as individuals, and as families.

The success of the family starts from the top, and by helping parents and caregivers address tough questions and everyday concerns. So join me and some of my special guests: physicians, nutritionists, fitness experts, community members, coaches, teachers, even kids, and parents –and let’s grow up together!

Check out previous episodes of “Growing Up with Dr. Sarah” at www.growingupwithdrsarah.com

IG details: @growingupwithdrsarah

TikTok details: @growingupwithdrsarah

This podcast is produced by:

GTS Media, LLC

Audivita Studios

Today teens are living through overlapping crisis, from natural disasters and war to violence in the news, rising suicide risk and the pull of digital life. Our guest in this episode, Dr. Hina Talib, is double board certified in pediatrics and adolescent medicine and is a nationally recognized voice on teen health. You may have read her insights in ABC News on why teen girls are in crisis beyond social media, seen her guidance on screen time and digital wellness on Instagram, or her contributions to the New York Times on how to talk to kids about the war in Ukraine. In this episode she helps us understand what teens are facing today and how parents and caregivers can support young people both honestly and with hope.

Episode Highlights:

#Teen Resilience

#Digital Wellness

#Teen Anxiety

#suicide prevention

three H's: help, hug, and be heard

#health care independence

Please SUBSCRIBE, LIKE & SHARE if this topic interests you!

Share your thoughts, questions, show ideas:

Have questions about today’s episode, or anything else related to the health and wellness of your family? Either write us an email or upload a voice memo, and send to growingupwithdr.sarah@gmail.com and we’ll try and address your questions on an episode.

RESOURCES:

https://www.drhinatalib.com/

Atria Institute : https://www.atria.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenhealthdoc/

Twitter: https://x.com/drhinatalib

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hinatalib/

ABOUT Dr. Sarah:

Looking for a place to educate yourself and your family on how to live your best lives? Welcome to “Growing Up with Dr. Sarah,” where we dive into general health and wellness, parenting , family matters, and real-life challenges that affect every single one of us. Being both a pediatrician and a mother has given me unique insight about how to live healthier, happier, and stronger as individuals, and as families.

The success of the family starts from the top, and by helping parents and caregivers address tough questions and everyday concerns. So join me and some of my special guests: physicians, nutritionists, fitness experts, community members, coaches, teachers, even kids, and parents –and let’s grow up together!

Check out previous episodes of “Growing Up with Dr. Sarah” at www.growingupwithdrsarah.com

IG details: @growingupwithdrsarah

TikTok details: @growingupwithdrsarah

This podcast is produced by:

GTS Media, LLC

Audivita Studios

So many parents of active kids and teens ask me: How do we fuel our young athletes? Whether your child is doing daily dance classes, long soccer practices or weekend swim meets, what they eat and drink can have a big impact on their performance, their growth and their long-term health.In this episode, Maura Fowler, a registered dietitian and public health expert who specializes in pediatric dance and sports nutrition, explains how to keep your busy, active kid or teen healthy. Highlights:

#REDS

#Protein

#creatine

#healthysnacks

#fightAnorexia, #fightbulimia, and #fightorthorexia

Please SUBSCRIBE, LIKE & SHARE if this topic interests you!

Share your thoughts, questions, show ideas:

Have questions about today’s episode, or anything else related to the health and wellness of your family? Either write us an email or upload a voice memo, and send to growingupwithdr.sarah@gmail.com and we’ll try and address your questions on an episode.

RESOURCES:

Book recommendation: “Pediatric Nutrition” (9th Edition)

By American Academy of Pediatrics

Edited by: Frank R. Greer, MD, FAAP; Steven A. Abrams, MD, FAAP

ABOUT Dr. Sarah:

Looking for a place to educate yourself and your family on how to live your best lives? Welcome to “Growing Up with Dr. Sarah,” where we dive into general health and wellness, parenting , family matters, and real-life challenges that affect every single one of us. Being both a pediatrician and a mother has given me unique insight about how to live healthier, happier, and stronger as individuals, and as families.

The success of the family starts from the top, and by helping parents and caregivers address tough questions and everyday concerns. So join me and some of my special guests: physicians, nutritionists, fitness experts, community members, coaches, teachers, even kids, and parents –and let’s grow up together!

Check out previous episodes of “Growing Up with Dr. Sarah” at www.growingupwithdrsarah.com

IG details: @growingupwithdrsarah

TikTok details: @growingupwithdrsarah

This podcast is produced by:

GTS Media, LLC

Audivita Studios

In this episode we’re talking about puberty, body image and how parents, particularly moms, can play a powerful role in shaping their daughter's confidence and health when their menstruation cycles begin.

My expert guest is Dr. Melisa Holmes, a board-certified adolescent gynecologist, pediatrician, author, TEDx, speaker and co-founder of Girlology, an AI powered app that helps provide specialized support centered around puberty, stage by stage.

We recognize that puberty is a complicated time for both parents and children, and the mother-daughter experience is a very broad one, but today’s topic is a very specific conversation for parents –concentrated particularly on moms, who are managing girls’ menstruation.

Please SUBSCRIBE, LIKE & SHARE if this topic interests you!

Share your thoughts, questions, show ideas:

Have questions about today’s episode, or anything else related to the health and wellness of your family? Either write us an email or upload a voice memo, and send to growingupwithdr.sarah@gmail.com and we’ll try and address your questions on an episode.

RESOURCES:

https://girlology.com/girlologys-how-to-like-your-body-bundle/

"How to Like Your Body" class for girls (pre-teen through teens) - teaches an evidence and clinically based approach to boosting body image through embodiment practices and work book.

"Like Your Body, Change Her Future” (coaching series for moms) grew out of our girls’ class b/c they wanted their moms to get the same message - 52 weeks of SIMPLE, actionable tips delivered in short videos and an online community.

Dr. Momfidence - free AI tool connecting parents to trusted girls’ health content (closed AI system that does not refer outside approved resources)

Book: Youology: A Puberty Guide for EVERY Body Published by the American Academy of Pediatrics

ABOUT Dr. Sarah:

Looking for a place to educate yourself and your family on how to live your best lives? Welcome to “Growing Up with Dr. Sarah,” where we dive into general health and wellness, parenting , family matters, and real-life challenges that affect every single one of us. Being both a pediatrician and a mother has given me unique insight about how to live healthier, happier, and stronger as individuals, and as families.

The success of the family starts from the top, and by helping parents and caregivers address tough questions and everyday concerns. So join me and some of my special guests: physicians, nutritionists, fitness experts, community members, coaches, teachers, even kids, and parents –and let’s grow up together!

Check out previous episodes of “Growing Up with Dr. Sarah” at www.growingupwithdrsarah.com

IG details: @growingupwithdrsarah

TikTok details: @growingupwithdrsarah

This podcast is produced by:

GTS Media, LLC

Audivita Studios

In this episode we're diving into one of the biggest transitions in family life, preparing for college, if that's where your child is headed. So whether your child is in middle school, just starting to think about their future, or a high school senior in the middle of applications, this process can feel overwhelming for students and parents alike. From choosing courses and extracurricular activities to building a college list, visiting campuses, and of course, managing financial responsibilities. That's why we have Alyson Campbell, from Estrella College Consulting. She brings a wealth of experience as a former college athlete, coach, and now an independent educational consultant.

Please SUBSCRIBE, LIKE & SHARE if this topic interests you!

EPISODE TOPICS:

• Timeline for College Preparation—what should families be thinking about in 8th and 9th grade when it comes to planning for college
• Connecting with high school counselors and mapping out coursework
• Sophomore year is a big growth year –building foundations for getting into college
• How students can get more involved in school academically, in their extracurriculars, and athletics
• Junior year, the pivotal year when a student has a sense of the Leadership roles they’re interested in –and when that College List begins to take shape
• How to build a strong, realistic college list
• How to approach college visits
• Senior year is crunch time. Time for Applications & Transitions
• Assessing whether a school is a good financial fit: balancing “dream schools” with affordability and return on investment
• When is considering a Community College a good idea, and then transferring to a 4-year college
• Identifying schools that support the unique needs of students that are neurodiverse learners, LGBTQ students, or those seeking honors programs

RESOURCES:

Jeff Selingo's Buyers and Sellers List (https://jeffselingo.com/which-colleges-are-really-buyers-and-which-are-sellers)

Estrela YouTube page -- transition to college webinar, how to find merit scholarships webinar, 8th grade gameplan webinar (https://www.youtube.com/@estrelaconsulting)

Mama Bear Legal Forms: (https://www.youtube.com/@estrelaconsulting)

Our website: www.estrelaconsulting.com - you can learn about our firm and services, subscribe to our FREE e-newsletter, or schedule a FREE 60-minute consultation

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a number that colleges use to determine a student's eligibility for federal financial aid check out:

https://studentaid.gov/

Share your thoughts, questions, show ideas:

Have questions about today’s episode, or anything else related to the health and wellness of your family? Either write us an email or upload a voice memo, and send to growingupwithdr.sarah@gmail.com and we’ll try and address your questions on an episode.

ABOUT Dr. Sarah:

Looking for a place to educate yourself and your family on how to live your best lives? Welcome to “Growing Up with Dr. Sarah,” where we dive into general health and wellness, parenting , family matters, and real-life challenges that affect every single one of us. Being both a pediatrician and a mother has given me unique insight about how to live healthier, happier, and stronger as individuals, and as families.

The success of the family starts from the top, and by helping parents and caregivers address tough questions and everyday concerns. So join me and some of my special guests: physicians, nutritionists, fitness experts, community members, coaches, teachers, even kids, and parents –and let’s grow up together!

Check out previous episodes of “Growing Up with Dr. Sarah” at www.growingupwithdrsarah.com

IG details: @growingupwithdrsarah

TikTok details: @growingupwithdrsarah

You've no doubt been hearing the buzz about weight loss medications for kids and teens. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Obesity remains highly prevalent among children in the United States and is associated with an ever-increasing burden of obesity-related diseases.”And effective pediatric obesity prevention and treatment requires both societal interventions and health care system innovation. One recently approved treatment is the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists –or more commonly known as GLP-1s in adolescents.

In this episode we are talking about how they work, who they're for, and just as importantly, what they aren't. This conversation is your roadmap through the noise, and that's why I've invited one of our favorite guests, Dr. Christopher Bowling, a national expert on childhood obesity to break it all down.

#MomTok #ParentTok #GLP1 #childhoodobesity #weightloss #genetics #weightgain #obesity

Resources:

From American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Pediatric and Adolescent Obesity

A REUTERS SPECIAL REPORT : “The Wegovy effect”

Wegovy use among US teens up 50% as obesity crisis worsens

Share your thoughts, questions, show ideas:

Have questions about today’s episode, or anything else related to the health and wellness of your family? Either write us an email or upload a voice memo, and send to growingupwithdr.sarah@gmail.com and we’ll try and address your questions on an episode.

Please SUBSCRIBE, LIKE & SHARE if this topic interests you

ABOUT Dr. Sarah:

Looking for a place to educate yourself and your family on how to live your best lives? Welcome to “Growing Up with Dr. Sarah,” where we dive into general health and wellness, parenting , family matters, and real-life challenges that affect every single one of us. Being both a pediatrician and a mother has given me unique insight about how to live healthier, happier, and stronger as individuals, and as families.

The success of the family starts from the top, and by helping parents and caregivers address tough questions and everyday concerns. So join me and some of my special guests: physicians, nutritionists, fitness experts, community members, coaches, teachers, even kids, and parents –and let’s grow up together!

Check out previous episodes of “Growing Up with Dr. Sarah” at www.growingupwithdrsarah.com

IG details: @growingupwithdrsarah

TikTok details: @growingupwithdrsarah