In general, it’s an advantage when kids have two parents caring for them. But it gets challenging when those parents have a strained relationship.

Things can get really tricky when your child is neurodivergent. Many questions come up: Should we get a special education evaluation for our child? Should they be on medication? Should our child have counseling?

Not only are these difficult questions, but they’re also sources of potential conflict with parents.

On this episode of Parenting Behavior with Dr. Andy Kahn, you’ll learn how to navigate disagreements between co-parents and figure out how to advocate for your child’s best interests.

Related resources

• Parenting disagreements: How to get on the same page
• 11 tips for working with your ex to parent your child
• 8 ways to help kids with ADHD cope with divorce
• How to build strong parent-child bonds

Timestamps

(0:56)  Why it’s key to identify shared beliefs

(2:34) Do we agree on what we’re seeing?

(4:19) How do I take the lead on getting help?

(8:14) Nothing seems to work. What now?

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Parenting Behavior page on Understood.org.

We love to hear from our listeners. You can email us at ParentingBehavior@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

When you ask a child what they want to be when they grow up, you’ll hear all sorts of creative answers. Some kids have surprisingly practical goals—others, not so much.

Neurodivergent kids are particularly interesting because they're creative and think about all kinds of outside-the-box things.

On this episode of Parenting Behavior with Dr. Andy Kahn, you'll learn about how to help kids create appropriate and realistic career goals and help them work on the path toward having real, reinforcing work in their lives.

Related resources

• All about careers for kids who learn and think differently
• 8 steps to help your child set personal goals
• 6 steps for easing the transition to work

Timestamps

(0:54) How to encourage skill development

(1:59) What can help kids with learning differences?

(4:04) How to turn interests into actual skills

(9:49) Accurate self-assessments and neurodivergent kids

For a transcript and more resources, visit the episode page on Understood.org.

We’d love to hear from you. Email us at ParentingBehavior@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

Is your child having difficulties with reading? Do they struggle to recognize letters, understand what they read, or sound out words on a page?

In this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn explores how to identify dyslexia in kids. Tune in to learn the common signs of dyslexia and what steps to take if you think your child may have this learning difference.

Related resources

• What is dyslexia?
• Video: Dyslexia and the brain
• Signs of dyslexia at different ages

Timestamps

(0:44) What is dyslexia?

(1:50) Common signs of dyslexia

(4:02) How can you be sure your child has dyslexia?

(6:42) How is dyslexia diagnosed?

(10:45) What to do if you feel overwhelmed

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Parenting Behavior episode page on Understood.

We’d love to hear from you. Email us at parentingbehavior@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

Even if summer seems far in the future, it’s probably not too early to begin planning for what your child will do during their break from school.

Once you find a program that looks interesting, then comes the rest of the work. Is it a good fit for my child? How am I going to pay for it?

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn talks about the best time to start planning for summer camps and the key questions parents should ask. He also shares insights on choosing the right camp or program for your child.

Related resources

• Summer guide for families
• 8 types of summer camps for kids who learn and think differently
• Checklist: Questions to ask when evaluating summer camps

Timestamps

(00:50) What type of program is right for your child?

(03:57) When should I start planning?

(07:37) How can you pay for camp?

(09:38) How to get the best information on a camp

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Parenting Behavior page on Understood.org.

We’d love to hear from you. Email us at parentingbehavior@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

It’s common for adults to take a supplement like melatonin to help when they’re having trouble falling asleep, or just need a really good night of rest.

Melatonin has been shown in numerous studies to help people fall asleep, and in some cases, improve the quality of their sleep. Plus, it’s sold over the counter at many kinds of stores.

But when it comes to kids, some questions come up. On this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn gets some advice from Dr. Liz Harstad.

Liz is a developmental behavioral pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School. She has more than 15 years of experience caring for children with learning and attention differences and developmental conditions.

Is it OK to give your child melatonin? What about other supplements or medications? What does a sleep problem look like in a child, anyway?

Listen or watch to get Liz’s answers.

Related resources

• How ADHD can affect your sleep
• 4 ways lack of sleep affects how kids learn
• Child can’t wind down at night? Why some kids struggle to go to sleep

Timestamps

(1:20) How can you tell if there is a sleep problem?

(3:42) What are the benefits of melatonin?

(6:38) What are the risks of taking it?

(8:37) Are there alternatives?

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Parenting Behavior page on Understood.

We love to hear from our listeners. Email us at parentingbehavior@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

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 ParentingBehavior@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

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 ParentingBehavior@understood.org.

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Parenting Behavior page on Understood.

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