Does parenting sometimes feel overwhelming or chaotic? In this episode, Dr Chris Willard shares how mindfulness, humor, and small daily practices can shift the tone of your home and build resilience for kids. He explains why calm begins with you and how presence matters more than perfection. Listen now to discover one simple shift that can bring more peace and connection into your family life.

What to expect in this episode:

• Dr Chris Willard’s journey with ADHD, sobriety, and mindfulness
• Mindfulness as play, humor, movement, and creativity
• How a few breaths can calm the body and sharpen focus
• Why parent regulation shapes child regulation
• Simple daily tools to reset stress and restore connection

About Christopher Willard, PsyD
Dr. Christopher is a clinical psychologist, author, and consultant based in Massachusetts. He teaches at Harvard Medical School and has shared his expertise on mindfulness and mental health in over forty countries, including two TEDx events. Dr. Willard is the author of twenty books, such as Alphabreaths (2019), Growing Up Mindful (2016), Feelings Are Like Farts (2023), and College Mental Health 101 (2025). His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, mindful.org, CNN.com, and many other outlets.

Connect with Dr. Christopher

• Website: Dr. Christopher Willard
• Instagram: @drchriswillard
  
  

Related Links:

• Helping Young Adults Get Back On Track
  https://impactparents.com/helping-young-adults-get-back-on-track
• The Power of Good Enough: Progress Over Perfection
  https://impactparents.com/the-power-of-good-enough-progress-over-perfection
• Simplifying Mindfulness (and How to Start Small)
  https://impactparents.com/simplifying-mindfulness-and-how-to-start-small

Get your FREE copy of 12 Key Coaching Tools for Parents at https://impactparents.com/podcastgift

Read the full blog here:
https://impactparents.com/fun-simple-mindfulness-for-adhd-families-with-dr.-chris-willard

Connect with Impact Parents:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactparents
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactParents
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactparents
  
  

Sponsors
"Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out" – A New ADHD Intervention
Do you recognize current ADHD interventions fall short? At DIG Coaching, we've developed a groundbreaking field of engineering called Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out. Discover a fresh approach to ADHD care that looks beyond traditional methods.

Learn more at www.cognitive-ergonomics.com

If you feel like someone in your home is always shutting down, melting down, or firing back, you’re not imagining it. Reactivity takes over fast, especially in stressed or neurodiverse families. In this episode, we’ll explain why it happens, how to spot each SODA pattern, and what to do in the moment to create safety and calm. Tune in to learn one shift that can lower stress for everyone in your home.

What to expect in this episode:

• Why reactivity comes from the body, not willpower, and how that changes your approach
• How the SODA framework explains shutdowns, defensiveness, explosions, and avoidance
• The “wrong equals bad” belief that drives shame and emotional overwhelm in kids
• Why emotional safety matters more than logic when helping kids learn and regulate
• How co-regulation can interrupt spirals and bring everyone back to calm
  
  

Related Links:

• EP187: Emotionally Intelligent Parenting
  https://impactparents.com/emotionally-intelligent-parenting
• EP200: Reduce Family Stress by Taking Aim
  https://impactparents.com/reduce-family-stress-by-taking-aim
• EP207: Rebuilding Trust with Teens: Cleaning the Slate Conversations
  https://impactparents.com/rebuilding-trust-with-teens-cleaning-the-slate-conversations

Get your FREE copy of 12 Key Coaching Tools for Parents at https://impactparents.com/podcastgift

Read the full blog here:
https://impactparents.com/emotional-reactivity-in-kids-safety-matters-more-than-willpower

Connect with Impact Parents:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactparents
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactParents
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactparents
  
  

Sponsors
"Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out" – A New ADHD Intervention
Do you recognize current ADHD interventions fall short? At DIG Coaching, we've developed a groundbreaking field of engineering called Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out. Discover a fresh approach to ADHD care that looks beyond traditional methods.

Learn more at www.cognitive-ergonomics.com

Can changing a few words in an IEP change a child’s future? Speech Dude Chris Wenger shares how to reframe support plans to empower neurodivergent kids instead of pushing them to mask. Learn why connection, regulation, and self-advocacy matter more than compliance and how actually to build those skills into your child’s education plan.

What to expect in this episode:

• Why IEPs often miss the mark and how to fix them
• How to replace deficit language with strength-based reframes
• Why connection and regulation need to come before learning
• How co-creating goals with kids leads to better outcomes
• The power of self-advocacy compared to compliance

About Chris Wenger
Chris also known as Speech Dude, is a high school speech-language pathologist with more than 20 years of experience supporting autistic and neurodivergent youth. As a neurodivergent educator himself, he brings a unique perspective to his work. Chris is also an internationally recognized presenter who shares practical, affirming strategies to improve speech therapy and better support neurodiverse students.

Connect with Chris

• Website: Speech Dude | NeuroAffirm
• Facebook: Speech Dude
• YouTube: Speech Dude
• Instagram: @speechdude
• Tiktok: @speechdude
• X: @speechdude)

Get your FREE copy of 12 Key Coaching Tools for Parents at https://impactparents.com/podcastgift

Read the full blog here:
https://impactparents.com/how-to-make-ieps-neuro-affirming-and-student-led

Connect with Impact Parents:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactparents
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactParents
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactparents

Sponsors
"Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out" – A New ADHD Intervention
Do you recognize current ADHD interventions fall short? At DIG Coaching, we've developed a groundbreaking field of engineering called Cognitive Ergonomics from the Inside Out. Discover a fresh approach to ADHD care that looks beyond traditional methods.

Learn more at www.cognitive-ergonomics.com