It can be really tricky to know when to step in and help your kid when they're having anxiety. Unfortunately, this is a really common situation: 10 percent of kids have diagnosable levels of anxiety.

So on this episode of Parenting Behavior with Dr. Andy Kahn, we're going to learn three key things:

• What is anxiety?
• How can you help them manage it?
• When should you step in as a parent?

Related resources

• The difference between typical anxiety and an anxiety problem
• Classroom accommodations for anxiety
• The connection between anxiety and stress

Timestamps

• (0:54)   What is anxiety?
• (3:28) How can I respond to my child's anxiety?
• (9:37)  How should we talk about anxiety with kids?
• (14:03 ) How parents can project on kids

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

Parenting is tough enough. But when differences in processing or development come into play, it can become even more complex.

As you begin making parenting decisions, it’s common to experience self-doubt, guilt, and confusion. These feelings are understandable — and there are ways to manage them.

In this episode of Parenting Behavior, Dr. Andy Kahn explores parenting self-doubt and offers guidance on how to navigate and support those difficult emotions. Plus, tips on how to care for yourself along the way.

Related resources

• Guided meditation for stressed parents
• 8 things I wish people knew about parenting a child with ADHD
• Navigating your child’s diagnosis: Self-care tips for parents

Timestamps

(1:05)  What’s causing the self-doubt?

(2:38)  What does it look like when self-doubt takes over?

(6:35)  How to manage your self-doubt physically

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

When a child lies, it can be really tricky for parents. Even overwhelming at times.

What’s the difference between a white lie and a serious one? How do I handle it if my kid keeps lying over and over? Can I ever lie to my child?

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn will share information on why your child lies, what those lies are telling you, and how to help your child learn to tell the truth.

Related resources

• ADHD and lying: Why kids with ADHD might lie a lot
• Why does my child lie so much?
• 8 ways to help your grade-schooler with ADHD stop lying
• Teens with ADHD and lying

Timestamps

(00:46)  What do kids’ lies look like?

(04:08)  How do I make sense of my kid’s lies?

(07:41)  How can I help my child be more truthful?

(13:06)  Why parents should admit their own mistakes

(17:25)  White lies vs. serious lies

(19:11)  Is it ever OK to lie to your kid?

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

Joining a club, sports team, or other extracurricular activity can be a rite of passage for kids. It’s a great way to make new friends, practice life skills, and learn about themselves.

With this, we also expect — or at least hope — our neurodivergent kids will succeed in those environments just like their neurotypical peers. But there’s no guarantee that adult leaders, like coaches, understand learning and thinking differences. Since we rely on them, it can be in your and your child’s best interest to share helpful information with them ahead of time.

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn discusses why it’s important to share information about your child with the other adult leaders in their life — and tips that can help.

We’d love to hear from you. You can email us at ParentingBehavior@understood.org.

Related resources

• 6 ways to improve your child’s self-esteem with extracurricular activities
• Do IEPs cover extracurricular activities?
• How to get your child involved in sports

Timestamps

(00:56) Why you should share information about your child

(03:01) How to talk about your child

(06:15) Finding the right activity for your child

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

We’d love to hear from you. 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

 If your child is on medication for ADHD, you may have heard of a medication vacation or a drug holiday. In short, it means taking a break from their usual medication — for a few days, weeks, or even months. It sounds simple enough, but deciding whether it’s right for your child is a different story.

On this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn talks with Dr. Liz Harstad, a pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital, to get the scoop.

Related resources

• All about ADHD medication
• The difference between stimulant and non-stimulant medication for ADHD
• A history of ADHD medication

Timestamps

(1:30) Why would someone take a “drug holiday”?

(2:29) How has thinking evolved over time?

(3:42) What are the impacts of a break?

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

We’d love to hear from you. 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

 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