What Now? A Parent's Guide to...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. Once your child has been prescribed ADHD medication, that’s not the end of the journey. You might be wondering: What are the possible side effects? And what if we need to change the dose? Tune in to this episode of Parenting Behavior to get expert advice from host Dr. Andy Kahn on side effects, fine-tuning medication, talking to providers, and more.

This week on “Parenting Behavior,” we’re sharing an episode of another great Understood.org podcast, “In It,” where Dr. Andy Kahn is a regular guest. The show is all about raising kids who learn and think differently. On this episode, Andy joins the “In It” hosts to talk about a big parenting debate: Bribes vs. rewards. You probably know how it goes: Your child is refusing to do something that, to you, seems super reasonable. Do you offer them a reward to get them to cooperate? Where is the line between bribery and rewarding a child? Will that ruin them? Listen to get Andy's expert advice, and follow "In It" wherever you get your podcasts.

Sometimes, our kids just won’t try anything new. This can be something small, like not wanting to try a new food. But it can also be a bigger issue, like your child refusing to go to a new after-school activity they’ve joined. On this episode of Parenting Behavior, host Dr. Andy Kahn will talk about how to get your child to engage in new activities, especially those that make them feel afraid or anxious.

For parents, the happiest time of the year can also be the most stressful. Busy parties. Strange foods served to picky eaters. The dread of worrying how your child will respond if they don’t like the sweater grandma gave them. On this episode of “Parenting Behavior,” host Dr. Andy Kahn and guest Dr. Karen Wilson share five key tips to prepare your family for the holiday season. Karen is a clinical neuropsychologist and, like Andy, a parent. So, get ready for tips that come from a mix of professional expertise and real-life parenting.

Bullying can be one of the most difficult parts of being a kid and being a parent. And for neurodivergent kids with learning and thinking differences like ADHD and dyslexia, it can be an additional challenge. On this episode of “Parenting Behavior,” host Dr. Andy Kahn talks about handling those challenges — whether your child is being bullied, or is engaging in bullying behavior themselves.

Parent-teacher conferences can seem like high-pressure events. There are only 10 or 15 minutes, at most, for you and the teacher to discuss many important things. Plus you want to keep things positive and the teacher engaged. It’s a lot to consider. On this episode of “Parenting Behavior,” host Dr. Andy Kahn will talk about some things you can do to make the conference as successful as possible.

Let’s face it. Embarrassment is a big part of growing up. And it can impact kids in many ways. They may worry that trying a new outfit will embarrass them in front of their peers, or feel ashamed when a classmate comments on their appearance. Embarrassment and the emotions that come with it can be tough to navigate, for both kids and parents. On this episode of “Parenting Behavior,” host Dr. Andy Kahn explains how to help young children deal with embarrassment and strategies for getting ahead of it.