In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently

• Where do I start? Talking about sex to your kid with ADHD

  In this episode, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome Amy Lang. Amy is a sex educator who works with kids with learning and thinking differences. She is also the founder of birdsandbeesandkids.com. She helps the hosts tackle a tricky but essential topic: talking to kids with ADHD about sex. Here are just a few of the topics Amy talks about:Ways to talk about — and not talk about — body parts.Helping kids understand how to navigate these topics both inside and outside the home.Why these conversations are so important.Listen for tips on how you can make these talks comfortable and effective. It’s a thoughtful, honest conversation that will help parents, caregivers, or anyone wondering how to support kids as they learn about sex.Related resources8 ways to help teens with ADHD avoid dating trouble spotsADHD and sexSex, intimacy, and ADHDBirds + Bees + KidsTimestamps(1:39) When your child starts the conversation (7:00) The importance of social cues(9:21) Kids being well-informed(11:28) What age to start talking about sex with your kid(14:00) Using the real names of body parts(17:04) Talking to kids at different ages(20:00) Potential challengesFor a transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the episode page on Understood.org.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. 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

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• Hyperfocus: Did my ADHD make me more likely to have postpartum depression?

  Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she investigates the rise of women recently diagnosed with ADHD. Listen to Climbing the Walls now.This week on In It, we’re sharing an episode from another Understood podcast. It’s called Hyperfocus with Rae Jacobson, and we’re big fans.When she first became a parent, Rae experienced a bout of severe postpartum depression. But at the time, there wasn’t much information about ADHD and women, let alone ADHD and postpartum mental health.Rae had heard that there was a link between ADHD and postpartum depression. But with a tiny baby to care for and a life to navigate, she had more pressing things to deal with. But the question kept bugging her: Does ADHD make you more likely to have postpartum depression?This week on Hyperfocus, Rae finally gets some answers to questions she has had for years. Her guest is Dr. Catherine Birndorf, an expert on postpartum mood disorders and co-founder, CEO, and medical director of The Motherhood Center of New York.Related resourcesCatherine’s book: What No One Tells You3 things I’m learning as a new mom with ADHD72 hours in the life of a working mom with ADHDParenting tips when you and your child have ADHDTimestamps(02:55) ADHD as a postpartum concern(09:47) PMADs: Not just the ‘baby blues’(14:21) What can struggling parents do?(21:07) Medication and pregnancyTo get a transcript of this show and check out more episodes, visit the Hyperfocus podcast page at Understood.orgWe love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. 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

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• Sorry not sorry: Why you shouldn’t apologize for your kid

  Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she investigates the rise of women recently diagnosed with ADHD. Listen to Climbing the Walls now.In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome Christina Cipriano, PhD, MEd. Dr. Chris is a psychologist, and an associate professor at the Yale University Child Study Center. She is also the author of Be Unapologetically Impatient, which comes out this summer.Dr. Chris has four children, including a daughter who has ADHD and sensory challenges and a son with a rare, regressive disease. She has given a lot of thought to the idea of apologizing when you have nothing to be sorry for. What can we say instead of “I’m sorry”? And what do we do when others say they’re sorry to us, just because something in our lives is a challenge? Dr. Chris has helpful tips for many of these scenarios. Related resourcesWhat families wish you knew about learning disabilitiesTips from an ADHD coach: Saying sorry too muchWhy I stopped saying “sorry” as a mom (and started saying “no”)What to write in an email to your child’s teacherNeed help advocating for your kid at school? We talk to a proWhat is self-advocacy? Timestamps(1:43) The problem with the words “I’m sorry”(7:35) What is a deficit frame?(11:42) Alternatives to “I’m sorry”(19:54) More alternatives for apologizing(21:11) Teaching our kids to be unapologetic(23:42) Starting with “thank you”(24:46) The science of it allFor a transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the episode page on Understood.org.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. 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

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• Clean up this mess! Or don’t? Advice from an expert

  Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she investigates the rise of women recently diagnosed with ADHD. Listen to Climbing the Walls now. In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome author and therapist KC Davis. KC is a therapist who hosts the podcast Struggle Care. Her new book Who Deserves Your Love will be out in May 2025. She is also the best-selling author of How to Keep House While Drowning.  KC talks about being a “messy” person and reasons why we could all benefit from caring a little less about messiness. She offers tips for getting your home to “work for you.” And she helps us understand reasons to care less about the mess.Related resourcesMessy room? How to help your child keep it neatWhy kids with executive function challenges have trouble starting tasksListen: ADHD and messiness (Jeannie’s story)My Home Is Messy, and I Don’t Feel Bad About It (KC in The New York Times)Timestamps(3:08) What makes us special can also be what makes us scattered(4:41) The tendency to be messy(5:52) Identifying solutions(7:32) Executive function and home management(10:18) The steps involved in a task(11:20) Helpful tips(14:28) Focusing on function(16:37) How you talk about messFor a transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the episode page on Understood.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected]. 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

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• Need help advocating for your kid at school? We talk to a pro

  Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she investigates the rise of women recently diagnosed with ADHD. Listen to Climbing the Walls now.In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome professional parent advocate Danielle Ward. Danielle started out advocating for her own kids, several years ago. Now, through her company Encompass Parent Solutions, she offers families of kids with learning and thinking differences non-legal help with advocacy, support, and education counsel. Danielle chats with Gretchen and Rachel about some of the most important dos and don’ts for parents who are advocating for their child at school. Danielle outlines the steps to take when your child is struggling and how to recognize when a parent advocate might be necessary. She also explains the difference between a parent advocate and a special education attorney.For a transcript and more resources, visit the In It page on Understood.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected] resources8 steps to advocating for your child at schoolWhere to find legal helpThe difference between special education advocates and attorneysWhat is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)?Listen: An attorney’s advice on special education disputesTimestamps(00:59) What does a parent advocate do?(02:56) Description of Danielle’s first IEP meeting(04:57) Understanding the difference between parent advocates and lawyers(08:13) Whether or not kids should be in meetings at school(09:22) Steps to follow when you sense your child is struggling(10:33) What to do when your child has a diagnosis(15:24) Tips for writing an effective letter or email(19:02) Dos and don’ts for child advocacy(22:06) Guidelines for recording meetings 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

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