Parenting
Get parenting tips to help kids with ADHD and learning disabilities follow directions and improve behavior. Try simple, practical parenting strategies vetted by experts.
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Tips and strategies
- Quick tipReflect on the positives.
It’s easy to get caught up in negative thinking when you’re used to setbacks. Shift the focus from “what’s going wrong” to “what’s going well.”
- Quick tipDon’t dismiss kids’ concerns.
If a child says “I’m dumb,” don’t dismiss it with a quick “No, you’re not.” Ask questions to help understand why kids are saying negative things about themselves.
Podcast
Guided meditation for stressed parents
Parenting is stressful. Use this six-minute guided meditation to help you calm your mind and body so you can respond to your child more effectively.
Downloads
Sample parent-child behavior contract PDF
Cell phone contract for younger kidsPDF
Cell phone contract for older kidsPDF
Homework contract for grade-schoolersPDF
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All articles
- Rolling with my ADHD Mom Brain
- 72 hours in the life of a working mom with ADHD
- My child doesn’t eat most foods at holiday meals, and my relatives don’t understand. What can I do?
- Different types of schools: Know the options
- 7 secret fears about dyslexia
- 6 steps to take if ADHD medication isn’t working for your child
- Experts weigh in: Marijuana and ADHD
- Staying on top of your child’s IEP
- I think my child has dyscalculia. Now what?
- 8 vacation ideas when your child has ADHD
- Be the reason your child thrives
- Why you shouldn’t stress out about the “summer slide”
- 7 tips for when you have more than one child who learns and thinks differently
- When grandparents are caregivers or guardians of kids who learn and think differently
- When your child with an IEP turns 18: Your parental rights
- 9 steps to take if the teacher hurts your child’s feelings
- 5 tips to help kids with self-control struggles “behave” (and have fun) at family gatherings
- Adderall: What you need to know
- Are brand-name and generic ADHD medications the same?
- Ritalin: What you need to know
- How I make school report cards less scary for my kids
- Concerta: What you need to know
- Understanding receptive language disorder in your child
- 4 small and special ways to thank your child’s teachers
- Should I stop supervising my teen’s homework?
- Understanding written expression disorder in your child
- Parenting is hard work. Ask family and friends for this kind of help.
- Tips for talking about report cards
- 8 things I wish people knew about parenting a child with dyscalculia
- Types of tests for dyscalculia
- Why I let my son wear shorts in the winter
- The importance of positive self-esteem for kids
- 5 ways teens with ADHD take risks — and why
- 5 things to know about ADHD and puberty
- 3 things I’m learning as a new mom with ADHD
- Moving past the guilt of “giving” my son ADHD
- 8 things I wish people knew about parenting a child with ADHD
- 5 common concerns parents have about ADHD medication for kids
- 7 questions to ask your child’s doctor when starting ADHD medication
- All about ADHD medication
- 7 discipline tips when your child has ADHD
- ADHD: Ways to help your child at home
- How to find more support when you have kids who learn and think differently
- My son failed a big test. Here’s how I helped him move forward.
- Now I get what it’s like to have ADHD
- Teacher tip: 5 ways to use slow processing speed accommodations at home
- 5 common worries when your child learns and thinks differently
- 5 places to find other families of kids who learn and think differently
- Video: A mom shares why she kept her dyslexia a secret
- How I got my son back: Breaking the silence on learning and thinking differences
- The power of motivation for kids who learn and think differently
- Download: Anatomy of an IFSP
- 4 low-key alternatives to trick-or-treating
- My bilingual son has an IEP, and I still don’t know how it will work remotely
- What your child’s anger might be telling you
- 6 worries families have about this year’s back-to-school
- Skills kids need going into seventh grade
- Should I tell my child about my own learning differences?
- Why “Goldilocks” parenting helps build executive function skills
- 5 ways to avoid homework battles with your teen or tween
- How to help your preschooler manage overexcitement
- FAQs about homework for kids
- The best way to praise kids who learn and think differently
- 10 steps to a more organized college application process
- How my career ambition got in the way of helping my daughter with dyslexia
- 6 pitfalls to avoid when helping your child choose a college
- 10 interview questions for babysitters when your child has challenging behaviors
- Picking the right preschool for your child
- 5 ways I fine-tuned our Disney vacation for my son with attention issues
- Your teen stays up late texting before an exam: What to do
- 6 things I wish people knew about parenting a child with dyspraxia
- Solitary isn’t the same thing as lonely
- Why certain school records are important to keep
- 6 independent living skills kids need before moving away from home
- How to help your high-schooler think about careers
- Amanda Morin wants to “level the playing field” for parents
- 5 things not to say to your child about going back to school
- Messy room? How to help your child keep it neat
- 9 tips for helping grade-schoolers cope with test anxiety
- 8 tips to keep your child from burning out
- 5 ways to avoid homework battles with your grade-schooler
- 4 tips for helping middle-schoolers learn to speak up for themselves
- What counts as reasonable accommodations for summer camps?
- Should my child work on school skills over the summer or take a break?
- My child won’t eat anything we’re serving for Thanksgiving. What should I do?
- 8 steps to take if your child is facing disciplinary action
- How to tell a tantrum from a meltdown
- How my family created a sensory-friendly Halloween
- Do kids outgrow executive function challenges?
- Executive function strategies for your child
- Lost: My son’s mittens. Found: A system to help with executive function
- Is it OK to let kids use a phone or screen at dinner?
- How to respond when your child is frustrated about school
- 9 steps for easing the transition to college
- Taming tantrums vs. managing meltdowns
- When people have different views: How to help your child cope during election season
- What if my child has too much screen time?
- For ELL families: Why and how to partner with teachers
- How to talk with other caregivers about signs you’re seeing in your child
- We got through quarantine. What happens now?
- Fortnite and kids with ADHD or social skills challenges: 7 things I tell parents
- After one IEP meeting, my husband and I were finally on the same page
- 3 ways I’m trying out Universal Design for Learning at home with my kids
- You’re not alone: My child was struggling, too
- ADHD medication misuse, sharing, and abuse: What you need to know
- How to look for patterns in your child
- Signs of depression at different ages
- 5 ways to reduce COVID holiday disappointment for kids
- Why do kids misbehave?
- 3 ways I engage my child in parent-teacher conferences
- Surprising news from a parent-teacher conference? Here’s how to handle it
- 5 smart summer routines for kids with ADHD
- My child with ADHD can’t fall asleep. But I’m so tired. What can I do?
- 5 steps to kick-start school-year routines for kids with ADHD
- Sleepaway camp checklist: How to get your child ready
- 10 free ways to relax and bond with your child
- How to make a sensory travel kit for your child
- Parent training centers: A free resource in your state
- How to help your child get an apprenticeship
- How to build the foundation for self-advocacy in young children
- What to do when your grade-schooler is lonely
- How to make religious services easier for kids with behavior challenges
- Parenting guilt: Tips to get past it
- Checklist: What to look for in a private school
- Should I disclose my child’s challenges before visiting friends?
- My child is falling behind in school. Now what?
- I think my child has slow processing speed. Now what?
- My child was just diagnosed with dyslexia. Now what?
- 10 tips to get your child ready for a trip
- Understanding ADHD in your child
- No time to read to your child? 6 ideas to try
- 5 questions with Ann Douglas about “parenting through the storm”
- What I tell Black parents who worry about labels like “ADHD” for their child
- 5 things I tell parents about ADHD and sleep
- Language delays, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD — and now thriving
- My son behaves at school but melts down at home — I found out why
- Why I finally went after my dream job after years of focusing only on my son with ADHD
- 7 great board games to help grade-schoolers build different skills
- 5 ways people underestimate my son because of his motor skills and speech issues
- What to say if your child is nervous about getting evaluated for special education
- 10 steps for creating a smooth transition to high school
- 8 ways to help your middle-schooler connect with other kids
- 5 steps for recognizing strengths in kids
- 10 questions to ask your child’s doctor or specialist before starting a treatment
- 5 tips for picking gifts for your child
- 8 tips for helping kids with social skills challenges cope with the holiday season
- My child wasn’t asked to the prom. What should I do?
- 10 tips to help kids avoid travel meltdowns and sensory overload
- 6 tips for developing job skills at home
- 8 tips for telling family members about your child’s challenges
- How to explain sensory processing challenges to friends and family
- Understanding executive function challenges in your child
- 6 things to do if you’re denied early intervention
- 4 worries I had when my son’s IEP ended
- I think my child has sensory processing challenges. Now what?
- How to get your child involved in sports
- What to do when your tween or teen is lonely
- What my daughter with dyslexia taught me about learning to read
- 7 things I wish people knew about parenting kids with dyslexia
- Why I’m open about my daughter’s dyslexia
- The challenge of keeping my impulsive and hyperfocused son safe
- 7 ways to prepare kids for visiting relatives and family friends
- 11 tips for working with your ex to parent your child
- My kids have both autism and learning and thinking differences, and it’s complicated
- Can dyslexia cause headaches in kids?
- How to get your child ready for fourth grade
- 6 ways to help grade-schoolers get schoolwork done on their own
- My simple solve for chaotic mornings
- 5 questions with Professor Manju Banerjee on learning and thinking differences in the Asian American community
- How executive function challenges impact teens and young adults in the workplace
- How to help your high-schooler handle school cliques
- FERPA: Protecting your child’s records
- 4 ways your faith leader can help you find answers when your child is struggling
- 6 ways social workers can help with your child’s challenges
- 4 ways youth group and afterschool program leaders can help when your child is struggling
- Why does my child lie so much?
- Child won’t follow a routine or schedule? Try these 5 tips
- My child with ADHD has lots of friends but is still lonely. What’s going on?
- Why pediatricians want to know how your child is doing in school
- 7 questions to ask your child about how school is going
- Conversation starters to use with your partner about signs you’re seeing in your child
- Building strengths: Pick one skill for your child to work on at home
- How to talk with your child about signs you’re noticing
- Reading to my son: 5 ways I get ready as a dyslexic dad
- How I learned to be OK with things just being OK
- 4 reasons your organization tips aren’t working for your child
- What should I do when my child says “I’m bad”
- 3 tips for talking to kids with ADHD who are discovering their queer identity
- Parenting the neurodivergent kids I have, not the kids I thought I’d have
- Back-to-school making you and your child anxious? These strategies can help
- 9 resources to find local specialists for kids who learn and think differently
- 9 tips to ease tough talks with your partner about your child’s challenges
- 10 ways to encourage your high-schooler to read
- What if I lose my cool or let my child down?
- 8 meditation apps for kids
- How to talk to your child about learning and thinking differences
- How to talk with kids about their sibling’s challenges
- Why teens and tweens may be frustrated with school — and what you can say to help
- Checklist: Questions to ask when evaluating summer camps
- How to get your child to talk about school
- 5 smart chores for kids who struggle with balance and coordination
- Thanks, Dad: Quotes from young adults who learn and think differently
- Learning a foreign language with dyslexia
- Balancing school and a new job
- What your child is expected to learn in high school
- Lexile levels: What you need to know
- 9 free public library resources for your child (and you)
- 6 tips to help middle-schoolers stick with tasks and activities
- Can my child safely take medications for multiple problems?
- Sometimes I resent my child. Is that normal?
- Signs of bullying in kids with learning differences and ADHD
- 3 things to say when your child worries about getting help at school
- Developmental milestones for 2-year-olds
- All about careers for kids who learn and think differently
- “Setting aside” my ADHD to be a better parent and husband
- I used to think my daughter with dyslexia just needed to try harder
- Summer learning: How to help your child keep skills strong
- How to help kids with ADHD manage screen time
- How to give praise that builds kids’ self-esteem
- Foster care, special education, and learning and thinking differences: What you need to know
- How to avoid being overprotective of your child
- The benefits of at-home early intervention services
- 6 sensory-friendly clothing solutions
- 5 smart chores for kids with extra energy
- Delaying kindergarten: Experts weigh in
- Charter schools and learning and thinking differences
- 5 ways a child’s issues can impact a relationship
- Why “stranger safety” can be tricky for kids who learn and think differently
- Parenting disagreements: How to get on the same page
- Little goals can be better than big New Year’s resolutions
- The most important thing to remember before your next IEP meeting
- 5 ways to help your grade-schooler gain self-awareness
- Questions to ask at your parent-teacher conference
- How my son and I ended our food fight
- Teacher tip: Use a learning menu to motivate kids to make their own choices
- How to help high-schoolers gain self-control
- 4 ways to help your child build a support network
- 5 tips on organizing your child’s records in a three-ring binder
- How to answer your other kids’ questions about learning and thinking differences
- What is an IFSP?
- Vocational education in high school: What you need to know
- The school holiday party that helped me see beyond my son’s reading progress
- Pokémon GO: 7 things to know for kids with ADHD
- Nintendo Switch and learning and thinking differences: 6 things to know
- The holiday habit I’d like to break: Comparing my son with nonverbal learning disability to his cousins
- How to help your child deal with college rejection
- How the elbow rule helped my child learn about personal space
- The day I rejected my son’s IEP
- Good grades, bad tests scores: My daughter’s story
- Summer program options for high-schoolers
- Our community weighs in: 16 holiday survival tips for kids with ADHD
- 8 ways to help tweens and teens get on a school sleep schedule
- 5 ways to help tweens and teens be independent learners
- Our community weighs in: Explaining ADHD to your child
- Checklist: Is your child ready for a sleepover?
- Checklist: Finding a first job that fits your teen
- Checklist: Signs your child is ready for a cell phone
- 6 benefits of afterschool programs
- 10 playdate tips when you have a preschooler
- Checklist: Estate planning for your special needs child
- Choose the right street to trick-or-treat
- How to help your child build strengths from challenges
- Tantrums over gifts: Why they happen and what to do
- 7 behavior triggers for kids at formal events
- How the documentary “2e: Twice Exceptional” made me a more hopeful parent
- My extended family doesn’t believe in learning and thinking differences. What should I do?
- Want Need Wear Read: The holiday gift strategy that works for my kids
- What my son with ADHD taught me about Minecraft and executive function
- What should I do when my child says “I’m stupid”?
- Simple DIY sensory-friendly Halloween costumes
- Common Thanksgiving challenges for kids with ADHD
- How to teach your child about personal safety
- My child likes being alone. Does this mean he’s lonely?
- 5 things not to say to your child about dyslexia
- Types of strengths in kids
- The Batman Effect: What my research shows about pretend play and executive function
- How I got my child to listen (without yelling)
- 5 ways to teach your child about personal space
- Why fourth grade can be hard for kids
- The long, winding road to identifying my son’s learning issues
- 7 things I wish people knew about parenting a child with auditory processing disorder
- 9 tips for talking to your child’s teacher about executive function challenges
- It’s hard enough to bond with stepkids — try adding learning issues to the mix
- Should I force my child to socialize more?
- Anger is exhausting
- How does a child with executive function challenges think differently?
- Our community weighs in: How your relationship with your child changed after the diagnosis
- 6 steps you can take to keep from losing your cool
- 10 ways to encourage your preschooler to read
- What to say when your middle-schooler gets frustrated
- What to say when your preschooler gets frustrated
- The importance of showing empathy to kids who learn and think differently
- Understanding dyscalculia in your child
- 7 ideas for using rewards and consequences
- Why I’m torn about letting my son with ADHD play video games like Fortnite
- 5 “Big Bang Theory” quotes that make me a better parent
- The fourth “E” is empower
- What to say when your grade-schooler gets frustrated
- Why I stopped saying “Have a good day” to my son
- How we got back our parenting power after years of mismanaging meltdowns
- 5 things I learned about 504 plans when my son with ADHD got one
- 5 things not to say to your child about dysgraphia
- What to do when your teen resists your help
- 6 ways to help your preschooler connect with other kids
- 8 ways to teach empathy to your child
- Choosing a college: How to help kids weigh the options
- What is early intervention?
- Why some kids fall apart after school
- How to help your child manage a fear
- 3 reasons why chores are good for kids who learn and think differently
- 7 ways to get grade-schoolers on a school sleep schedule
- How can I praise one child without making the other feel bad?
- What careers are a good fit for kids with slow processing speed?
- 6 tips for helping kids understand siblings who learn and think differently
- 8 ways to make school morning routines easier
- 5 steps to take If you think your child is depressed
- How to deal with sibling rivalry when one child learns and thinks differently
- 5 tips for helping your child stay on top of chores
- Will ADHD medication change my child’s personality?
- 7 signs your child’s ADHD medication needs fine-tuning
- 5 things I wish people knew about parenting a child with executive function challenges
- My teen stopped talking to me. Should I be worried?
- 7 ways to help your kids build a strong relationship
- How to respond when relatives say negative things about your child
- What to do when people say insensitive things about your child
- 7 holiday tips when your child has food sensitivities
- Download: Summer reading logs
- The difference between ADHD and autism
- 4 playdate problems and how to handle them
- 7 ways to communicate with your child without yelling
- Video: Parenting a daughter with dyslexia and ADHD
- Video: Talent agent Ari Emanuel on having dyslexia and raising kids with dyslexia
- How to make the holidays more fun for your child
- 8 types of summer camps for kids who learn and think differently
- Download: Parent-child behavior contracts
- Download: Homework contract for your child
- How to know if your grade-schooler is ready for sleepaway camp
- My child with ADHD is being disciplined at school for things they can’t control. What can I do?
- Video: My experience with ADHD and parenting
- 4 ways to project calm in heated moments with your child
- Video: My experience with ADHD and dyscalculia
- 5 tips for taking a mutual time-out with your child
- 6 tips for talking to your child after a tantrum or meltdown
- How to use proactive praise with your child
- How my husband and I told the grandparents about our kids’ learning differences
- My child with ADHD disrupts holiday dinners. What can I do?
- My daughter’s dyslexia showed me I was doing parent-teacher conferences all wrong
- Download: Summer camp toolkit for kids who learn and think differently
- 4 tips to help Spanish-speaking families communicate with teachers
- 6 ways talking about your child’s challenges can help
- How to talk to your child about slow processing speed
- Resources for parents coping with their own difficult school experiences
- Building self-compassion skills
- 7 board games to help younger kids build math skills
- What pushes your buttons?
- School trauma and the fight, flight, freeze response
- The dos and don’ts of fidgets for kids
- FAQs about tax deductions and kids with learning disabilities
- 5 ways to work with your child’s coach
- 4 ways I helped my daughter get comfortable talking about her learning difference
- What to say when people judge how you parent your child with ADHD
- 6 discipline tips for kids with anxiety
- School was hard for me. Now my child is struggling, and it’s bringing up a lot.
- Download: Parent-teacher conference worksheet
- Download: Picture schedules for daily routines
- 4 ways I keep my sanity during the holidays
- Download: Help your child get ready for an event
- 4 tips to help kids cope with daylight saving time
- Skills kids need going into third grade
- My kids have different strengths and challenges. Here’s how I set goals with them.
- 5 things I wish people knew about parenting a child with sensory processing challenges
- Heavy work and sensory processing challenges: What you need to know
- Video: What to do when you and your child don’t “get” each other
- 10 ways to help grade-schoolers manage sensory processing challenges
- Risky behavior in teens with ADHD: How to help
- Skills kids need going into second grade
- Skills kids need going into kindergarten
- 8 steps to help your child set personal goals
- Perspectives: Talking with kids about racial injustice
- Back-to-school: A 4-week plan for a great start
- 6 tips for helping your high-schooler learn to self-advocate
- Download: 3×3 card to help teachers get to know your child
- Download: Parent-teacher conference surveys
- Download: Cell phone contracts for kids
- Download: Bedtime checklists for kids
- Download: Back-to-school introduction letters
- Download: Lunchbox notes to help your child build confidence
- Through your child’s eyes
- 4 social situations to role-play with your grade-schooler
- Understanding dyslexia in your child
- Is there a link between ADHD and bedwetting?
- 6 surprising benefits of video games for kids
- How to help kids build flexible thinking skills
- What to do when kids refuse to put on certain clothing
- Video: Why students should take the lead in finding a college
- Video: The emotional journey of one family with many learning and thinking differences
- Video: Mother and daughter take their dyslexia story to Washington
- Video: The journey from student with dyslexia and ADHD to special education teacher
- Video: A mom on the “roller coaster” of raising a child with ADHD and speech issues
- Video: A grandmother on raising her grandchild with dyscalculia
- Video: Pros and cons of video games for kids with ADHD
- Video: A mom and son on their homeschooling experience
- 8 great board games to help preschoolers build different skills
- How to say it: Helping your teen manage 6 common fears about the future
- 5 tools for positive thinking
- 3 mindfulness techniques for parenting stress
- ADA fact sheet
- 12 movies to help kids learn empathy
- 6 ways to improve your child’s self-esteem with extracurricular activities
- 8 sensory-friendly indoor games and activities
- 7 social situations to practice with your teen
- 5 tough situations for kids with sensory processing challenges
- Sensory processing challenges and Halloween: Tips to help your child
- How scary news can impact kids who learn and think differently
- Why and how to partner with your child’s teacher
- The difference between discipline and punishment
- 7 common myths about discipline
- Thanks, Mom: Quotes from celebrities who learn and think differently
- When my mom suspected I might have ADHD, she did what a lot of parents do
- ADHD and lying: Why kids with ADHD might lie a lot
- Video: Watching TV to improve social skills
- Video: Actress Wendy Davis on having ADHD and parenting a child with ADHD
- Video: A doctor learns about dyslexia through his daughter’s reading struggles
- 9 ways to show empathy when your child is struggling
- When older kids still have tantrums: What to know
- Video: Comedian Dena Blizzard opens up about her daughter’s anxiety
- Video: How to know if your child is oversharing on social media
- How to respond when kids say “I can’t do it”
- What to do when kids say “no one will play with me”
- The difference between push-in and pull-out services
- How to tell if your child is being bullied online
- Getting an IEP for your teen