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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Introducing “Through My Eyes”
Explore this interactive, digital experience that offers a firsthand look at the daily struggles of kids with ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia. Help others see your child differently — so they can act differently, with greater empathy and support.
Strategies and support for confident parenting
Newsletters designed for parents and caregivers of kids with learning and thinking differences. Each email is packed with expert-vetted articles, practical tips, and downloadable tools. Plus heartfelt stories from families like yours.
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.
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- Concerta: What you need to know
- Ritalin: What you need to know
- How to make religious services easier for kids with behavior challenges
- 8 ways to make school morning routines easier
- Understanding executive function challenges in your child
- Understanding written expression disorder in your child
- Understanding dyscalculia in your child
- Messy room? How to help your child keep it neat
- Understanding dyslexia in your child
- 7 ways to get grade-schoolers on a school sleep schedule
- Understanding receptive language disorder in your child
- 8 ways to teach empathy to your child
- 7 holiday tips when your child has food sensitivities
- All about ADHD medication
- Understanding ADHD in your child
- Racism and violence: How to help kids handle the news
- When grandparents are caregivers or guardians of kids who learn and think differently
- For ELL families: Why and how to partner with teachers
- Questions to ask at your parent-teacher conference
- 5 steps to take If you think your child is depressed
- How we got back our parenting power after years of mismanaging meltdowns
- 3 ways I’m trying out Universal Design for Learning at home with my kids
- What is an IFSP?
- 5 ways to reduce COVID holiday disappointment for kids
- 6 surprising benefits of video games for kids
- 7 discipline tips when your child has ADHD
- Is there a link between ADHD and bedwetting?
- Sometimes I resent my child. Is that normal?
- 3 things to say when your child worries about getting help at school
- Checklist: What to look for in a private school
- Parenting is hard work. Ask family and friends for this kind of help.
- 8 steps to help your child set personal goals
- Now I get what it’s like to have ADHD
- How to find more support when you have kids who learn and think differently
- 5 places to find other families of kids who learn and think differently
- Online colleges: Pros and cons for students who learn and think differently
- How to tell a tantrum from a meltdown
- ADHD medication misuse, sharing, and abuse: What you need to know
- Through My Eyes
- I’m a working mom with ADHD. Here’s how I get it done (or don’t).
- How to make a sensory travel kit for your child
- It’s hard enough to bond with stepkids — try adding learning issues to the mix
- ADA fact sheet
- 5 tools for positive thinking
- How to help kids build flexible thinking skills
- 7 signs your child’s ADHD medication needs fine-tuning
- Can dyslexia cause headaches in kids?
- ADHD: Ways to help your child at home
- How to use proactive praise with your child
- 6 tips for talking to your child after a tantrum or meltdown
- 5 tips for taking a mutual time-out with your child
- Why some kids fall apart after school
- Tantrums over gifts: Why they happen and what to do
- My son behaves at school but melts down at home — I found out why
- Why do kids misbehave?
- Taming tantrums vs. managing meltdowns
- 4 ways to project calm in heated moments with your child
- When my mom suspected I might have ADHD, she did what a lot of parents do
- 9 ways to show empathy when your child is struggling
- 6 tips to help middle-schoolers stick with tasks and activities
- How to respond when your child is frustrated about school
- Why teens and tweens may be frustrated with school — and what you can say to help
- How I got my child to listen (without yelling)
- 6 steps you can take to keep from losing your cool
- What to say when your middle-schooler gets frustrated
- What to say when your preschooler gets frustrated
- What to say when your grade-schooler gets frustrated
- Video: What to do when you and your child don’t “get” each other
- The difference between discipline and punishment
- Fortnite and kids with ADHD or social skills challenges: 7 things I tell parents
- When older kids still have tantrums: What to know
- Do kids outgrow executive function challenges?
- How does a child with executive function challenges think differently?
- What careers are a good fit for kids with slow processing speed?
- Are brand-name and generic ADHD medications the same?
- How can I tell if my child is emotionally ready to go away to college?
- Should I tell my child about my own learning differences?
- Should my child work on school skills over the summer or take a break?
- My high-schooler has so much work to do over the break. How can I keep it from ruining family time?
- Should I force my child to socialize more?
- My child wasn’t asked to the prom. What should I do?
- Should I tell the coach about my child’s learning and thinking differences?
- What counts as reasonable accommodations for summer camps?
- Should I stop supervising my teen’s homework?
- Should I tell our religious community about my child’s learning and thinking differences?
- My extended family doesn’t believe in learning and thinking differences. What should I do?
- 6 tips for helping kids understand siblings who learn and think differently
- How can I praise one child without making the other feel bad?
- My child won’t eat anything we’re serving for Thanksgiving. What should I do?
- What can I say to my teen about self-control issues and spring break?
- Video: Comedian Dena Blizzard opens up about her daughter’s anxiety
- My child likes being alone. Does this mean he’s lonely?
- Is it OK to let kids use a phone or screen at dinner?
- When your child with an IEP turns 18: Your parental rights
- What should I do when my child says “I’m stupid”?
- Why does my child lie so much?
- I just want to be my son’s mom, not his private IEP case manager
- Why I chose extra help for my son over extracurricular activities
- Why did my fourth grader suddenly stop talking to me?
- Respecting a child’s processing speed in a fast-paced world
- It hurts when my son with ADHD lies to me — here’s how I handle it
- Download: 3×3 card to help teachers get to know your child
- 5 things not to say to kids who struggle with motor skills
- Anti-racism resources for families and educators
- My child has ADHD, but don’t call me an “ADHD mom”
- 6 tips for helping your high-schooler learn to self-advocate
- 8 great board games to help preschoolers build different skills
- Adderall: What you need to know
- How to get your child to talk about school
- Video: A doctor learns about dyslexia through his daughter’s reading struggles
- Video: Actress Wendy Davis on having ADHD and parenting a child with ADHD
- Video: A mom and son on their homeschooling experience
- Video: A grandmother on raising her grandchild with dyscalculia
- Download: Back-to-school introduction letters
- Back-to-school: A 4-week plan for a great start
- Download: Parent-teacher conference worksheet
- ADHD and lying: Why kids with ADHD might lie a lot
- Thanks, Mom: Quotes from celebrities who learn and think differently
- Why and how to partner with your child’s teacher
- Video: Pros and cons of video games for kids with ADHD
- Video: The journey from student with dyslexia and ADHD to special education teacher
- Risky behavior in teens with ADHD: How to help
- 4 tips to help kids cope with daylight saving time
- 4 ways I keep my sanity during the holidays
- What to say when people judge how you parent your child with ADHD
- 4 tips to help Spanish-speaking families communicate with teachers
- Download: Summer camp toolkit for kids who learn and think differently
- My child with ADHD disrupts holiday dinners. What can I do?
- How my husband and I told the grandparents about our kids’ learning differences
- My child with ADHD is being disciplined at school for things they can’t control. What can I do?
- 8 types of summer camps for kids who learn and think differently
- Video: Talent agent Ari Emanuel on having dyslexia and raising kids with dyslexia
- Video: Parenting a daughter with dyslexia and ADHD
- The difference between ADHD and autism
- Will ADHD medication change my child’s personality?
- 5 things not to say to your child about dysgraphia
- 5 things I learned about 504 plans when my son with ADHD got one
- Why I’m torn about letting my son with ADHD play video games like Fortnite
- The long, winding road to identifying my son’s learning issues
- 5 things not to say to your child about dyslexia
- Common Thanksgiving challenges for kids with ADHD
- What my son with ADHD taught me about Minecraft and executive function
- Want Need Wear Read: The holiday gift strategy that works for my kids
- Checklist: Signs your child is ready for a cell phone
- Checklist: Finding a first job that fits your teen
- Our community weighs in: Explaining ADHD to your child
- 9 ways to protect your child from online predators
- Didn’t make the team? 5 tips to help your child cope
- Our community weighs in: 16 holiday survival tips for kids with ADHD
- Summer program options for high-schoolers
- The day I rejected my son’s IEP
- The holiday habit I’d like to break: Comparing my son with nonverbal learning disability to his cousins
- Pokémon GO: 7 things to know for kids with ADHD
- The school holiday party that helped me see beyond my son’s reading progress
- The most important thing to remember before your next IEP meeting
- Little goals can be better than big New Year’s resolutions
- Charter schools and learning and thinking differences
- Delaying kindergarten: Experts weigh in
- Foster care, special education, and learning and thinking differences: What you need to know
- How to help kids with ADHD manage screen time
- Summer learning: How to help your child keep skills strong
- I used to think my daughter with dyslexia just needed to try harder
- “Setting aside” my ADHD to be a better parent and husband
- All about careers for kids who learn and think differently
- 7 ways to help teens and tweens gain self-awareness
- Learning a foreign language with dyslexia
- How to talk to your child about learning and thinking differences
- 8 meditation apps for kids
- Back-to-school making you and your child anxious? These strategies can help
- 3 tips for talking to kids with ADHD who are discovering their queer identity
- What should I do when my child says “I’m bad”
- 4 reasons your organization tips aren’t working for your child
- Reading to my son: 5 ways I get ready as a dyslexic dad
- My child with ADHD has lots of friends but is still lonely. What’s going on?
- How executive function challenges impact teens and young adults in the workplace
- How to get your child ready for fourth grade
- My kids have both autism and learning and thinking differences, and it’s complicated
- 7 ways to prepare kids for visiting relatives and family friends
- Why I’m open about my daughter’s dyslexia
- 7 things I wish people knew about parenting kids with dyslexia
- What my daughter with dyslexia taught me about learning to read
- 4 worries I had when my son’s IEP ended
- 6 tips for developing job skills at home
- 5 tips for picking gifts for your child
- 10 steps for creating a smooth transition to high school
- 5 things I tell parents about ADHD and sleep
- What I tell Black parents who worry about labels like “ADHD” for their child
- 5 questions with Ann Douglas about “parenting through the storm”
- 10 tips to get your child ready for a trip
- How to help your child get an apprenticeship
- My child with ADHD can’t fall asleep. But I’m so tired. What can I do?
- 5 smart summer routines for kids with ADHD
- Surprising news from a parent-teacher conference? Here’s how to handle it
- 3 ways I engage my child in parent-teacher conferences
- 8 tips for getting your reluctant partner involved
- 8 steps to take if your child is facing disciplinary action
- 5 things not to say to your child about going back to school
- Amanda Morin wants to “level the playing field” for parents
- How to help your high-schooler think about careers
- Why certain school records are important to keep
- 5 ways I fine-tuned our Disney vacation for my son with attention issues
- How my career ambition got in the way of helping my daughter with dyslexia
- 8 steps for helping third and fourth graders become self-advocates
- 4 low-key alternatives to trick-or-treating
- Video: A mom shares why she kept her dyslexia a secret
- 7 questions to ask your child’s doctor when starting ADHD medication
- 5 common concerns parents have about ADHD medication for kids
- 8 things I wish people knew about parenting a child with ADHD
- Moving past the guilt of “giving” my son ADHD
- 3 things I’m learning as a new mom with ADHD
- 5 things to know about ADHD and puberty
- 5 ways teens with ADHD take risks — and why
- Types of tests for dyscalculia
- 8 things I wish people knew about parenting a child with dyscalculia
- 8 vacation ideas when your child has ADHD
- I think my child has dyscalculia. Now what?
- Staying on top of your child’s IEP
- Experts weigh in: Marijuana and ADHD
- 6 steps to take if ADHD medication isn’t working for your child
- 7 secret fears about dyslexia
- My child doesn’t eat most foods at holiday meals, and my relatives don’t understand. What can I do?
- Rolling with my ADHD Mom Brain
- After one IEP meeting, my husband and I were finally on the same page
- Types of strengths in kids
- My child was just diagnosed with dyslexia. Now what?
- 8 tips for helping kids with social skills challenges cope with the holiday season
- The difference between push-in and pull-out services
- Parent pep talk: Coping with your child’s diagnosis
- Double trouble: ADHD moms share what it’s like to parent kids with ADHD
- My daughter’s dyslexia showed me I was doing parent-teacher conferences all wrong
- How to know if your grade-schooler is ready for sleepaway camp
- Download: Summer reading logs
- Sleepaway camp checklist: How to get your child ready
- Checklist: Questions to ask when evaluating summer camps
- Video: My experience with ADHD and parenting
- Video: My experience with ADHD and dyscalculia
- Why you shouldn’t stress out about the “summer slide”
- 5 steps to kick-start school-year routines for kids with ADHD
- 7 common myths about discipline
- How to make the holidays more fun for your child
- How to give praise that builds kids’ self-esteem
- How to have meaningful family dinners
- Ditching good cop, bad cop: How to put up a united parenting front
- How to teach kids to give a genuine apology
- Freshman year of college didn’t work out for my son. Now what?
- 5 questions with Dena Blizzard, comedian and parent of a child who learns and thinks differently
- 19 questions to ask about afterschool programs
- Video: Teaching your child left from right
- Skills kids need going into fifth grade
- Skills kids need going into fourth grade
- Why fourth grade can be hard for kids
- FAQs about social skills groups
- 5 questions with Professor Manju Banerjee on learning and thinking differences in the Asian American community
- Parenting guilt: Tips to get past it
- What if my child has too much screen time?
- 12 movies to help kids learn empathy
- I think my child has slow processing speed. Now what?
- The importance of positive self-esteem for kids
- My child is falling behind in school. Now what?
- Resources for parents coping with their own difficult school experiences
- 7 ways to communicate with your child without yelling
- 9 tips to ease tough talks with your partner about your child’s challenges
- 9 resources to find local specialists for kids who learn and think differently
- Different types of schools: Know the options
- Be the reason your child thrives
- 7 tips for when you have more than one child who learns and thinks differently
- 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
- How I make school report cards less scary for my kids
- 4 small and special ways to thank your child’s teachers
- Tips for talking about report cards
- Why I let my son wear shorts in the winter
- My son failed a big test. Here’s how I helped him move forward.
- Teacher tip: 5 ways to use slow processing speed accommodations at home
- 5 common worries when your child learns and thinks differently
- 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
- What your child’s anger might be telling you
- Skills kids need going into seventh grade
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 6 independent living skills kids need before moving away from home
- 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
- How my family created a sensory-friendly Halloween
- Executive function strategies for your child
- Lost: My son’s mittens. Found: A system to help with executive function
- 9 steps for easing the transition to college
- When people have different views: How to help your child cope during election season
- How to talk with other caregivers about signs you’re seeing in your child
- You’re not alone: My child was struggling, too
- How to look for patterns in your child
- Signs of depression at different ages
- 10 free ways to relax and bond with your child
- Parent training centers: A free resource in your state
- How to build the foundation for self-advocacy in young children
- What to do when your grade-schooler is lonely
- Should I disclose my child’s challenges before visiting friends?
- No time to read to your child? 6 ideas to try
- Language delays, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD — and now thriving
- 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
- 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
- 10 tips to help kids avoid travel meltdowns and sensory overload
- 8 tips for telling family members about your child’s challenges
- How to explain sensory processing challenges to friends and family
- 6 things to do if you’re denied early intervention
- 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
- The challenge of keeping my impulsive and hyperfocused son safe
- 11 tips for working with your ex to parent your child
- 6 ways to help grade-schoolers get schoolwork done on their own
- My simple solve for chaotic mornings
- 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
- Child won’t follow a routine or schedule? Try these 5 tips
- 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
- Parenting the neurodivergent kids I have, not the kids I thought I’d have
- 10 ways to encourage your high-schooler to read
- How to talk with kids about their sibling’s challenges
- 5 smart chores for kids who struggle with balance and coordination
- Thanks, Dad: Quotes from young adults who learn and think differently
- 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)
- Can my child safely take medications for multiple problems?
- Signs of bullying in kids with learning differences and ADHD
- Developmental milestones for 2-year-olds
- 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
- 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
- 5 ways to help your grade-schooler gain self-awareness
- 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
- Vocational education in high school: What you need to know
- Nintendo Switch and learning and thinking differences: 6 things to know
- How to help your child deal with college rejection
- How the elbow rule helped my child learn about personal space
- Good grades, bad tests scores: My daughter’s story
- 8 ways to help tweens and teens get on a school sleep schedule
- 5 ways to help tweens and teens be independent learners
- Checklist: Is your child ready for a sleepover?
- 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
- 7 behavior triggers for kids at formal events
- How the documentary “2e: Twice Exceptional” made me a more hopeful parent
- Simple DIY sensory-friendly Halloween costumes
- How to teach your child about personal safety
- The Batman Effect: What my research shows about pretend play and executive function
- 5 ways to teach your child about personal space
- 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
- Anger is exhausting
- Our community weighs in: How your relationship with your child changed after the diagnosis
- 10 ways to encourage your preschooler to read
- The importance of showing empathy to kids who learn and think differently
- 7 ideas for using rewards and consequences
- 5 “Big Bang Theory” quotes that make me a better parent
- The fourth “E” is empower
- Why I stopped saying “Have a good day” to my son
- What to do when your teen resists your help
- 6 ways to help your preschooler connect with other kids
- Choosing a college: How to help kids weigh the options
- What is early intervention?
- How to help your child manage a fear
- 3 reasons why chores are good for kids who learn and think differently
- How to deal with sibling rivalry when one child learns and thinks differently
- 5 tips for helping your child stay on top of chores
- 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
- 4 playdate problems and how to handle them
- Download: Parent-child behavior contracts
- Download: Homework contract for your child
- 6 ways talking about your child’s challenges can help
- How to talk to your child about slow processing speed
- 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
- 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: Picture schedules for daily routines
- Download: Help your child get ready for an event
- 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
- 10 ways to help grade-schoolers manage sensory processing challenges
- Skills kids need going into second grade
- Skills kids need going into kindergarten
- Perspectives: Talking with kids about racial injustice
- Download: Parent-teacher conference surveys
- Download: Cell phone contracts for kids
- Download: Bedtime checklists for kids
- Download: Lunchbox notes to help your child build confidence
- 4 social situations to role-play with your grade-schooler
- 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: A mom on the “roller coaster” of raising a child with ADHD and speech issues
- How to say it: Helping your teen manage 6 common fears about the future
- 3 mindfulness techniques for parenting stress
- 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
- Video: Watching TV to improve social skills
- Video: How to know if your child is oversharing on social media
- What to do when kids say “no one will play with me”
- How to tell if your child is being bullied online
- Getting an IEP for your teen