Advertise on podcast: Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence!

October is ADHD Awareness Month, but awareness is only the beginning. Truly understanding ADHD—and how it impacts your child's brain, behavior, emotions, and executive functioning—can completely change the way you support them. In this episode of Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence!, Jenny Drennan, founder of WeThrive Learning, explores why ADHD is not caused by poor parenting, a lack of discipline, or a child's unwillingness to try harder. From homework struggles and difficulty getting started on tasks to emotional regulation and time management, Jenny explains why children with ADHD often know what they need to do but struggle with the executive function skills required to follow through. You'll also discover why a strengths-based, connection-first approach can help protect your child's self-esteem, build independence, and create more positive parent-child relationships. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The difference between ADHD awareness and true understanding Why ADHD is a neurodevelopmental difference, not a parenting failure How executive function challenges affect motivation, organization, and task initiation Why ADHD challenges can look different as children become teenagers and adults How to shift from frustration and correction to curiosity and support Why validation and connection are essential for emotional regulation and learning How strengths-based parenting builds confidence, resilience, and independence Ready to Help Your Child Thrive? At WeThrive Learning, we specialize in personalized educational therapy and ADHD coaching to help students strengthen executive functioning skills, build confidence, and become more independent learners. 💜 Explore Our Resources: Visit WeThriveLearning.com for ADHD parenting tips, educational resources, and practical strategies. 📅 Schedule a Free Consultation: Wondering if educational therapy or ADHD coaching could benefit your child? Schedule a complimentary consultation to learn more about how we can support your family. 👨‍👩‍👧 Join Our Facebook Community: Connect with parents navigating similar challenges in our Facebook group, Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence! Share experiences, ask questions, and discover strategies to support your child. Remember, your child doesn't need to be fixed. They need to be understood, supported, and given the tools to thrive. Learn more at WeThriveLearning.com.

Does homework seem to become a battle before your child even gets started? For students with ADHD, boredom can be a major barrier to starting and completing homework. Tasks that feel repetitive, unclear, overwhelming, or uninteresting can be especially difficult for an ADHD brain to engage with. And what looks like a lack of motivation may actually be something more complicated. Your child may not understand the assignment. They may feel overwhelmed by how much work is on the page. They may be afraid of getting it wrong. They may have lost interest after the initial excitement wore off. Or their brain may simply need more stimulation, movement, structure, or choice to get started. In this episode, Jenny shares 10 practical strategies parents can use to make homework feel more approachable while still working toward the long-term goal: helping children become more independent learners. You’ll learn why curiosity should come before correction, how to uncover what is driving homework avoidance, and how small changes to the environment or routine can make a big difference. Jenny also explores the importance of giving students choices, keeping work sessions short, creating predictable routines, using visual timers, body doubling, movement, and novelty. These strategies aren’t about bribing your child or entertaining them through every assignment. They’re about helping your child learn what their brain needs in order to engage. If homework has become a nightly source of stress in your home, you don’t have to keep relying on reminders, arguments, and frustration. WeThrive Learning provides virtual 1:1 ADHD and executive-function coaching and educational therapy to help students build the skills they need to manage schoolwork more independently. Visit WeThriveLearning.com to learn more about our services and access free parent resources. If you’re wondering whether individualized support could help your child, schedule a free consultation at WeThriveLearning.com. We’ll learn more about your child’s strengths, challenges, and current needs and help you determine the right next step. And join our Facebook community, Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence!, for practical ADHD parenting strategies, resources, and support.

Life gets busy. Between school, homework, work schedules, activities, appointments, transportation, social media, and everything else competing for our attention, families can spend a lot of time together without actually having many opportunities to connect. And during the preteen and teen years, parents may feel that connection changing even more as friends and independence become increasingly important. In this episode, Jenny explores one simple but powerful way families can strengthen connection: family rituals. Family rituals are predictable activities or traditions your family returns to regularly. They can happen daily, weekly, seasonally, or around important milestones. They don’t have to be elaborate. They might look like: Eating dinner together a few nights each week Reading before bed Taking an evening walk Having a weekly movie or game night Eating breakfast together Sharing highs and lows from the day Celebrating anniversaries, birthdays, or cultural traditions Having a special Friday-night routine Creating traditions around holidays or family gatherings For ADHD and neurodivergent children especially, predictability and routine can provide an important sense of stability. When children know what to expect and have consistent opportunities to connect with the people they trust, those routines can help create emotional security and belonging. Jenny also discusses how everyday family rituals can naturally support communication, listening, language development, problem-solving, independence, and emotional regulation. Most importantly, family rituals give children something dependable to return to. Your child may not remember every homework assignment, practice, appointment, or perfectly planned family outing—but they may remember Saturday mornings watching cartoons together, Friday-night ice cream, bedtime stories, family card games, or the conversations that happened around the dinner table. Those small moments often become the experiences that help children feel deeply connected to their families. Looking for more support for your ADHD or neurodivergent learner? WeThrive Learning provides virtual 1:1 educational therapy and ADHD/executive-function coaching designed around each student’s individual learning needs. Visit WeThriveLearning.com to explore our services and free parent resources. Want to talk about whether individualized support could help your child? Schedule a free consultation with our team at WeThriveLearning.com. And join our Facebook community, Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence!, for practical strategies, encouragement, and conversations with other parents navigating ADHD and executive-function challenges.

As parents, we have a powerful influence on how our children experience school and learning—even as they get older and become more independent. In this episode of Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence!, Jenny talks about why parent involvement still matters for children with ADHD and other neurodivergent learners, and how to stay connected without taking over. Parent involvement isn’t about monitoring every grade or managing every assignment. It’s about showing genuine interest in your child’s learning, communicating with teachers, creating supportive routines at home, and helping your child gradually build the confidence and self-advocacy skills they need to become more independent. Jenny also shares practical ways parents can stay involved throughout the elementary, middle, and high school years—even when volunteering in the classroom is no longer an option. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why your attitude toward school and learning can influence your child Why parent involvement is about much more than grades How staying connected to school can help children feel supported and valued Why communication between parents and teachers is so important How to share struggles teachers may not see happening at home Ways to help older children advocate and communicate with teachers themselves How to create a supportive homework and learning environment Why routines and structure can make schoolwork feel more manageable Simple ways to stay involved in your child’s school community as they get older The goal isn’t to do school for your child. It’s to create a supportive foundation that helps them build confidence, independence, and a healthier relationship with learning. Ready for More Support? Learn more about WeThrive Learning: Visit WeThriveLearning.com to learn more about our educational therapy and ADHD student coaching services. Schedule a Free Consultation: If school, homework, organization, executive functioning, or confidence has become a struggle for your child, schedule a free consultation with our team at WeThriveLearning.com. We’ll learn more about your child and help you determine what kind of support may be the best fit. 👥 Join Our Parent Community: Join our Facebook group, Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence!, for practical strategies, encouragement, resources, and conversations with other parents raising neurodivergent learners.

Navigating an IEP can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re not sure whether your child is actually getting the support they need. When should you bring in a special education advocate? When might you need an attorney? And does bringing outside support into an IEP meeting automatically make things adversarial? In this episode of Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence!, Jenny talks with Richard Isaacs, owner of California Special Needs Law Group, about how families can advocate more confidently within the special education system. Richard breaks down the difference between an advocate and an attorney, explains what happens when families need to move beyond the standard IEP process, and shares why parents should not necessarily wait until their child is in crisis before asking for help. You’ll learn: The difference between a special education advocate and attorney Why advocates can be helpful even when things are going relatively well What parents should monitor after an IEP meeting Why services on paper do not always equal effective intervention How assessments help clarify a student’s needs What compensatory education can mean Why special education disputes may take months to resolve How collaboration can remain part of strong advocacy When it may be time to seek outside support Richard also shares powerful stories of students whose educational paths changed dramatically once their needs were properly understood and supported. The biggest takeaway? You do not have to navigate the IEP process by yourself. Asking questions early can help you better understand your child’s rights, needs, and options. Learn more about WeThrive Learning: WeThriveLearning.com Schedule a free consultation with WeThrive Learning: Visit WeThriveLearning.com to learn more about educational therapy and ADHD/executive-function support. Join our Facebook group: Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence! Learn more about Richard Isaacs and California Special Needs Law Group: CSNLG.com This episode is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Special education laws and procedures vary by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.

Does your teen with ADHD seem like they simply don’t care about school? Maybe they’re missing assignments, settling for lower grades than they’re capable of, procrastinating until the last minute, or shrugging and saying, “Whatever.” It’s easy to interpret that behavior as laziness or a lack of motivation. But there may be much more happening underneath. In this episode of Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence!, Jenny explains why motivation works differently for many teens with ADHD—and why “I don’t care” may actually mean: “I’m overwhelmed.” “I don’t know where to start.” “I’m afraid I can’t catch up.” “I’m embarrassed.” “I need help but don’t know how to ask.” “This is harder for me than you realize.” You’ll learn why interest, urgency, and positive emotion can influence ADHD engagement, as well as three important ingredients for self-driven motivation: autonomy, competence, and purpose. Jenny also explains why bribes, rewards, and punishments often produce only short-term results and shares practical coaching questions parents can use instead. You’ll walk away with strategies for creating conversations that sound less like: “Why haven’t you done this yet?” and more like: “What’s getting in the way, and what would make this feel doable?” Because the goal isn’t simply getting your teen through tonight’s homework. It’s helping them learn how to understand themselves, ask for help, make a plan, and eventually manage these challenges independently. Learn more about WeThrive Learning: WeThriveLearning.com Schedule a free consultation: Visit WeThriveLearning.com to learn how educational therapy and ADHD/executive-function coaching can support your student. Join our Facebook community: Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence!

Does your child seem years ahead in one area and years behind in another? Maybe they can explain incredibly advanced ideas but forget assignments. Perhaps they can talk endlessly about history, coding, science, or another passion—but struggle socially, emotionally, or academically in ways that don't seem to match their intelligence. Your child may have what is known as a twice-exceptional, or 2e, profile. In today's episode, Jenny talks with Sam Young, founder and Head of School at Young Scholars Academy, about what it really means to be twice-exceptional and why these children are so frequently misunderstood. You'll learn why giftedness and learning differences can coexist, the three ways twice-exceptionality can become masked, and how asynchronous development affects children's academic experiences, friendships, emotional regulation, and confidence. Sam also explains why constantly focusing on deficits can leave children believing something is wrong with them—and what parents can do instead. You'll hear practical ideas for: Identifying and communicating your child's strengths Using interests to build executive-function skills Understanding why kids may fall apart after school Creating more flexibility around how children learn Exploring whether your child may be twice-exceptional Building a supportive team around your child Helping your child develop a strengths-based identity The goal isn't to ignore areas where children need support. It's to make sure their struggles don't become the only story they hear about themselves. Learn more about WeThrive Learning: WeThriveLearning.com Schedule a free consultation: Visit WeThriveLearning.com to explore support for your child through educational therapy and ADHD/executive-function coaching. Join our Facebook community: Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence! Learn more about Sam Young and Young Scholars Academy: YoungScholarsAcademy.org

School pressure. Social pressure. Activities. Friendships. College planning. Family expectations. For many kids and teens, it can feel like there's always something they should be doing—and for students with ADHD, managing all of those demands can become especially overwhelming. In this episode, Jenny Drennan breaks down what stress can actually look like in children and teens and shares four practical ways parents can help their child decompress and regulate during busy seasons. We discuss: Signs your child may be more stressed than they realize Why procrastination and avoidance may be signs of overwhelm How stress and sleep affect executive functioning Why ADHD symptoms can become harder to manage during stressful periods Physical activity as a stress-management strategy Creating an environment that supports decompression Creative outlets that help kids process emotions Relaxation and reflection strategies Helping kids balance academics and extracurriculars Reducing social comparison and social-media pressure Teaching kids how to say no Modeling healthy stress management as a parent Remember: the goal isn't to remove every stressful experience from your child's life. It's to help them recognize stress, respond to it, and gradually build strategies they can carry into adulthood. Need additional support? WeThrive Learning provides virtual one-on-one educational therapy and ADHD/executive-function coaching for students. Visit WeThriveLearning.com to learn more or schedule a free consultation. And join our Facebook community, Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence!, for more parent education, resources, and support.

You may hear “parent involvement” and immediately picture volunteering in an elementary classroom or attending every school event. But involvement can look very different—especially as your child gets older. In this episode, Jenny talks about the powerful role parents play in shaping their child’s relationship with school and learning. Your child may not always show it, particularly during the teen years, but your interest, attitude, and involvement still matter. For children with ADHD and other learning differences, staying connected to school can be especially important. Parents may sometimes pull away because communication with teachers has become stressful, their child frequently gets in trouble, or every interaction with school seems to focus on what is going wrong. Instead, Jenny encourages parents to think of themselves, their child, and their teachers as a team. You’ll learn how parent involvement can help support: School engagement and attendance Confidence and self-esteem A healthier attitude toward learning Stronger parent-teacher relationships Better communication between home and school Self-advocacy and independence More consistent homework and study routines Jenny also shares practical strategies you can begin using at home, including creating a dedicated learning space, establishing routines, attending school activities when possible, communicating what you’re noticing at home, and gradually helping older children take greater ownership of communication with their teachers. The goal isn’t to become more involved in every detail of your child’s education. It’s to stay connected enough that your child knows: their learning matters, their experience matters, and you’re there to support them while they learn how to advocate for themselves. If your child is avoiding school, becoming overwhelmed by homework, struggling with organization or learning, or experiencing declining confidence, WeThrive Learning may be able to help. Visit WeThriveLearning.com to learn more about Educational Therapy and ADHD Student Coaching or to schedule a free consultation. You can also join our Facebook community, Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence!, for more strategies and support.

Sometimes the things we do because we love our children—checking, reminding, rescuing, fixing, planning, and protecting—can unintentionally make it harder for them to develop confidence and independence. For parents who already experience anxiety, raising a child with ADHD can amplify those instincts even more. In this episode, Jenny discusses how parental anxiety can influence the emotional climate of the home and the way we respond to our children. She shares her own experience seeking support for anxiety and learning to loosen perfectionism, tolerate uncertainty, and become more flexible as a parent. You'll hear about: How children pick up on a parent's stress, tone, and body language Why anxiety can sometimes look like micromanaging or over-functioning The connection between parental worry and rescuing Why repeatedly stepping in can undermine a child's autonomy How ADHD can make children especially sensitive to emotional cues Why allowing appropriate discomfort and natural consequences matters How perfectionism can take away from warmth and connection The importance of modeling flexibility and healthy coping skills Why getting support for yourself can ultimately support your child How to begin shifting from managing everything for your child to helping them develop their own tools The goal isn't to become a perfectly calm parent. It's to become more aware of when anxiety is driving your parenting decisions and learn healthier ways to respond. When we work on our own ability to tolerate uncertainty, regulate emotions, and let go of some control, we give our children more opportunities to practice doing the same.   If school, executive-function challenges, ADHD, or learning difficulties are creating significant stress for your child, they may need more than reminders and encouragement. At WeThrive Learning, our educational therapists and ADHD/executive-function coaches work one-on-one with students to help them develop the skills they need to approach learning with greater independence and confidence. Visit WeThriveLearning.com to learn more or schedule a free consultation call so we can talk about what's happening with your child and what type of support may be most helpful. You can also join our Facebook community, Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence!, for practical strategies and conversations with other parents navigating ADHD.

Why can a child with ADHD make friends but have a much harder time keeping them? Friendships require far more executive function than we sometimes realize. Reading social cues, taking turns in conversations, remembering to respond to texts, making plans, handling changes, managing disappointment, and understanding someone else’s perspective can all be challenging for children and teens with ADHD. In this episode of Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence!, Jenny breaks down some of the reasons social situations can feel difficult for kids with ADHD and shares practical ways parents can help build these skills without making every interaction feel like a correction. You’ll learn how to use modeling, perspective-taking, role-playing, teacher collaboration, and everyday social opportunities to help your child better understand themselves and others. We also discuss an important reminder for parents: your child doesn’t need 20 friends to be socially successful. One or two meaningful, supportive friendships may be exactly what fills their cup. In this episode: Why maintaining friendships can be difficult for children with ADHD How executive functioning affects social skills Why kids with ADHD may misinterpret social cues or other people’s intentions The connection between emotional regulation and friendship challenges How to address interruptions without shaming your child Ways to practice perspective-taking Why difficult conversations are often better revisited later How role-playing can prepare kids for social situations Ways teachers can support your child socially How to create natural opportunities to practice friendship skills Why quality friendships matter more than popularity If your child is struggling with ADHD, executive functioning, motivation, organization, learning, or becoming more independent at school and at home, WeThrive Learning provides individualized support for neurodivergent students. Visit WeThriveLearning.com to learn more or schedule a free consultation. And join our Facebook community, Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence!, for ongoing strategies and support for raising a child with ADHD.

Does your child become defensive, angry, tearful, or overwhelmed whenever you offer feedback even when you are trying to be gentle? Children with ADHD often experience more correction, redirection, and reminders than their peers. Over time, they may begin expecting criticism, which can make even small comments feel like rejection or personal failure. In this episode, Jenny explains why criticism can feel so intense for children and teens with ADHD. She discusses rejection sensitivity, emotional flooding, extreme self-talk, and the difficulty some children have separating their behavior from their identity. You will also hear practical ways to reduce conflict and help your child receive feedback without feeling ashamed or attacked. In this episode, you will learn: Why children with ADHD may experience feedback as a threat How rejection sensitivity can appear at home and at school Why children use phrases such as “I never do anything right” How emotional flooding affects reflection and problem-solving Why tone, timing, and connection matter How to replace criticism with curiosity-based coaching What it means to connect before you correct How to become your child’s coach rather than the referee of every mistake When children feel connected, supported, and emotionally safe, they are better able to reflect, learn, and build the skills they need. Learn more about WeThrive Learning and schedule a free consultation at WeThriveLearning.com. You can also join our Facebook group, Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence, for additional strategies, encouragement, and support.

The transition back to school can feel exciting, overwhelming, and unpredictable—sometimes all at once. For children and teens with ADHD, a new school year may bring changes in routines, teachers, expectations, friendships, transportation, homework, and extracurricular activities. These changes can increase anxiety and make it harder for students to manage time, emotions, and responsibilities. In this episode of Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence!, Jenny Drennan, founder of WeThrive Learning, shares five practical strategies families can use to create a smoother back-to-school transition. You’ll learn how to: Build predictable morning and evening routines Review schedules so your child knows what to expect Communicate effectively with teachers Help your child visualize and manage time Review school or college accommodations Create space for conversations about anxiety and big emotions These strategies are designed to reduce overwhelm while helping children become more confident, prepared, and independent. WeThrive Learning provides individualized educational therapy and ADHD and executive-function coaching for students from fourth grade through college. Visit WeThriveLearning.com to learn more or schedule a free consultation call with Jenny. You can also join the Facebook group Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence! for practical strategies, encouragement, and support.

Your child understands the assignment. They know the answer. They may even be one of the strongest thinkers in the room—but they still need significantly more time to respond or finish their work. That is the reality for many children with slow processing speed. In this episode of Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence!, Jenny explains: ✨ What slow processing speed actually means ✨ Why it has nothing to do with intelligence ✨ Signs parents may notice at home ✨ Why children often fall apart after school ✨ Helpful accommodations and home strategies ✨ How to reduce rushing, frustration, and conflict Your child may not need to “try harder” or move faster. They may need an environment that gives their brain enough time to show what it knows. Listen to the full episode and learn more about individualized student support at WeThriveLearning.com. Schedule a free consultation or join our free parent Facebook group Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence! for more support!

Why does my child keep lying—even when I already know the truth? For many parents, lying can feel personal. It can leave you frustrated, worried, and questioning whether you can trust your child. But what if the lie is only part of the story? In this episode of Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence!, Jenny Drennan explores the reasons children and teens lie and why understanding what is happening underneath the behavior can completely change how parents respond. For children with ADHD and executive function challenges, impulsivity, working memory difficulties, shame, and fear of disappointing others may all play a role. Teens may also lie as they test boundaries, seek independence, navigate peer pressure, or try to protect their social relationships. In this episode, you'll learn: ✨ Why lying can be a normal part of child and adolescent development ✨ How impulsivity and ADHD may contribute to dishonesty ✨ Why a child may genuinely plan to complete a task—even when they haven't done it yet ✨ How shame and fear of punishment can make children more likely to hide the truth ✨ Why parents sometimes unintentionally “invite the lie” ✨ How peer pressure, independence, and low self-esteem may influence dishonesty ✨ What parents can do to create a safer environment for truth-telling ✨ Why praising honesty can help encourage future honesty The goal isn't to ignore lying or remove expectations around honesty. It's to become curious about what is driving the behavior so you can address the actual problem—not just react to the lie. 🎧 Listen now to better understand why your child may be lying and learn how to build more honesty and trust in your relationship. Need additional support for your child? WeThrive Learning provides educational therapy, executive function coaching, and ADHD coaching for students with ADHD, learning differences, and executive functioning challenges. 🌐 Visit WeThriveLearning.com to learn more or schedule a free consultation. 💬 Join our Facebook community, Parent Your ADHD Child with Confidence!, for more practical conversations and strategies for parenting children with ADHD.