Learn with Dr. Emily

One of the most heart-breaking things a parent can hear is a child being mean to themselves. Some children get so overwhelmed at times that they call themselves names, or even worse, hit themselves when they are upset. As adults, we can feel helpless in these moments and are quick to say something to negate our child’s statement like “Of course you’re not stupid” or “Don’t say that; it’s not true”...

When we hear neurodiversity, most of us think of ADHD and autism. But neurodivergence simply means a difference in brain functioning - and that impacts gifted children too.  So how can we better understand and support our gifted kids?  Today, Dr. Matt joins us to talk about brain differences, emotional roller coasters, social anxiety, and the "Twice Exceptional" profile. Dr. Matt Zakreski is the F...

Spring break is here, which means taking a break from school and spending time with family and friends. It also often means traveling, later bedtimes, and sometimes more sugar for our kids. But for neurodivergent children, those with ADHD, anxiety, or who are autistic, traveling for spring break also means different schedules, unknown routines, and often more dysregulation. Many families I work wi...

Growing up, Penn Holderness knew he was different than his friends. He had tics. He was called a spazz. He would cry really easily.  In basketball practice, he would nearly chew through his shirt if he wasn't running around enough.  If he was growing up in the 2020's, he'd be treated for ADHD pretty quickly. But back in the 80's, ADHD information wasn't widespread, and it wasn't until college that...

When I work with parents who are raising neurodivergent kids, I often ask, “What was school like for you?” We all have an answer to this question, but it’s hard to sum up 13 years of learning in a conversation. I’m really just interested in a parent’s gut reaction. Some freeze, some appear overwhelmed and give me a look indicating, “How much time do we have?” and some wonder how this question is e...

When Debbie Reber and her husband figured out that they were raising a neurodivergent child, they were a little caught off guard - it wasn't exactly the vision they had in mind for their parenting life. For years, they felt "otherized" by other parents and completely misunderstood.  They didn't have much of a community to help them - until Debbie decided to create one. Debbie Reber is a parenting...

As spring break approaches and summer plans are being made, I begin hearing travel anxiety from many parents raising neurodivergent kids. Some can’t fathom going to a restaurant without causing a scene so an extended vacation seems out of reach. Many are surprised when I say, “Your child can totally do this! Maybe not yet , but just like any other skill you have taught your child, traveling takes...

If you’ve been following me for a while now, you know that I have been on both sides of the diagnostic feedback session. I’ve been the psychologist reviewing evaluation results with parents and I’ve been the parent on the receiving end of evaluation data that confirms what I already knew was unfolding before my eyes. As a parent, I remember feeling overwhelmed and scared. As a psychologist, I’ve s...

All parents and educators want what is best for the child. But when it comes to supporting a child with a complex constellation of strengths and needs within a group of children who also have their own constellation of strengths and needs, it gets complicated.  Here's how to break through. --- Sign up for Dr. Emily's weekly newsletter at www.learnwithdremily.com This is a public episode. If you wo...

If you are raising a child diagnosed with autism, ADHD, or anxiety, the uncertainty of their future can feel very anxiety-provoking. Will they learn to drive? Will they be able to live on their own? Will they be happy?  One gift of parenting a child developing on their own path and timetable is that you learn quickly to let go of any plans beyond about a school year’s span of time. You learn to re...

One of the most common questions I receive from parents is this: How do I know if my child’s behavior is due to their disability or if they are doing it on purpose?   Because our neurodivergent children present with skill weaknesses that occur internally, like those related to emotional dysregulation and executive functioning, when they are asked to do something they don’t have the capacity for at...

One of the hardest decisions parents make for their child is when to begin Kindergarten. A generation ago, parents didn’t think about this much. If your child was five years old before the cut-off date for your public school district, then it was time for Kindergarten. However, as Kindergarten has become less play and more academic in the last 20 years, and as we learn more about the importance of...

Children lack the life experience to fully embrace the delayed gratification needed to believe that mistakes are helpful. Every child goes through a developmental period where they must learn the arc of change that comes with being faced with something that is too hard, needing the motivation to keep coming back to try again, and then the satisfaction of mastering a skill. Most children are able t...

One of the most frequent questions I get from parents is this: How do I tell my child about their diagnosis? This task feels daunting because no one wants to tell someone that something is “different” about them, especially when that someone is our precious child. You don’t want to hurt them and you don’t want them to ever think they are “less than.” I believe that we, the adults, are actually the...

The Neurodiverse Classroom is HERE!  The Neurodiverse Classroom is a professional development online course created for passionate elementary teachers in need of up-to-date training to better understand the neurodiverse and mental health needs of their students. I have always wanted to create an easy way for teachers to get all the information they need so they can create classrooms where everyone...

Teachers, you are busy. You are asked to do too many things with too little time and energy. I’m here to remind you that you CAN find time for yourself. The most important thing to know is that a little bit of time will go a long way. Join me this week inside my FREE video series for elementary educators to learn how to beat burnout this school year. You’ll only need to set aside about 15 minutes...

I love education and helping children, teachers, and parents work together. I am so grateful for my experience working in public schools. It taught me that nothing is simple. There are no simple solutions, only complex solutions that involve staying curious and cultivating collaboration. Every child's brain is different so how can this be straight-forward? If we try to make things uniform, we fail...

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit learnwithdremily.substack.com --- Parenting On Your Own Path Course Online Course for Elementary Teachers Bring Dr. Emily to Your School Summer Workshops

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit learnwithdremily.substack.com --- Parenting On Your Own Path Course Online Course for Elementary Teachers Bring Dr. Emily to Your School Summer Workshops

Neurodivergent students face more challenges at school than their neurotypical peers. They are led through a standardized curriculum that doesn’t always match their variable learning profile. For some, this will build character and grit, while others may feel helpless and lose their motivation. This often looks like they don’t care, but they do.  All children care, but they might let go of their e...

In my work with parents raising neurodivergent kids, one of the most common questions I get is, “How do I know what is their disability and what is just refusal?” We have to remember that when children (and adults) refuse to do something, there is usually a reason beyond leaving the person who is asking feeling frustrated. When a child resists a task they are often fatigued, unmotivated, disintere...

Every teacher we meet this school year has said, “Yes” to returning to work. Trust me, they thought about their job, their profession, and their calling. They considered their options. And, they said, “Yes.” They want to be here and they want the best for our children. So, let's work together. Here's how. Find all of Dr. Emily's resources for teachers and parents at www.learnwithdremily.com . This...

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit learnwithdremily.substack.com