
In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently
Understood.org, Gretchen Vierstra, Rachel Bozek
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Top 10 In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Bullying and being bullied: Why it happens and what families can do
In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently
10/05/23 • 37 min
Why do some kids bully others? And why do some kids seem to be targets of bullying, time and time again?
In this episode, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek talk with parenting coach Caroline Maguire, author of Why Will No One Play with Me?: The Play Better Plan to Help Children of All Ages Make Friends and Thrive. She specializes in social-emotional learning and raising kids with ADHD.
Tune in to learn about both sides of bullying, and what families can do to help. Plus, hear Caroline share her own story of being bullied, and how that experience shapes her work.
To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood.
We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected].
Related resources
- Bullying, learning differences, and how to help
- What to do when your child is the bully
- StopBullying.gov
- Plus, check out Caroline’s book, Why Will No One Play With Me?
Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give
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School refusal
In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently
09/21/23 • 32 min
Why do kids sometimes refuse to go to school? And what can families do about it, both in the moment and to help avoid it in the future?
In this episode, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek hear from Erin, a returning guest whose family has struggled with school refusal challenges for years.
The hosts also talk with psychologist and Understood expert Dr. Andrew Kahn, who shares some of the reasons that could be behind a child’s school refusal. He also offers tips and strategies for turning the situation around.
To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood.
We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected].
Related resources
- Download: Find out why your child doesn’t like going to school
- Self-care for kids: 6 ways to self-regulate
- Listen to Erin’s first conversation on In It, about her son’s school refusal journey.
Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give
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Why let your child fail?
In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently
05/19/20 • 16 min
Is it ever OK to let your child fail? It can be difficult to see your child try something and fail. But sometimes FAIL stands for “First Attempt At Learning.” In this episode, hosts Amanda Morin and Bob Cunningham speak with a mom, Meg, about how her son declined his IEP, allowing him to step back and learn from his failures. Meg also talks about the difference between being accountable for your mistakes and being at fault for them.
Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Busting myths about learning differences and ADHD
In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently
05/12/22 • 20 min
There are plenty of myths and misconceptions about learning differences. Is ADHD just about hyperactivity? Is dyslexia a vision problem? And do kids outgrow learning differences?
In this episode, host Gretchen Vierstra shares common myths about learning and thinking differences for co-host Amanda Morin to bust. Listen to Amanda debunk these myths with the facts. Learn why these myths persist and how you can help debunk them. Plus, hear the myths that Amanda, Gretchen, and their producer believed before they learned the facts.
To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood.
Related resources
- 6 common myths about learning and thinking differences
- What are learning and thinking differences?
- When gifted kids need accommodations, too
Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Single parenting: Raising kids who learn differently on your own
In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently
05/26/22 • 28 min
What unique challenges do single parents face when raising kids with learning differences?
In this episode, hosts Amanda Morin and Gretchen Vierstra talk with a single parent who’s “in it.” Rachel is raising her 10-year-old daughter, who has ADHD and other learning challenges. Listen to Rachel talk about the journey she’s been on with her daughter. Hear how she’s trying to manage everything as a single parent. Plus, get Rachel's tips for how to use humor during challenging moments.
To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood.
Related resources
- What is working memory?
- Our community weighs in: How your relationship with your child changed after the diagnosis
- Plus, hear from another single parent: Raising an intense daughter with ADHD (Andrea’s story)
Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Discipline, ADHD, and learning differences
In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently
02/16/23 • 26 min
Many parents struggle with how to discipline their kids. But for families of kids who have ADHD or learning differences, it can be even harder to know what to do. How do you discipline kids who have trouble with the skills they need to behave? What strategies work best for kids with ADHD?
In this episode, hosts Rachel Bozek and Gretchen Vierstra get discipline tips from a clinical psychologist, Dr. Kristin Carothers. Kristin explains why it can be hard for kids with ADHD to follow rules, and how positive discipline can help.
Hear Kristin’s answers to questions like: What do we do when kids with ADHD forget their homework? How can you get on the same page as your child’s school when it comes to discipline? Plus, find out why having fun with your child is part of an effective discipline strategy.
To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood.
We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected].
Related resources
- 7 discipline tips when your child has ADHD
- The difference between discipline and punishment
- Understanding trouble following directions
Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Stopping summer slide (from “The Opportunity Gap” podcast)
In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently
07/04/24 • 20 min
You may have heard of “summer slide.” It refers to the learning loss that can happen during summer break from school.
On this bonus episode of In It, we’re sharing a conversation on how to handle the summer break from another Understood podcast, The Opportunity Gap.
Host Julian Saavedra talks with special education teacher Kate García about how following a summer routine can help kids stay on track. They also discuss ways to help kids learn without sacrificing fun. Plus why giving kids grace and time is so important.
For a transcript, visit The Opportunity Gap's show page.
Related resources
- Summer learning: How to help your child keep skills strong
- Extended school year services: What you need to know
- Mommy Poppins
Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Bringing sensory differences into kids’ books with Lindsey Rowe Parker
In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently
03/14/24 • 22 min
From the colors of the classroom to the noises of the playground, school can be overwhelming for kids with sensory processing challenges. One author has turned these experiences into a new picture book. The book aims to help kids who have trouble processing sensory information.
In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek talk with Lindsey Rowe Parker, author of Wiggles, Stomps and Squeezes: Calming My Jitters at School. It’s the second in a series of picture books about sensory differences for kids.
Lindsey was a child with sensory differences. And now she’s a parent to a daughter with autism and a son who is neurodivergent.
Lindsey begins by reading a section of the book. Then she talks about the importance of representation in children’s books. She also shares some of the sensory challenges she faced as a kid, and other real-life stories she included in the book.
To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood.
We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected].
Related resources
- Wiggles, Stomps and Squeezes: Calming My Jitters at School
- Sensory processing challenges fact sheet
- Surviving the holidays with sensory processing challenges
- Summer survival guide: Hacks to help your family thrive
Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Another lost sneaker? How to cover the unexpected costs of raising a kid
In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently
12/19/24 • 26 min
Money. Budgeting. Savings. They’re all stressful. And when you factor in the added expenses that can come with raising a child with learning and thinking differences, it can feel like too much.
In this episode of In It, hosts Gretchen Vierstra and Rachel Bozek welcome personal finance expert Kim Palmer. Kim is a mom to three kids and she writes for NerdWallet. She’s also the author of three books about money: Smart Mom, Rich Mom; The Economy of You; and Generation Earn.
Tune in to get Kim’s expert advice about budgeting when you have kids with learning and thinking differences.
For a transcript and more resources, visit the In It page on Understood.org
We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected].
Related resources
- Long-term financial planning for a child with special needs
- Checklist: Saving for college
- Listen: Impulse buying, negative bank balances, and the ADHD tax
Timestamps
(1:38) Unanticipated expenses
(5:54) Budgeting tools
(10:53) Emergencies and the struggle to save
(22:23) Letting kids in on the finances
For a transcript and more resources, visit the In It page on Understood.org
We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected].
Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

The legit fear behind “Please don’t call on me to read”
In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently
01/31/19 • 26 min
It’s scary — in the moment and even recalling it years later. Reading out loud in front of a group when you have dyslexia can be legitimately awful. Hosts Amanda Morin and Lexi Walters Wright dig into this fear with a mom whose son stumbled over reading his own name in front of his class. They hear from other parents, too, and hockey champion Brent Sopel. Expert Bob Cunningham also weighs in with insight on whether kids really do need to read out loud, and how to make the experience better for kids who struggle with reading.
To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood.
Related resources
- Video: Stanley Cup champ Brent Sopel on hiding reading struggles “behind his stick”
- Video: Gavin Newsom opens up about his dyslexia
- One of my scariest moments as a child with dyslexia? Reading aloud during Passover
Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give
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FAQ
How many episodes does In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently have?
In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently currently has 112 episodes available.
What topics does In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently cover?
The podcast is about Parenting, Kids & Family, How To, Family, Podcasts, Adhd, Education and Dyslexia.
What is the most popular episode on In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently?
The episode title 'School refusal' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently?
The average episode length on In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently is 22 minutes.
How often are episodes of In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently released?
Episodes of In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently are typically released every 14 days.
When was the first episode of In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently?
The first episode of In It: Raising Kids Who Learn Differently was released on Dec 13, 2018.
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