Shows / Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Raising a child with ADHD can feel overwhelming—meltdowns, school struggles, medication decisions, and the constant fear you’re doing it wrong. Raising ADHD is the podcast for parents and teachers who want clarity, strategies, and real-life support.
Hosted by Apryl Bradford, M.Ed. (former teacher and ADHD mom) and Dr. Brian Bradford, D.O. (Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist), this show cuts through the myths and misinformation about Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Together, Apryl and Dr…
Episodes
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Why Your ADHD Child Won’t Listen: The Brain Science Nobody Explains
Send us Fan Mail Why won’t your ADHD child listen? It’s not defiance. The brain science behind listening, plus the hear-focus-understand-remember-do framework…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
ADHD Discipline: Stop Punishing the Same Behavior Over and Over
Send us Fan Mail Consequences don’t work for your ADHD child because they’re not instructions. Why bigger punishments backfire, and the hold-teach-reinforce…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
You've Tried Everything With Your ADHD Child and Nothing Works. Here's Why
Send us Fan Mail Tried every ADHD strategy and nothing seems to work? ADHD behavior problems often continue because we’re solving the wrong problem. Learn how…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
ADHD and School: How to Get a 504 or IEP (Even When the School Keeps Stalling)
Send us Fan Mail 504 vs IEP for ADHD, explained by a former teacher. What each plan is, who qualifies, how to request an evaluation in writing, and what to do…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
The ADHD Middle School Transition: How to Help Your ADHD Child Survive (and Actually Grow in) Middle School
Send us Fan Mail The ADHD middle school transition is a real risk point. Why symptoms spike, why medication isn't enough, and how to build the executive…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
How to Talk to Your Child's Teacher About ADHD: Start the Year as a Team, Not the Punishment Department
Send us Fan Mail How to talk to your child's teacher about ADHD and start the year as a team. A former teacher's plan for one clear goal, positive feedback…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Dreading the Teacher's First Report? How to Get Your ADHD Child Ready for School
Send us Fan Mail Getting your ADHD child ready for school isn't about fixing their behavior. How to protect their self-esteem, set a boundary on teacher…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Beat Back-to-School Burnout: The ADHD Mom's Prep Plan for a Calmer School Year
Send us Fan Mail Back-to-school prep for ADHD families starts with you. Simple decisions to make now, from meals to meds to bedtime, so you start the year less…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Are Weekends Making Your ADHD Child's Behavior Worse? Why Monday Mornings Are So Hard
Send us Fan Mail Is a packed weekend making ADHD behavior worse? Why kids start Saturday in regulation debt, and a simple weekend check-in for calmer Monday…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Impulsive Behavior in ADHD: Why Your Child Has No Pause Button and How to Build One
Send us Fan Mail Impulsive behavior in ADHD kids isn't defiance, it's a delayed pause button. What's happening in the brain, the three types of impulsivity…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
ADHD Parenting Burnout: The 3 Stages, the Signs, and What Actually Helps
Send us Fan Mail ADHD parenting burnout is real, and it's not the same as being tired. The three stages, why parents of ADHD kids burn out faster, and five…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
ADHD Summer Survival: 5 Things Saving My Life Right Now
Send us Fan Mail Surviving summer with an ADHD kid? Here are five small, real-life things saving my sanity right now, plus a pep talk for when nothing feels…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Traveling With ADHD Kids: How to Plan a Vacation That Doesn't End in Meltdowns with Mary Katherine Brooks
Send us Fan Mail Traveling with an ADHD child without the meltdowns is possible. A travel expert shares how to plan Disney, cruises, and trips that actually…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Your ADHD Child Isn't Trying to Drive You Crazy: Here's What's Really Going On
Send us Fan Mail Why your ADHD child kicks, hums, and can't sit still, and what to do instead of yelling. A simple reframe for sensory and dopamine-seeking…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Why Consequences Don't Work for ADHD Kids (And What to Do Instead)
Send us Fan Mail Traditional discipline doesn't work for ADHD kids—here's the brain science why, plus 6 research-backed strategies that do…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
The Best Daily Routine for a Child with ADHD (Summer Edition)
Send us Fan Mail The best daily routine for a child with ADHD isn’t rigid timing, it’s consistent sequence. A flexible summer anchor framework, three…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
ADHD Executive Function in Real Life: Why Checklists Fail and the Scaffolding System That Actually Works
Send us Fan Mail Handing an ADHD kid a checklist rarely works, because a checklist is one more thing to remember. Why executive function needs scaffolding, and…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
How to Talk to Kids About Having ADHD: A Mom's Guide to Making It Normal
Send us Fan Mail Not sure how to talk to your child about ADHD? Get age-specific scripts, do's and don'ts, and the mom perspective on making the conversation…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
ADHD Meltdowns vs Tantrums: Why They Happen and a 5-Step System to Reduce Them
Send us Fan Mail ADHD meltdowns aren't tantrums. Learn why they happen, the ABCs of behavior tracking, and a 5-step system to reduce meltdowns by building…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Why is Parenting an ADHD child so hard? The Parenting Pivot Nobody Tells You About (And Why ADHD Kids Need It Most)
Send us Fan Mail There's something that happens in parenting around elementary school age, and no one talks about it. Learn the parenting pivot that change how…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
How to Manage ADHD Hyperactivity Without Fighting It
Send us Fan Mail ADHD hyperactivity isn't a behavior problem to suppress. Learn 5 neuroscience-backed strategies to channel your child's movement, including…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
How to Discipline Kids with ADHD: What the Research Says Actually Works
Send us Fan Mail Traditional discipline fails ADHD kids. Learn what research from Harvard, Yale, and the AAP says actually works, plus the strategies that…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Executive Function Skills and ADHD: Why Your Child Can't "Just Do It" (And How to Help)
Send us Fan Mail ADHD kids are 30-40% behind peers in executive function skills. Learn what that means, which skills matter most, and how to build them at…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Why Is My ADHD Child on So Many Medications? How to Prevent the Drug Cascade with Dr. Kate Trapani
Send us Fan Mail Your ADHD child is on multiple meds and you're not sure why. Two psychiatrists explain how to prevent the drug cascade and advocate at every…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Why Your ADHD Child Lies (And What to Do Instead of Punishing It)
Send us Fan Mail When ADHD kids lie, it's not a character flaw, it's a coping strategy. Learn what the research says and what actually helps instead of shame…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
ADHD School Behavior Problems: Why Nothing's Changing and the Framework That Will
Send us Fan Mail Your child's behavior card comes home negative every day. It's not a character issue—it's a design issue. Learn the REACT framework that…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
ADHD Without Medication: What Actually Works (According to the Highest-Quality Research)
Send us Fan Mail Overwhelmed by conflicting ADHD advice? Discover what actually works (and doesn't) for managing ADHD without medication, backed by top-tier…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
ADHD Morning Routine Chaos? How to Find Your Battle Zone and Fix It Without Changing Your Child
Send us Fan Mail ADHD mornings don't have to be chaos. Learn how to identify your household's biggest battle zone and make one environmental shift that changes…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
ADHD School Behavior Problems: 3 Moves Parents and Teachers Both Need to Know
Send us Fan Mail Your phone buzzes: another behavior report. Learn why punishment fails ADHD kids and get scripts to build a real school-home team…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Why Your ADHD Child Thinks "I'm the Problem" (And How Repair Changes Their Identity)
Send us Fan Mail ADHD kids hear "I'm the problem" on repeat. Learn why repairing after yelling rewrites that story—and what to do when your child won't engage…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Stop Sitting in Mom Guilt: How to Repair with Your ADHD Child After You Lose It
Send us Fan Mail Yelled at your ADHD child and feel awful? Learn the 5-step repair system that protects your child's self-esteem and actually strengthens your…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
When ADHD Anger Turns Destructive: Why Punishment Makes It Worse (And What Actually Works)
Send us Fan Mail Destructive anger in ADHD kids is one of the most misunderstood, shame-loaded experiences parents face. The advice most families are given —…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
[Part 5 of 5] The ADHD Holiday Survival System: The 3-Phase Plan That Stops Meltdowns, Sensory Overload & Dopamine Crashes
Send us Fan Mail This is the holiday episode every ADHD parent needs. After five weeks of dismantling holiday myths, decoding meltdowns, and rebuilding your…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
[Part 4 of 5] The Small Holiday Tweaks That Create Big ADHD Wins (Parents Can’t Believe the Difference)
Send us Fan Mail There’s a moment every ADHD parent remembers. Not the big, Instagram-perfect one — the small, quiet one. It’s the moment you realize: “Wait……
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
[Part 3 of 5] 3 ADHD Holiday Myths Ruining Your Family's Christmas (Psychiatrist Reveals the Truth)
Send us Fan Mail If your holidays feel louder, harder, and more meltdown-heavy than everyone else’s, there’s a reason — and it’s not your parenting. It’s the…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
[Part 2 of 5] Stop the Holiday Meltdowns: The 10-Minute Holiday Reset Every ADHD Family Needs (But No One Told You About)
Send us Fan Mail If “holiday magic” currently looks more like meltdowns over socks, cold coffee, and pure morning chaos, you’re not doing anything wrong…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
[Part 1 of 5] When the Holidays Break Your Brain: The ADHD Paradox No One Talks About
Send us Fan Mail You know how the holidays are supposed to be magical — cozy mornings, matching jammies, and family smiles? Yeah… for ADHD families, it usually…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Why Small Things Trigger Big Meltdowns: How Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria Hijacks ADHD Kids
Send us Fan Mail You say “It’s time to turn off the iPad.” They feel like their world just ended. If you’ve watched your child melt down over something you…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Latest ADHD Research 2025: Executive Function Training, Sleep Secrets, and Why Therapy Dogs Actually Work
Send us Fan Mail What if the key to helping your ADHD child wasn't just medication—but a combination of unexpected interventions backed by cutting-edge…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
ADHD and Friendships: Why Your Child Struggles to Fit In and How to Help Them Find Their Tribe
Send us Fan Mail You’re standing at the edge of the playground. Your child’s backpack hangs a little crooked, their eyes full of hope. They wave, the group…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
The ADHD Bedtime Battle: Why Your Child Won’t Sleep (and How to Finally Fix It)
Send us Fan Mail Tired of endless bedtime battles? Discover the hidden link between ADHD and sleep, why melatonin timing matters, and the routines that can…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
How to Help Your ADHD Child Actually Get Their Homework Done Without the Nightly Battles: Strategies for K–12 Success
Send us Fan Mail If homework time feels like World War III at your house, deep breaths, you’re not alone. Kids with ADHD aren’t being defiant when they melt…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
How to Talk to Your Child About ADHD: What to Say When They Ask ‘What’s Wrong With Me?
Send us Fan Mail “Mom, what’s wrong with me?” If your ADHD child has ever asked you this heartbreaking question at bedtime, you know the weight of that moment…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Caffeine and ADHD: Does It Really Help Kids Focus?
Send us Fan Mail Some parents swear that giving their ADHD child a soda or latte before school helps with focus. But is caffeine actually a natural alternative…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
After-School Meltdowns and ADHD: A 3-Step Plan Parents Can Start Tonight
Send us Fan Mail Decoding the dreaded after-school meltdown doesn’t have to feel impossible. In this episode of Raising ADHD, we're explaining why after-school…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Should I Medicate My Child for ADHD?: 6 Insights to Help Parents Choose with Confidence
Send us Fan Mail Deciding whether to start ADHD medication can feel overwhelming. Parents often wonder: Will ADHD meds change who my child is? What are the…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Back-to-School Behavior Battles: 5 ADHD Hacks Teachers + Parents Can Use Right Away
Send us Fan Mail It’s back-to-school season, which for many parents and teachers means the emails are rolling in about fidgeting, blurting, not finishing work…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Should I Get My Child Tested for ADHD? What Parents + Teachers Need to Know
Send us Fan Mail “Is this just a phase…or something more?” It’s one of the most common (and most stressful) questions parents ask when they start noticing…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
The Truth About ADHD: Why the Name Gets It Wrong and What You Need to Know
Send us Fan Mail When most people hear ADHD, they picture a wiggly kid who can’t sit still, blurts out answers, or zones out in class. But here’s the thing…
- Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators
Raising ADHD Starts Here: Clarity, Support & Real Solutions
Send us Fan Mail What’s it really like raising a child with ADHD? In this trailer, you’ll meet your hosts Apryl Bradford, M.Ed. and Dr. Brian Bradford, D.O…