Ep. 210: Challenging Behaviors or Communication? How Parents Can Respond with Dr. Andrew Kahn
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
Release Date: 11/05/2024
Ep. 232: Turning Kids’ Passions and Enthusiasms into Superpowers with Barry Prizant, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (Re-Air)
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
We are doing a reairing this week of of Diverse Thinking Different Learning in which we talked with . This episode is being revisited at a perfect time because this is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. In this episode, Dr. Prizant helps us understand why it’s important to stop labeling certain behaviors in children as intentional defiance or difficulty. Dr. Barry Prizant is a speech-language pathologist with nearly five decades of experience working with individuals with autism and their families. He serves as a Visiting Scholar at Brown University and directs Childhood Communication...
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Ep. 231: How to Use Students’ Interest and Creativity to Enhance Learning with Victoria Waller, Ed.D.
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
We are so happy to be welcoming back to the podcast this episode. Dr. Waller is a seasoned reading specialist and educational therapist with more than four decades of experience helping children with learning differences, especially ones who teachers have sadly given up on. She is the author of , a finalist for the Foreword Reviews Best Book of the Year in 2022, and has received multiple accolades for her contributions to education. Holding advanced degrees in reading and learning differences, she has shared her expertise nationwide and internationally via speaking engagements and on...
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Ep. 230: Executive Functioning & Navigating the Yearly Calendar with Michelle Porjes
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
We are honored to welcome returning guest Michelle Porjes to the show for this episode. Michelle is a licensed educational psychologist and credentialed school psychologist in California with over twenty-five years of experience in education. She holds advanced degrees in Educational and School Psychology from the University of Denver and the University of South Florida, specializing in learning, emotional, and behavioral assessments, as well as teacher coaching and program development. Michelle runs an executive function practice and has authored two e-books on the topic. Michelle joins us in...
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Ep. 229: Boosting a Child’s Autonomy with Self-Care Routines with Kristin Lombardi, MA, BCBA & Christine Drew, PhD, BCBA-D
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
For this episode of Diverse Thinking Different Learning, we are excited to welcome two guests - Kristin Lombardi, MA, BCBA and Christine Drew, PhD, BCBA-D! Kristin Lombardi, MA, BCBA, is a behavior analyst specializing in helping children and families build independent living skills through her private practice in Locust Valley, New York. With expertise in special education, psychology, and behavior analysis, Kristin supports individuals from early childhood through young adulthood, customizing her approach to a range of developmental and support needs. Dr. Christine Drew, PhD, BCBA-D, is an...
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Ep. 228: Understanding Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) with Dr. Samantha Levy
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
We are excited to have Samantha Levy, PhD join the show again this week to discuss Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). Dr. Samantha Levy is a clinical psychologist specializing in youth with chronic pain disorders. She uses a biopsychosocial approach to address both physical and emotional struggles, working with children, families, and parents to help them align the mind and body for improved functioning. Dr. Levy also runs parent groups, writes a parenting blog for , and works as a psychologist for Whole Child LA. Functional neurological disorder (FND) is a condition in which often...
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Ep. 227: Teen Depression Gone Viral with Dr. Meredith Gansner
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
We are joined this week by . Dr. Gansner is a child psychiatrist at Boston Children’s Hospital and an instructor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, specializing in high-risk digital media use in teens. She has received multiple research grants, including a K23 career development award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and she is an active member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry media committee. Her first book, , explores the challenges of treating adolescent depression in the digital age. In this episode, Dr. Meredith Gansner discusses depression in...
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Ep. 226: Is It Autism? Recognizing, Assessing & Supporting Children and Teens with Dr. Chandni Singh
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
This week on the podcast, we are happy to have Dr. Chandni Singh on the show. Dr. Singh is a licensed clinical psychologist with more than a decade of experience in diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental conditions in children, adolescents, and young adults. She is committed to providing evidence-based assessments and tailored treatment recommendations, and she strongly focuses on serving culturally and ethnically diverse communities. At West LA Neuropsychology, PC, she specializes in early diagnostic evaluations for young children and comprehensive assessments...
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Ep. 225: Moving Beyond Accommodations and Modifications to Cognitive Change for Academic Gains with Shelley Woon
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
This week on the podcast, we welcome Shelley Woon to the conversation. Shelley is a dedicated educator and school leader with over three decades of experience supporting students, families, and staff in overcoming learning challenges. She holds a Master of Education in Leadership, has specialized qualifications in Special Education and Reading, and serves as Head of School at and Superintendent of Special Education. Shelley values the brain-learning connection and is committed to helping others unlock their potential. Shelley joins us to explore how we can move beyond compensatory strategies...
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Ep. 224: Should I Medicate My Child? – Part 2 with Lance Steinberg, M.D.
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
Following up on last week’s episode, we are joined once again by , M.D. to further discuss the complex issue of medicating children with conditions like ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and if you missed part 1 of the discussion, be sure to go back and listen to that before diving into part 2! In this continuation of our discussion, Dr. Steinberg sheds more light on the approach that is required when considering medication, stressing that a thoughtful evaluation is important before immediately jumping to medical solutions. Dr. Steinberg offers some insights into the FDA-approved medications,...
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Ep. 223: Should I Medicate My Child? – Part 1 with Lance Steinberg, M.D.
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
We are joined this week by , M.D. Dr. Steinberg is an expert in psychopharmacology, specializing in conditions such as OCD, ADHD, and autism. He has taught internationally and at institutions like UCLA, earning multiple awards for his outstanding teaching. He completed his medical training at Dartmouth, UCLA, and Stanford, and he currently practices in Calabasas, Encino, and Valencia. Dr. Steinberg joins us today in this first part of a two-part episode to discuss managing medication for youth with conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, and depression. We discuss the important factors parents...
info_outlineWelcome back! In this episode, we’re diving into the world of managing challenging behaviors—a topic every parent can relate to. We often think of behavior as just an action, but today’s guest, Dr. Andrew Kahn, highlights that behavior is a form of communication. By reframing how we understand what our children are trying to express through their actions, we can open up new possibilities for positive outcomes for both parents and children. This shift in perspective can be a powerful tool for responding to even the most challenging behaviors in ways that support growth and connection.
Dr. Kahn also emphasizes the role of self-regulation, a skill that is valuable for both parents and children. Dr. Kahn describes how parents can model self-regulation by managing their own emotions first, taking a moment to pause before addressing a challenging behavior.
Listen on for practical advice on adjusting expectations and being realistic about the consequences we set for our children. This episode is full of insights to empower you as a parent in handling challenging behaviors with empathy, patience, and in a way that allows your child the room to fall and learn.
Show Notes:
[1:56] - Understanding a child’s behavior can lead to more positive outcomes for parents and children. Behavior is communication.
[3:02] - As adults, it is hard for us to remember the frustration and other emotions associated with not being understood as children.
[4:44] - When people are upset, especially children, they revert to the behavior of a younger child, which creates frustration for parents.
[7:01] - Self-regulation can be a primary barrier to being able to think and problem solve.
[8:54] - Taking a moment to regulate your emotions as a parent is a form of modeling, as long as you return to the moment and explain.
[10:44] - There’s no instruction manual, and parenting a child with learning differences certainly does not have a rule book.
[13:26] - It is incredibly important to parents to understand their child’s differences.
[16:07] - As parents, we like to think we have a bag of tricks, but some of these tricks don’t work every time.
[18:00] - Social media is great in creating a sense of community. But the information there is not always vetted and can have a lot of misinformation.
[20:58] - Resources at Understood.org are completely free and accessible.
[23:51] - One strategy is to reflect on how realistic our expectations are regarding a child’s behavior.
[25:30] - Consequences for behaviors need to also be realistic based on the situation, the child, the behavior, and whether natural consequences take place.
[26:37] - If you can’t handle your child being in distress, as a parent, you will be in more distress.
[28:06] - If a parent does not give their child moments of failure, they will feel invincible as they grow up.
[30:16] - It is important for parents to care for themselves. This is also an important modeling opportunity for children.
About Our Guest:
Dr. Andrew Kahn is Understood’s Associate Director of Behavior Change and Expertise, and is a licensed psychologist. He focuses on ADHD, learning differences, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, behavior, executive function, and emotional regulation. For nearly 20 years, Dr. Kahn worked within the public school system providing training, evaluations, direct consultation, and therapeutic support to students, their families, and staff.
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The Diverse Thinking Different Learning podcast is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or legal advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Additionally, the views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are not considered treatment and do not necessarily reflect those of ChildNEXUS, Inc or the host, Dr. Karen Wilson.