Forks, Feelings, and Frontal Lobes: The Neurology of Family Dinner for Neurodivergent Kids!!!!

 Welcome back to The Path to Peace Therapy Podcast. I’m Stephanie Buckley an AMFT Solution-Focused Therapist specializing in ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression,  bipolar disorder and narcisstic relationships. I’m also a mom to a now-thriving 22-year-old neurodivergent son, and I’ve been married for over three decades. So what you hear today isn’t just clinical it's lived experience, it’s layered, and it’s honest.

Today's episode is all about why family dinner matters and how something as simple as sitting down together each night can shape your child’s identity, executive functioning, nervous system, and emotional development. Starting this when they are young is highly encouraged. Let’s dive in!!

To the untrained eye, asking a child to “set the table” might look like a basic household chore. But to a therapist, educator, or neuroscientist, it’s a brilliant opportunity to build core executive functioning skills the brain’s high-level tools for planning, organization, impulse control, emotional regulation, and follow-through.

This one five-minute ritual engages multiple executive domains, especially for children with ADHD, anxiety, or sensory processing differences. It’s embedded in rhythm, connected to relationship, and disguised as an ordinary family task. But in truth it’s daily brain training.

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If today’s episode resonated with you, I’d love to support you further. You can book a therapy session, explore over 65 helpful blog posts, or dive deeper into my resources by visiting:

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And remember, peace begins with small, intentional steps. I’m here when you’re ready. 

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This episode is for educational purposes and to provide support. They’re not a substitute for professional mental health evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment.”

The more we learn to recognize the signs behind the behaviors, the more compassion and support we can offer—to our kids, our partners, and ourselves.

Thank you for spending this time with me. If this episode was helpful, I’d love it if you shared it with a fellow parent, caregiver, or educator who might need it too. You can also subscribe to stay up to date on future episodes and check out additional tools and resources at The Path To PeaceTherapy.com. Follow me on Instagram @The Path to Peace Therapy

And as always—take a deep breath, give yourself some grace, and remember: peace is possible, and you don’t have to do this alone.