Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators

Dr. Brian Bradford & Apryl Bradford
  • 5.0 (8)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

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. Bradford bring both lived experience and clinical expertise to help you: Understand what ADHD really is (and isn’t)Navigate school challenges and partner with teachersMake sense of medication options without the jargonSupport your child’s strengths while tackling everyday strugglesFeel less alone and more empowered on this journey Each week, you’ll hear practical tips, the latest insights from the field, and conversations that validate what you’re living through. Whether you’re dealing with emotional outbursts, executive function challenges, or the stigma that still surrounds ADHD, you’ll find real talk and real help here. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Am I doing this right?”—this podcast is your answer.  Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical or psychiatric advice and should not replace professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other licensed professional with any questions you may have regarding your child’s health or behavior.

  1. 3D AGO

    ADHD Morning Routine Chaos? How to Find Your Battle Zone and Fix It Without Changing Your Child

    Send us a text 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 everything. _______________________________________ Someone's crying. You're already running late. The shoes are right there but somehow invisible—and suddenly you're not just tired, you're angry. Before you've even had your coffee, you're yelling. Sound familiar? Here's the thing: the problem isn't your child. It's not that they're not trying hard enough, and it's not that you're failing as a parent. The problem is that we keep asking kids with developing executive function to do things their brains aren't ready for—especially before medication kicks in. In this episode, Apryl breaks down exactly how she transformed their chaotic ADHD mornings into something actually... calm. No 5 AM wake-up overhauls. No Pinterest-perfect systems. Just one strategic shift that changed everything. What you'll learn: How to identify your household's biggest "battle zone" (and why you only fix ONE at a time)The reframe that changes everything: scaffolding isn't creating dependenceApryl's exact morning setup that eliminated the "go upstairs" problemWhy removing decisions beats adding reminders every timeThe Alexa alarm system that took nagging completely off her plateYou'll walk away knowing exactly where to start—and finally believing calm mornings are possible for your family too. RESOURCES MENTIONED Free Workshop: "When You Love Your Child But Don't Like Who You're Becoming" Register at: raisingadhd.org/workshop

    16 min

  2. JAN 19

    ADHD School Behavior Problems: 3 Moves Parents and Teachers Both Need to Know

    Send us a text Your phone buzzes: another behavior report. Learn why punishment fails ADHD kids and get scripts to build a real school-home team. ____________________________________ It's 2:47 PM. Your phone buzzes. You already know what it is before you look. Behavior update. Today was difficult. Please discuss consequences at home. Your stomach drops—because this isn't information. It's a verdict. Here's what no one tells you: There are three people drowning in that moment. Your child, who's overwhelmed and has no words for it. The teacher, who's exhausted and out of tools. And you, already hanging on by a thread, now expected to be the enforcer. This episode is for that moment. Not the Pinterest version of ADHD support—the real one. Apryl breaks down why traditional classroom discipline fails ADHD brains and what actually works, backed by research and her decade of classroom experience. You'll learn: Why taking away recess is one of the worst things you can do for an ADHD kidThe one phrase that changes everything: "Praise the positive opposite"3 research-aligned moves teachers can use in the moment of meltdownA word-for-word email script to send your child's teacher (without sounding like you're blaming)How to ask for a two-goal plan that both school and home can actually sustainThe simple template that replaces behavior crime reports with trust-building communicationWhy ADHD kids change through in-the-moment support—not 8 PM lecturesAfter listening, you'll finally have language for what you've been feeling and a concrete plan to share with your child's school. The Email Script for Parents Ask for: Please don't remove recess for behavior—movement helps them regulateCan we pick two school goals only? (Example: raise hand during math, start work within 2 minutes)Can we add one positive note daily, even one sentence?Close with: "I'm not asking for perfection, just a plan we can both sustain." The Template for Teachers Replace behavior crime reports with: One win: He came back after a reset / helped a classmate / tried againToday's trigger: Transition from math to libraryWhat helped: Movement break / smaller task / private cue RESOURCES MENTIONED Free Mini Course: Calm the Chaos: The ADHD Parent Reset — raisingadhd.org/calm

    31 min

  3. JAN 12

    Why Your ADHD Child Thinks "I'm the Problem" (And How Repair Changes Their Identity)

    Send us a text 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. ________________________________________ There's a sentence ADHD kids learn really early. They don't usually say it out loud, but they're living it internally: I'm the problem. Not "that was hard." Not "that didn't go well." But something is wrong with me. Here's what the research says: it's not the conflict that damages your relationship—it's the unrepaired conflict. And for kids with ADHD, who've already received thousands more corrections than their peers by elementary school, those unrepaired moments stack into an identity. In part two of our repair series, we're going deeper into why repair matters so much for the ADHD brain—especially when rejection sensitivity makes yelling feel like proof they're unlovable. In this episode, you'll learn: The critical difference between shame and guilt (and why it matters for ADHD)Why your child refuses to accept your apology (it's protection, not defiance)How to repair when your kid shuts down or says "I don't care"The nonverbal repairs that count just as much as wordsLanguage shifts that protect your child's identitySigns that your repair actually workedWalk away knowing that every repair—even the ones your child doesn't respond to—becomes data they'll use to trust you again. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Shame vs. Guilt DistinctionWhy Kids Refuse Repair (3 Reasons)How to Repair When They Won't EngageNonverbal Repairs That CountThe Identity-Protecting Language ShiftWhy This Matters for ADHD By late elementary school, kids with ADHD have received thousands more negative corrections than their peers. These aren't neutral—they stack into an identity of "I am the problem." Consistent repair doesn't erase consequences; it changes the story from "I am bad" to "that was hard." RESOURCES MENTIONED Free Mini Course: Calm the Chaos: The ADHD Parent Reset  Related Episode: Part 1 – Stop Sitting in Mom Guilt: How to Repair with Your ADHD Child After You Lose ItRelated Episode: Why Small Things Trigger Big Meltdowns: How Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria Hijacks ADHD BrainsRelated Episode: When ADHD Anger Turns Destructive: Why Punishment Makes It Worse (And What Actually Works)

    27 min

  4. JAN 7

    Stop Sitting in Mom Guilt: How to Repair with Your ADHD Child After You Lose It

    Send us a text 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 relationship. _______________________ The explosion is over. The house is quiet. Your kid has disappeared into their room, and you're standing there with a pit in your stomach, replaying the look on their face and asking yourself the question no parenting book prepared you for: Am I ruining my kid? Here's what you were never taught: the yelling isn't what damages the relationship. It's what happens—or doesn't happen—afterward. In this episode, Apryl and Dr. Brian Bradford break down the neuroscience behind why your child can't "learn their lesson" during a blowup (spoiler: their thinking brain is literally offline), and walk you through the exact 5-step repair process that protects your child from developing a shame-based identity. Because ADHD kids already hear thousands more corrections than their peers by elementary school. They don't need perfection from you. They need repair. You'll learn: Why secure attachment is built through rupture AND repair—not by never messing upThe brain science behind why consequences don't work when your child is dysregulatedThe 5-part repair system you can use tonight (with exact scripts)How to apologize without giving in on your boundariesThe "do-over" technique for catching yourself before it escalatesWhy this one shift can change your child's internal story from "I'm bad" to "I'm learning"If you've been carrying guilt about losing your temper, this episode will feel like someone finally handed you the missing manual. RESOURCES MENTIONED Free course: "3-Second Calm Reset" at raisingadhd.org/calmPrevious episode: When ADHD Anger Turns Destructive: Why Punishment Makes It Worse (And What Actually Works)ADHD Alien comic

    23 min

  5. 12/29/2025

    When ADHD Anger Turns Destructive: Why Punishment Makes It Worse (And What Actually Works)

    Send us a text Destructive anger in ADHD kids is one of the most misunderstood, shame-loaded experiences parents face. The advice most families are given — harsher consequences, bigger punishments, “making it stop” — often makes these episodes happen more often, not less. In this episode, Apryl and Dr. Brian walk through what’s actually happening in the ADHD brain during these moments — and the system that helps families stop the cycle without becoming permissive or powerless. Thoughts parents have that this episode answers “If I don’t punish this hard, am I raising a future adult who can’t control themselves?”“Why does my kid destroy things over something so small?”“Nothing works — consequences, lectures, taking things away.”“Am I being too soft… or am I missing something?”You’re not weak for asking those questions. You’re responding to a nervous system problem with tools that were never designed for ADHD brains. What This Episode Walks You Through 1. Why logic disappears during ADHD anger explosions What’s happening in the amygdala vs. the prefrontal cortexWhy reasoning, lecturing, and threats cannot work in the momentThe difference between knowing better and being able to do better2. The system that reduces destructive behavior over time How to interrupt explosions before they happenWhy antecedents matter more than consequencesThe “positive opposite” strategy that teaches replacement behaviors3. Consequences that teach — without escalating the fire Why harsh punishment increases aggression and dysregulationWhat accountability looks like for ADHD kidsHow small, boring, predictable consequences actually stick4. How this changes for teenagers Why dignity, privacy, and agency matter more as kids get olderHow to collaborate instead of controlWhat repair sounds like after the storm — without shaming5. What teachers can do to prevent public blowups Simple classroom strategies that protect regulation and self-esteemHow to intervene quietly before the explosionWhy predictability lowers threat for ADHD studentsWhy this approach works when others fail Most parenting advice treats explosive anger as a behavior problem. This episode treats it as a nervous system overload — and responds with strategies that work with ADHD brains instead of against them. This isn’t permissive parenting.  It isn’t “being soft.”  It’s strategic, research-aligned, and focused on building skills your child will carry into adulthood. Want to go deeper? Share this episode with a partner, teacher, or caregiver who needs the full pictureSubscribe so you don’t miss the next episode on repairing after blowupsLeave a review — it helps other ADHD families find support that actually helpsYou’re not failing. You’re learning a different way to lead — because you have a different kid.

    35 min

  6. 12/15/2025

    [Part 5 of 5] The ADHD Holiday Survival System: The 3-Phase Plan That Stops Meltdowns, Sensory Overload & Dopamine Crashes

    Send us a text This is the holiday episode every ADHD parent needs. After five weeks of dismantling holiday myths, decoding meltdowns, and rebuilding your confidence piece-by-piece…we’re finally here. In this episode of Raising ADHD, Apryl (former teacher + ADHD mom) and Dr. Brian Bradford (child & adolescent psychiatrist) reveal the complete, step-by-step ADHD Holiday Survival System — the exact 3-phase plan that helps your child stay regulated, reduces sensory overload, prevents RSD spirals, and finally lets your family enjoy the holidays again. If you’ve ever thought: “Why do the holidays always end in tears?”“Why does my ADHD child fall apart at family gatherings?”“Why is the week after Christmas the hardest week of the year?”“Why does my kid get overstimulated so fast — and how do I help?”…this episode is your roadmap back to calm, connection, and actual joy. 🎄 What You’ll Learn (and Why It Works for ADHD Brains) PHASE 1 — The Setup (Outsourcing Executive Function Before the Holidays Even Start) ✔ The Visual Preview Strategy that solves ADHD time blindness ✔ The No-Surprises Gift Rule that prevents meltdowns and RSD ✔ The Body-Doubling Wrapping Method that eliminates last-minute stress ✔ Why neurodivergent families need predictability, not “magic” ✔ How ADHD adults benefit from these same tools too PHASE 2 — The Event (Regulating Sensory + Social Load in Real Time) ✔ How to create a Sensory Safe Zone before you even walk in the door ✔ What belongs in your ADHD Regulation Kit ✔ The Two-Car Rule that stops the “I’m trapped here” panic spiral ✔ Social Scripts to avoid overexplaining, awkwardness, or unsolicited advice ✔ The Dopamine Menu that stabilizes mood + behavior without restricting joy These strategies don’t just help your child stay regulated — they help YOU stay regulated, which makes the whole day smoother. PHASE 3 — The Landing (Preventing the Dopamine Crash After the Holidays) ✔ Why the post-holiday crash is biological, not behavioral  ✔ The Buffer Day Rule that protects your family’s nervous system ✔ Why every ADHD family needs a Bridge Event 2–3 weeks after Christmas ✔ How to rebuild joy through connection, not perfection ✔ “Good Enough Traditions” that reduce overwhelm and increase bonding This phase alone will change your January. 🌟 Why This Episode Matters The holidays were built for neurotypical brains — not ADHD ones. If you’ve ever felt like you were failing…you weren’t. The system was failing you. But with the right structure, sensory strategies, and dopamine-aware planning, your holidays can go from barely surviving to: peaceful morningsfewer meltdownsmore connectionactual joy…for both you and your ADHD kiddo. 🔗 FREE Holiday Survival PDF (Your Step-By-Step Plan) Grab the full holiday system as a printable PDF:  👉 raisingadhd.org/holiday 🎙️ Have a Question You Want Us to Answer on the Show? Submit it here and we may feature it in an upcoming episode:  👉 raisingadhd.org/question ❤️ If This Episode Helped You… The best gift you can give us this season is: leaving a reviewtapping subscribesharing this with another parent or teacher who needs itYour support helps more families find the ADHD clarity they’ve been searching for.

    32 min

  7. 12/10/2025

    [Part 4 of 5] The Small Holiday Tweaks That Create Big ADHD Wins (Parents Can’t Believe the Difference)

    Send us a text 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… this actually worked.” The morning didn’t explode. The meltdown didn’t happen. Your kid didn’t spiral at the holiday party. For a few seconds, your home felt calm — and you almost didn’t believe it. This episode of Raising ADHD is about that moment. The wins. The proof that small changes create big transformations, especially during the holidays. Welcome to Episode 4 of our Holiday Series — the episode where everything finally clicks. ✨ What This Episode Covers (and Why It Matters) After learning the ADHD Holiday Paradox (Ep 1), the 10-Minute Reset (Ep 2), and the myths sabotaging your season (Ep 3)… today we show you how the wins start showing up — in mornings, sensory overwhelm, boundaries, and emotional regulation. These are the changes you’ll begin to see when your child’s brain finally gets: ✔ structure ✔ sensory safety ✔ predictable rhythms ✔ boundaries that protect everyone Let’s break down the four biggest wins ADHD families experience during the holidays. 🎁 WIN #1 — Morning Peace (The Everyday Anchor That Changes Everything) Mornings are the pressure cooker of ADHD households — fast, frantic, and full of cortisol spikes. But one small daily anchor (“the first thing we always do”) can completely change the tone of the day. You’ll learn: How predictable anchors wake up the “CEO of the brain”Why fewer surprises = fewer tears, fewer shoe-hunting disastersHow small pockets of calm compound into full-day emotional stabilityThis win is tiny but powerful — and it shows up almost immediately. 🎄 WIN #2 — Sensory Safety (Not Eliminating Noise, But Containing It) Holiday events are sensory landmines: noise, scents, lights, unpredictable social chaos. But simple sensory supports — noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, a 5-minute car break — create an instant shift. Here’s what parents start seeing: Fewer meltdownsFewer shutdownsLonger participation at gatheringsLess “walking on eggshells”A calmer, more stable nervous systemResearch shows these micro-interventions directly reduce dysregulation in ADHD kids. Your child feels the difference right away. 🌟 WIN #3 — Boundaries (The Quiet Hero of ADHD Holiday Success) This is the win that sneaks up on families — and transforms everything. You’ll learn why boundaries like: Leaving the event 30 minutes earlyProtecting bedtimeSaying no to one overwhelming traditionLetting go of the Pinterest-perfect holiday…create immediate relief, reduce resentment, and protect emotional energy for everyone. When families set even one boundary, the holidays shift from: Barely surviving → Actually enjoyable And teachers feel this too — because regulated kids return to school calmer, steadier, and less overwhelmed. 💛 WIN #4 — Emotional Regulation Returns (The Surprise Win Parents Never Expect) When structure comes back, sensory overload reduces, and boundaries protect the home… You start to see: fewer emotional crashesfaster recoveriesmore flexibilitymore composurefewer explosive responsesThis is the win that brings parents to tears — because when the noise settles and the chaos stops… ✨ you finally enjoy your child again. This is the heart of the entire holiday series. 🎧 NEXT WEEK: The Full ADHD Holiday Survival Pla

    11 min

  8. 12/01/2025

    [Part 3 of 5] 3 ADHD Holiday Myths Ruining Your Family's Christmas (Psychiatrist Reveals the Truth)

    Send us a text 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 three myths you were taught to believe about ADHD and the holidays. In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the well-intentioned advice that’s been making December nearly impossible for ADHD kids (and the adults raising them). These myths feel comforting, logical, even wholesome — but the neuroscience tells a very different story. And once you hear the truth? Your entire holiday season will make sense in a way it never has before. 🎧 In this episode, we reveal: 1️⃣ The sugar myth that’s fooled parents for decades You’ll learn why research shows sugar is not causing the chaos — and what is driving your child’s post-party explosions (hint: it’s something far more surprising and much easier to fix). 2️⃣ The “holiday break reset” myth that quietly destroys regulation We explain why unstructured days don’t recharge ADHD kids — they destabilize them. This is the reason your child is more explosive after break, not refreshed. 3️⃣ The medication myth that hurts families every December We walk through the outdated advice that still circulates among parents, teachers, and even some clinicians — and the neuroscience that proves why skipping ADHD meds during the holidays makes everything harder. These aren’t opinions. These aren’t parenting hacks. These are clinical patterns Brian sees every year, research-backed truths, and the brain science that finally helps everything click. WHY YOU NEED THIS EPISODEIf you’ve ever looked at your child during the holidays and thought: “Why is this so much harder for us than it is for other families?” “What am I missing?” “Why does everyone promise the break will help — but it just makes things worse?” This episode gives you the answers no one else is saying out loud. You’ll walk away with a completely new understanding of your child’s brain, why December overwhelms them so intensely, and what you can put in place today to make the holidays calmer — for both of you. THREE LIFE-CHANGING TRUTHS YOU’LL TAKE AWAYYour child isn’t melting down because of sugar. It’s excitement + sensory overload + adrenaline — not cupcakes.Your child doesn’t thrive in wide-open free time. Their brain needs scaffolding, even during holidays, to stay regulated.Your child doesn’t need a “break” from medication. ADHD doesn’t turn off when school closes — and neither does the need for emotional support.These three shifts alone can transform the entire season. Mentioned in this episode:Research on sugar + hyperactivityInsights from the International ADHD ConferenceApryl’s favorite coloring tablecloths for calm holiday mornings → http://creativecrayonsworkshop.com/color with code COLOR💛 If this episode hits home…Please make sure you: Follow the showLeave a review — this truly helps ADHD families find trustworthy supportShare this episode with a parent, teacher, or therapist who needs the truth (not myths)

    21 min
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About

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. Bradford bring both lived experience and clinical expertise to help you: Understand what ADHD really is (and isn’t)Navigate school challenges and partner with teachersMake sense of medication options without the jargonSupport your child’s strengths while tackling everyday strugglesFeel less alone and more empowered on this journey Each week, you’ll hear practical tips, the latest insights from the field, and conversations that validate what you’re living through. Whether you’re dealing with emotional outbursts, executive function challenges, or the stigma that still surrounds ADHD, you’ll find real talk and real help here. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Am I doing this right?”—this podcast is your answer.  Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical or psychiatric advice and should not replace professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other licensed professional with any questions you may have regarding your child’s health or behavior.

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