Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators

Dr. Brian Bradford & Apryl Bradford
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Parenting

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. 5d ago

    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 loaded and more regulated. ______________________________________________ It's late July. The kids are still in swimsuits, but the back-to-school bins are already at Walmart, and the school emails are landing. You know it in your bones: if you're stressed, everyone's stressed. So before we prep the kids or the teachers, this first episode is about you. This kicks off a three-part back-to-school series, and Part 1 is all about taking weight off your shoulders before the year starts. I walk through the two battle zones where school stress hits hardest (mornings and evenings), then give you the small, decide-it-once moves that quietly lighten the load: setting your school breakfasts and lunches on rotation, the launch pad and weekly clothes systems, outsourcing groceries and repeat purchases, handling the med check and school form now instead of on day one, and easing bedtime back in 10-minute shifts instead of one brutal Sunday night. The principle underneath all of it: support what your child's brain and your brain need, and let go of what neither one does. Pick one or two of the heaviest rocks and move them now. Inside this episode The Raising ADHD™ principle for back-to-school: support what your brain and your child's brain need, and let go of the rest.How to find your worst battle zone, mornings or evenings, so you focus your energy in one place.Decide breakfast once: build a short rotation that cuts decision load and makes grocery shopping easier.The launch pad method and the weekly clothes organizer, plus why doing it at night beats doing it in the morning.How to end the daily lunch negotiation by deciding home-lunch and school-lunch days ahead of time.Outsourcing that protects your nervous system: grocery delivery and subscriptions for the repeat items you always run out of.The two ADHD-specific tasks to knock out this week: the medication check and the school medication form.How to reset bedtime without a fight by shifting 10 to 15 minutes a night, dimming lights, and easing screens and reading back in.The one rule to close: pick one or two changes that take the biggest load off you, and let the rest go.Timestamps 00:00 Late July, the in-between, and why this episode is about you 02:56 The one principle: support what the brain needs, drop the rest 05:09 Making mornings easier before school starts 14:00 Ending the daily lunch negotiation 18:39 Outsourcing groceries and repeat purchases 24:24 Med checks and school forms to handle now 26:48 Resetting bedtime without a fight 31:27 Pick one change and share it Read the full transcript https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531405/19557708-beat-back-to-school-burnout-the-adhd-mom-s-prep-plan-for-a-calmer-school-year/transcript One thing to do next Grab the free Morning Toolkit, the decide-it-once system for calmer school mornings, at raisingadhd.org/morning. Coming up next week Part 2 of the back-to-school series: getting your ADHD kid ready. We'll dig into the routines, regulation, and expectations that help them start the year steady, without you turning into a drill sergeant. Resources and related episodes Free Morning Toolkit: raisingadhd.org/morning Free Executive Function Check-In quiz: raisingadhd.org/quiz Ep38: ADHD Summer Survival, 5 Small Things Saving My Life Right Now Ep34: The Best Daily Routine for a Child With ADHD (Summer Edition) Ep9: The ADHD Bedtime Battle, Why Your Child Won't Sleep and How to Finally Fix It Find me on Instagram: @raisingadhd_org Hosts I'm Apryl Bradford, a former classroom teacher with a master's in education and mom raising a child with ADHD, alongside my husband Dr. Brian Bradford, a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

  2. Jul 20

    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 mornings. ____________________________________________ Soccer at nine, birthday party at two, block party after that. By Sunday night everyone's fried, and Monday morning feels like pushing a wet noodle out the door. You thought doing more would help. Here's the uncomfortable question I'm asking with zero judgment. Your child doesn't start the weekend fresh. After five days of holding it together at school, they start it in regulation debt, and a calendar packed with fun can feel like more of the same. In this episode I break down why ADHD kids hit Saturday already depleted, how both over-scheduling and under-scheduling backfire depending on your child's actual recharge style, and why hyperactivity gets misread as extroversion so often. Then I walk you through a three-step framework for designing a weekend around your child's nervous system instead of everyone else's expectations, plus the Friday night check-in that takes about two minutes. The reframe: plan your weekends around the nervous system, not around fear, guilt, or what every other family is doing. Inside this episode Why your child starts the weekend in regulation debt, and why after-school restraint collapse doesn't reset by Saturday morning.The good-intentions trap: structure, enrichment, and screen-avoidance all pushing you toward a fuller calendar.Why hyperactivity is a neurological symptom and not a personality type, and how that leads us to misread what our kids actually need.Why the bouncing-off-the-walls kid may be the one who needs low-stim time, and the quiet, spacey kid may be the true extrovert.Step one: observe one weekend on purpose and collect data on their recharge style, not your shoulds.Step two: name your child's recharge profile. Chiller or adventurer, with no moral ranking either way.Step three: do one thing less or one thing more. Start small instead of overhauling the calendar.Why your own recharge profile matters just as much, and what to do when yours and your child's don't match.The Raising ADHD™ Weekend Check-In you can run in two minutes on a Friday night.Timestamps 00:00 The packed weekend and the Monday morning that follows  02:03 The uncomfortable question, asked with zero judgment  02:28 What's actually happening by Friday  03:49 Restraint collapse and starting the weekend in regulation debt  05:13 The good-intentions trap  06:16 The light bulb moment that started this episode  13:16 The reframe: plan around the nervous system, not fear  13:49 The soccer guilt and the "good parent" trap  16:01 What does your brain need this weekend?  17:14 Two kids, two completely different recharge styles  17:39 Why hyperactive doesn't mean extroverted  20:23 Step one: observe one weekend on purpose  21:39 Step two: name your child's recharge profile  23:43 Step three: do one thing less or one thing more  26:27 You are the other half of their nervous system  27:47 The Raising ADHD™ Weekend Check-In  29:08 No guilt, just curiosity and data Read the full transcript https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531405/19500686-are-weekends-making-your-adhd-child-s-behavior-worse-why-monday-mornings-are-so-hard/transcript One thing to do next Take the free Executive Function Check-In to see where your child is strong and where they need support. It takes about five minutes and gives you a personalized snapshot. Get it at raisingadhd.org/quiz. Resources and related episodes Free Executive Function Check-In quiz: raisingadhd.org/quiz Ep39: ADHD Parenting Burnout, The 3 Stages, the Signs, and What Actually Helps Ep5: After-School Meltdowns and ADHD, A 3-Step Plan Parents Can Start Tonight Ep34: The Best Daily Routine for a Child With ADHD (Summer Edition) Ep22: ADHD Morning Routine Chaos, How to Find Your Battle Zone and Fix It Find me on Instagram: @raisingadhd_org Hosts I'm Apryl Bradford, a former classroom teacher with a master's in education and mom raising a child with ADHD, alongside my husband Dr. Brian Bradford, a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

  3. Jul 14

    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, and an 8-step way to help. ____________________________________________________ Your child does something so far past logic that you're left staring at the mess asking "why would you do that?" Here's the hard truth: they don't know either. Their brain generated "go" before it could generate "stop." I open with a powdered-sugar snowstorm in my kitchen, because impulsive behavior in ADHD kids is one of the most maddening things to parent. In this episode I break down what impulse control actually is (response inhibition), why the ADHD brain's pause button is delayed and underpowered, and the three types of impulsivity you're seeing at home and school. Then I walk you through an 8-step stop-and-think system you can teach in calm moments and prompt in hot ones, plus the environment tweaks that cut impulsive behavior fastest while the skill is still building. The reframe: a child who cannot pause cannot use the skills they already have. Inside this episode What impulse control really is, and why Peg Dawson and Dr. Russell Barkley call it the foundation the other executive function skills depend on.What's happening in the ADHD brain: the weaker, later stop signal and the role dopamine plays.The three types of impulsivity: verbal, motor/behavioral, and emotional, and how they show up at different times of day.The core reframe: your child isn't the kid who never thinks, they're the kid whose brain needs help building a pause.Why you teach the pause in calm moments and prompt it in hot ones, never mid-meltdown.The 8-step stop-and-think system, from picking one behavior to praising the pause instead of perfection.Why pairing the pause with a physical body cue helps the brain insert the delay.The environment changes that reduce impulsive behavior fastest while the skill develops.Your one-week plan: one behavior, one pause script, three calm practice reps.Timestamps 00:00 Why impulse control feels impossible  02:07 The powdered sugar morning story  03:55 What impulse control really means  08:10 The ADHD brain and the weak stop signal  12:21 The three types of impulsivity  14:55 The reframe: skills need a pause  16:29 Teach a pause script in calm moments  19:50 The 8-step stop-and-think system  27:33 Reduce risk by changing the environment  29:01 Your weekly plan and closing encouragement Read the full transcript https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531405/19488732-impulsive-behavior-in-adhd-why-your-child-has-no-pause-button-and-how-to-build-one/transcript Resources mentioned Free Executive Function Check-In quiz, to see where your child is strong and weak: raisingadhd.org/quiz One thing to do next Take the free Executive Function Check-In to find out whether impulse control is one of your child's weaker skills, and see how your profile compares to theirs. Get it at raisingadhd.org/quiz. Resources and related episodes Ep27: Executive Function Skills and ADHD, Why Your Child Can't "Just Do It" Ep31: ADHD Meltdowns vs Tantrums Ep36: Your ADHD Child Isn't Trying to Drive You Crazy Find me on Instagram: @raisingadhd_org Hosts I'm Apryl Bradford, a former classroom teacher with a master's in education and mom raising a child with ADHD, alongside my husband Dr. Brian Bradford, a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

  4. Jun 29

    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 research-backed ways to recover. __________________________________________________ You keep saying you're just tired. A good night's sleep should fix it, but it doesn't, and the moment your kid walks in the door your tank hits empty. That's not tired. That might be burnout, and there's a real difference. If you've felt stressed, checked out, or burned out from parenting, this one's for you. I break down what ADHD parenting burnout actually is (and what it isn't), the three research-backed stages, and why parents of kids with ADHD are over four times more likely to experience it. Then I walk through the emotional, physical, and behavioral warning signs, and five research-backed ways to start recovering in the life you actually have. The big reframe: your well-being isn't separate from your child's outcomes. It's part of the treatment plan. Inside this episode The real difference between stress and burnout, and the simple test that tells them apart.The three stages of parental burnout: physical and emotional exhaustion, emotional distancing, and loss of fulfillment.Why burnout is distinct from depression, and why that distinction changes what helps.Why ADHD families burn out faster: the hidden regulation load, the invisible mental load, social isolation, and the disproportionate weight mothers carry.What burnout looks like emotionally, physically, and behaviorally, including the snap-and-guilt loop.Five research-backed ways to recover: behavioral strategies, self-compassion, the right community, nervous system regulation, and micro recovery over macro recovery.Dr. Kristin Neff's three-line self-compassion practice you can do in the moment.The sticky-note brain dump that clears mental load when everything feels urgent.Why naming burnout is itself the first action step that lowers stress for your whole family.Timestamps 00:00 What you'll gain from this episode 01:45 Stress vs burnout, and why they're not the same 04:04 The three stages of parental burnout 08:47 Why ADHD families are uniquely vulnerable 17:52 The emotional, physical, and behavioral warning signs 20:44 Five research-backed ways to recover 34:05 Reducing your load with tools and respite 36:34 The reframe, a listener shout-out, and next steps Read the full transcript https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531405/19408255-adhd-parenting-burnout-the-3-stages-the-signs-and-what-actually-helps/transcript Resources mentioned ARCH National Respite Network, to find and fund temporary relief care by state: archrespite.org One thing to do next Get short, practical Raising ADHD™ reframes in your inbox each week, the kind you can read in under five minutes and use the same day. Join my email list at raisingadhd.org. Resources and related episodes Ep19: Stop Sitting in Mom Guilt, How to Repair With Your ADHD Child After You Lose It Ep23: ADHD Without Medication, What Actually Works Ep28: How to Discipline Kids With ADHD, What the Research Says Actually Works Find me on Instagram: @raisingadhd_org Hosts I'm Apryl Bradford, a former classroom teacher with a master's in education and mom raising a child with ADHD, alongside my husband Dr. Brian Bradford, a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

  5. Jun 22

    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 like it's helping. ________________________________________________________________ It's week five of summer and you're holding on for dear life. Same. Here are the small, ordinary things keeping me afloat this ADHD summer, and why noticing what's working can shift a hard season. This one's a little different. Instead of a behavior or a strategy, I'm sharing the five things quietly saving my life this summer: independent outdoor play, my beloved air fryer, a hands-on project that gets me out of the house, nighttime reading, and a grab-and-go protein breakfast. Some are big, some are tiny, all of them are real. Underneath the list is a practice I want you to steal for any hard season with an ADHD kid: pausing long enough to notice what's actually holding you up, not just what's going wrong. I close with a pep talk for the parent who feels like nothing is saving their life right now. Inside this episode The practice of asking "what's saving my life right now," and why we rarely stop to notice what's working.Why independent outdoor play is a win for your kid's confidence and your own mental break.The air fryer (and paper plates) that make fast, low-cleanup summer meals possible when you work from home.Why a hands-on project of my own in a different space gives me a reset without needing a full day off.Reading at night as a no-guilt escape, no deep literary credit required.The grab-and-go high-protein breakfast that takes the morning off my plate.A mini pep talk and the one-small-thing practice for when it feels like nothing is helping.Timestamps 00:00 Week five of summer and holding on for dear life  01:02 Why noticing what works matters, and the practice behind this episode  02:51 Independent outdoor play  07:10 Fast, low-cleanup meals with the air fryer  09:59 A hands-on project of your own for a reset  12:20 Reading as a nightly escape  13:59 A high-protein breakfast shortcut  15:59 A pep talk for when nothing feels like it's saving your life  18:26 The one small thing to notice today Read the full transcript https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531405/19372851-adhd-summer-survival-5-things-saving-my-life-right-now/transcript Mentioned in this episode The Lazy Genius Podcast with Kendra Adachi, the inspiration for this format One thing to do next Get short, practical Raising ADHD™ reframes in your inbox each week, the kind you can read in under five minutes and use the same day. Join my email list at raisingadhd.org. Resources and related episodes Ep10: ADHD and Friendships, Why Your Child Struggles to Fit In Ep34: The Best Daily Routine for a Child With ADHD (Summer Edition) Ep9: The ADHD Bedtime Battle Find me on Instagram: @raisingadhd_org Hosts I'm Apryl Bradford, a former classroom teacher with a master's in education and mom raising a child with ADHD, alongside my husband Dr. Brian Bradford, a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

  6. Jun 15

    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 feel like a vacation. ______________________________________________________________ The thought of planning a vacation with your ADHD kid makes your stomach clench, so you either skip it or push through and come home needing a vacation from your vacation. There's a third option. In today's episode, I'm sitting down with travel expert Mary Katherine Brooks (MK) of MK's Magical Adventures, who designs vacations for families with ADHD, autism, and other complex needs. We cover why the "one perfect trip" pressure backfires, how to build margin into a Disney day so nobody melts down, why cruises and all-inclusives fit neurodivergent families so well, the truth about Disney's DAS pass, and a simple reset for when a day goes sideways. If you've looked at the logistics of traveling with an ADHD child and decided it wasn't worth it, this conversation is the reframe that makes vacation feel possible again. What you'll learn Why planning a trip with an ADHD child feels paralyzing, and the mindset shift that makes it doable.Why a rough trip is a data point for next time, not a reason to give up on travel for good.How to build margin into every day, and a full margin day into the week, so the trip actually feels restful.Why Disney deluxe resorts double as a safety feature for kids who bolt, plus how early entry and extended evening hours help ADHD families.Why cruises and all-inclusives work so well for neurodivergent kids: built-in structure paired with real voice and choice.The reality of Disney's DAS pass (Disability Access Service) and why you can't build a whole trip around it.A simple in-the-moment reset plan for when a vacation day starts going off the rails.Why a human travel advisor beats AI for planning, since AI is often years behind in the travel space.Timestamps 00:00 The vacation that leaves you needing a vacation from your vacation  02:27 Apryl's travel story: 40 states, a Greece flight, and the summer trip that never happened  04:16 Meet MK and the families she designs trips for  06:30 For the parent who's already given up on travel  06:43 The Christmas analogy: a bad trip is a data point, not a verdict  10:09 MK's planning process, from first call to hour-by-hour itinerary  13:21 Why "hit the ground running to get your money's worth" backfires  18:03 What your kid actually remembers, and it isn't the rides you skipped  20:49 What a well-paced ADHD-friendly week looks like, and why margin matters  26:09 Why cruises and all-inclusives fit neurodivergent families  28:08 The best destinations and trip formats, and why they work  29:30 A real ADHD itinerary: early entry, deluxe resorts, and VIP tours  35:17 Accommodations to ask for, and the truth about the DAS pass  40:00 A simple reset when a vacation day goes off the rails  44:13 MK's one big takeaway for tired parents  45:54 How to connect with MK One thing to do next Grab MK's best travel tips in one free, easy download so you don't have to hold it all in your head. Get it at raisingadhd.org/37. Read the full transcript https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531405/19332968-traveling-with-adhd-kids-how-to-plan-a-vacation-that-doesn-t-end-in-meltdowns-with-mary-katherine-brooks/transcript About our guest Mary Catherine Brooks (MK) owns MK's Magical Adventures, a travel agency she founded in 2022 that plans vacations for families with ADHD, autism, food allergies, and other complex needs. She grew up with ADHD herself and builds trips around how your family's brains and bodies actually work.  Instagram: @mks_magical_adventures  Website: mksmagicaladventures.com (book a consultation call directly from the site) Coming up next week What's saving my life right now. An honest roundup of the tools, tricks, and small finds making life with an ADHD kiddo easier this season. Hit follow so it lands the moment it drops. Resources and related episodes Free travel tips download: raisingadhd.org/37  Last week's episode on dopamine-seeking and sensory-seeking behavior  Ep34: The Best Daily Routine for a Child With ADHD (Summer Edition)  Find Apryl on Instagram: @raisingadhd_org Hosts Apryl Bradford, former classroom teacher with a master's in education and mom raising a child with ADHD, alongside Dr. Brian Bradford, child and adolescent psychiatrist.

  7. Jun 9

    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 behavior. _________________________________________________________ You're three minutes into the drive home, and your kiddo is already kicking the back of your seat, humming the same three notes on a loop, and poking their sibling until everyone's yelling. You're white-knuckling the wheel, wondering if they're doing it on purpose. They're not. In this episode, we're breaking down the ADHD behaviors that drive parents up the wall: kicking the car seat, rocking in the chair, fidgeting, tapping, stimming, and playing the same song on repeat. She explains why a child with ADHD often can't sit still, what the dopamine reward system and the sensory system are actually chasing in those moments, and why "just stop it" rarely works. You'll learn the difference between dopamine-seeking and sensory-seeking behavior, three quick questions to tell them apart, and a simple weekly experiment that channels the need instead of fighting it. Same kid, same energy, a lot less yelling. What you'll learn Why kicking, rocking, humming, and poking are usually a regulation attempt, not defiance or misbehavior.How the ADHD brain's understimulation drives both dopamine-seeking (chasing interest) and sensory-seeking (chasing movement, pressure, and sound), and why the two usually show up together.Three quick questions to tell whether a behavior is dopamine-driven, sensory-driven, or both.Why the goal is never zero movement, and how to protect people and property while giving the need a better job to do.Real swaps that work: a resistance band on the car seat, a wobble cushion, a car stimulation kit, and "yes here, no there" boundaries.Three decisions you make once and reuse forever: your non-negotiables, your family's okay stims, and a go-to script for high-stress moments.The one-week experiment: one situation, one behavior, one outlet, one sentence.Timestamps 00:00 The after-school car ride every ADHD parent knows  02:55 The anchor reframe: regulation attempt, not moral failure  04:42 A no-degree-required look at the two systems driving the behavior  07:54 Three behaviors we're putting under the lens  10:04 Behavior 1: kicking the car seat  15:28 Behavior 2: rocking and kicking at the table  18:21 Behavior 3: the song on repeat and the sibling poking  21:06 Three quick questions to tell dopamine from sensory  22:24 Three decisions you make once and reuse forever  26:30 Your one-week experiment: one situation, one behavior, one outlet, one sentence  29:10 The reframe to carry into your week Read the full transcript https://www.buzzsprout.com/2531405/19316217-adhd-regulation-in-the-real-world/transcript One thing to do next Get a short Raising ADHD™ reframe in your inbox each week, one you can read in under two minutes and use the same day. Join the email list at raisingadhd.org. Coming up next week Mary Katherine from MK's Magical Adventures is joining me to tackle traveling with ADHD kiddos: how to survive flights, road trips, and routine-wrecking vacations without the meltdowns. Hit follow so it lands the moment it drops. Resources and related episodes Free Executive Function Check-In quiz: raisingadhd.org/quiz  Ep29: How to Manage ADHD Hyperactivity Without Fighting It  Ep31: ADHD Meltdowns vs Tantrums  Find Apryl on Instagram: @raisingadhd_org Hosts Apryl Bradford, former classroom teacher with a master's in education and mom to a child with ADHD, alongside Dr. Brian Bradford, child and adolescent psychiatrist.

  8. May 28

    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. ________________________________________________________________ Raise your hand if you've ever been told, "You just need to discipline your child more." Or maybe you've thought it yourself: Why won't they just try harder? This isn't that hard. Here's what no one told you: traditional discipline techniques—consequences, punishments, taking things away—don't work for ADHD kids. And it's not because you're doing it wrong. It's because the ADHD brain is wired differently, and the strategies we were all taught assume a brain that doesn't exist in your child. In this episode, Apryl breaks down the actual neuroscience (from Johns Hopkins, Harvard, NIH, and the largest ADHD treatment trial ever conducted) to show you exactly what's happening in your child's brain—and why punishment often makes ADHD symptoms worse, not better. Then she walks you through six discipline strategies that are backed by decades of research and tested in her own ADHD home. You'll learn: Why your child's prefrontal cortex is running up to 3 years behind (and what that means for expectations)The dopamine problem: why consequences don't "register" the same wayTime blindness explained—and why "wait until your father gets home" was never going to workThe 6 discipline strategies that actually work for ADHD brainsWhy the most-tested ADHD intervention has a 92% success rate (and how to use it at home)The one mindset shift that changes everything: from enforcer to executive function coachIf you've tried everything and nothing sticks, this episode will finally explain why—and give you a new playbook. RESOURCES MENTIONED Behavior Breakthrough Week: raisingadhd.org/breakthrough – Kickoff June 7th

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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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