Mastering Modern Parenting: Brain Science, Learning Challenges with Dr. Robin McEvoy

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What if understanding your child's brain could transform your parenting approach? Join us in this episode of Legit Parenting as seasoned child and family therapist Craig Knippenberg, LCSW, M.Div and special guest Dr. Robin McEvoy, a developmental neuropsychologist, joins us to shed light on the identification and management of learning disabilities and developmental challenges in children, offering invaluable advice for parents during the crucial summer break.

Navigating the maze of parental concerns can be overwhelming, especially with the added pressures of modern education and the lingering effects of COVID-19. We'll discuss the importance of tailored educational approaches and the benefits of reducing homework to improve both mental health and learning outcomes. Dr. McEvoy emphasizes the significance of understanding family and medical history when addressing learning disabilities, advocating for early evaluations and interventions.

We'll talk about the critical roles of nutrition, hydration, sleep, and exercise in a child's overall well-being, especially for those with attention deficit disorders. Practical strategies for reinforcing positive behavior and building new skills in children are shared, along with a discussion on balancing naturopathic approaches with medication when necessary. 

Dr. Robin McEvoy has been practicing developmental neuropsychology for 30 years. With each evaluation, she asks herself, “How can I help.” Many parents bring their kids in for evaluation because they are still struggling, despite working with a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a learning specialist or a whole team of specialists. The parents were doing “standard of care” thoroughly, but it was not enough. There were times she worried that she would not find a way to help, that the parents were already doing everything possible.

But she hates the thought of saying there was nothing else to be done. So instead of saying that, she decided to dig deeper. She dug into nutrition, sleep, medical conditions and myriad of complementary and alternative approaches to learning and behavior. (And while digging, she met Child Decoded co-founder, Kim Gangwish.)

By developing a more thorough understanding of the mind/body integration, she began to find other avenues that actually opened up new possibilities for children. She loves having options for families who had been told to just accept their child’s challenges and live with them. She had been told the same thing about her own daughter who had a severe speech disability and sensory issues. As both a developmental neuropsychologist and a parent, she became expert at mapping out paths through difficult presentations.

Dr. McEvoy earned her PH.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Houston, then went on to fellow in Psychobiology/Neuropsychology at the University of Colorado Medical School. She holds a research faculty position at the University of Colorado, and also maintains a private practice where she can evaluate using the Child Decoded model.

Evaluation is the heart of her work with children: helping families, pediatricians, and school districts to find a deeper understanding of complex challenges. Dr. McEvoy enjoys writing and blogs frequently for Child Decoded. She loves public speaking and is a highly rated speaker.

You can read more about Robin McEvoy at her website www.robinmcevoy.com. She blogs about learning and learning challenges as well as tons about “behavior problems in children” because she has strong opinions about that. You can follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DrRobinMcEvoy or on Twitter at twitter.com/RobinMcEvoy.