Supporting Our ADHD Kids for an Easier Home Life with Sharon Collin

Show Notes

Sharon Collin is an ADHD coach, parent mentor, and podcast host based in Sydney. She specialises in helping families manage ADHD through personalized strategies and support systems. Sharon's deep understanding of ADHD comes from her personal experiences, as she and her three sons all have severe ADHD, combined with Tourette's and ODD. She offers a range of resources, including adult ADHD coaching and parent mentoring. Sharon also runs a membership program and a six-week course aimed at creating harmonious family environments. Her podcast, "ADHD Families," is a valuable resource for those seeking to learn more about ADHD.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of the All Kids Can podcast, host Kristy Haworth sits down with Sharon Collin from The Functional Family to delve into the complexities of raising children with ADHD. Kristy and Sharon touch on crucial aspects such as the unique brain wiring of ADHD individuals, the importance of engaging interest, and the necessity for tailored parenting strategies. Through the lens of their personal and professional experiences, they shed light on coping mechanisms, educational challenges, and the emotional toll on both children and parents.

Sharon emphasises that ADHD requires a different parenting approach. With a staggering statistic that raising one neurodivergent child is akin to raising three neurotypical children, the conversation pivots to practical advice for parents feeling overwhelmed. Sharon shares valuable insights into handling emotional dysregulation, time management, and innovative ways to make life easier for ADHD families. From handling daily stressors to rethinking homework, this episode is rich with tips that promise to transform the parenting journey for those raising children with ADHD.

Key Takeaways:

• Unique Brain Wiring: ADHD brains require engaged interest and purposeful intention for effective executive functioning and emotional regulation.
• Parental Influence: Emotional regulation strategies for parents are crucial since children model their behavior off their caregivers.
• Homework and ADHD: Customizing homework and finding the right time of day for schoolwork can significantly reduce stress and improve productivity.
• Behavior as Communication: Viewing challenging behaviors with curiosity rather than frustration can lead to better support and solutions.
• Self-care for Parents: Ensuring parents are well-regulated and managing their own ADHD is key to maintaining a harmonious family dynamic.

Notable Quotes:

1. "Raising one neurodivergent child is the equivalent of raising three neurotypical kids."
2. "ADHD is situational and variable in the way that they might be able to play video games for hours because they're interested in it. But perhaps something like writing that book report becomes very, very difficult because they're not interested in it."
3. "We try differently...Helping people discover what that ‘try differently’ looks like for them is where the magic happens."
4. "When you view it as a symptom of dysregulation, it does soften it a little bit. Give them an alternative, work on overall management, and watch our reaction a little bit."
5. "If it's causing you guys friction, then it is a predictable problem, and we need to create some scaffolding around it to make it a little bit easier."

Resources:

• Sharon Collin's Website: The Functional Family
• ADHD and Families Facebook Group: ADHD and Families, The Functional Family Group
• ADHD Families Podcast: Find episodes including the conversation with Kristy Haworth.
• Tools Mentioned: ChatGPT for breaking down assignments, Goblin To

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