ADHD in Kids: Signs, Diagnosis, and What Parents Need to Know | Part 2, Ep.32

If you’re parenting a child with ADHD—or suspect your child might have it—this episode is packed with expert guidance to help you navigate the challenges and celebrate the strengths of neurodivergent kids.

Our guest, Maggie Kellar, PMHNP, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner specializing in ADHD across the lifespan, returns to break down the emotional, social, and self-esteem struggles that kids with ADHD often face. We explore why children with ADHD experience big emotions, frequent meltdowns, and heightened frustration, and how parents can support emotional regulation and executive functioning at home.

Friendships can be tricky for kids with ADHD due to impulsivity, difficulty reading social cues, and challenges with turn-taking in conversations. Maggie shares practical strategies to help kids build stronger social skills, navigate rejection, and find their people.

We also take a deep dive into self-esteem and ADHD, addressing why neurodivergent kids are more likely to develop negative core beliefs about themselves, and how parents can counteract feelings of shame, self-doubt, and failurebefore they take root.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed or unsure about how to help your child with ADHD thrive, this episode is for you. Tune in for expert-backed strategies, real-life parenting insights, and a reassuring reminder: you're not alone.

Key Takeaways

• Understanding ADHD and Emotional Regulation – Kids with ADHD experience big feelings, low frustration tolerance, and frequent meltdowns. Learn how to recognize the signs and help your child process emotions in a healthy way.
• Friendship Challenges and Social Skills – Impulsivity, interrupting conversations, and missing social cues can make it tough for ADHD kids to form friendships. Discover actionable ways to support social success.
• How ADHD Impacts Self-Esteem – Many kids with ADHD hear exponentially more negative feedback than their peers. We discuss how this affects self-perception and how to build confidence in neurodivergent children.
• The Role of Parents in Emotional Regulation – A dysregulated parent cannot regulate a dysregulated child. Learn why your emotional state impacts your child’s ability to cope and how to model calm responses.
• Practical Strategies to Support ADHD Kids – From the R.A.I.N. method (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture) for emotions to environmental changes and executive function hacks, we cover tangible steps parents can take today.

 

[00:00] Introduction: ADHD, emotions, and why regulation matters
[02:35] How ADHD affects friendships and social dynamics
[05:26] The impact of negative core beliefs on self-esteem
[08:14] First steps for parents: ADHD assessment and next steps
[10:29] Supporting executive function in ADHD kids
[13:14] Emotional regulation strategies: The R.A.I.N. method
[16:54] Why parental self-regulation is crucial for ADHD children
[21:15] How to shift negative self-beliefs and build confidence
[26:26] ADHD is a difference, not a defect: Encouragement for parents