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Moving Away From Compliance-Based Parenting Models
For many generations, parenting advice emphasized one primary goal: children should obey adults quickly and without question. This approach—often referred to as compliance-based parenting—prioritizes obedience, rule following, and behavioral control. Neurodivergent children have different needs.
In recent years, psychologists, therapists, and neurodiversity advocates have increasingly encouraged families to move toward relationship-based, collaborative, and regulation-focused
Christina Massari
Aug 136 min read


Encouraging Independence Without Overwhelming Your Neurodivergent Child
"I know they can do it. So why do they still need so much help?" It's a question many neurodivergent parents ask themselves. These moments can be confusing, especially when your child's abilities seem so uneven. One day they insist, "I can do it myself!" and the next day they melt down over something they've done dozens of times before. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. For neurodivergent children, independence often develops differently than it does for their neurot
Christina Massari
Aug 77 min read


Supporting Sleep Transitions and Morning Routines for Neurodivergent Children
Sleep and mornings are connected in ways that many families don't realize. A difficult bedtime often leads to a challenging morning, while stressful mornings can increase anxiety that makes it harder to fall asleep the following night. For parents of neurodivergent children, this cycle can feel especially overwhelming.
Christina Massari
Aug 47 min read


A Parent's Guide to Screen Time for Neurodivergent Kids: Finding Balance With Less Guilt
If there is one parenting topic guaranteed to spark strong opinions, it is screen time. Parents hear conflicting messages everywhere they turn. Some articles warn that screens are harming children's attention spans, sleep, and mental health. Others point out that technology is a part of modern life and can provide valuable opportunities. For parents of neurodivergent children, the conversation is more complicated. Many neurodivergent children use screens differently than neur
Christina Massari
Jun 247 min read


Managing Increased Screen Time During Summer Without Shame: A Compassionate, Practical Guide for Parents of Neurodiverse Children
Summer often brings a dramatic shift in family rhythms. School routines fade, structure loosens, and long stretches of unstructured time appear. For many parents of neurodiverse children, one concern rises quickly to the surface: “My child is on screens all the time.” for neurodiverse children, increased screen time during summer is not inherently a problem—and it is rarely solved effectively through shame, strict restriction, or power struggles.
Christina Massari
Jun 185 min read


Global Day of Parents: Honoring the Invisible Work of Raising Neurodiverse Children
Did you know that there is a Global Day of Parents? We hope this day is filled with messages of gratitude, appreciation, and celebration, as well as children who happily listen the very first time. At a minimum, we tell you about this day because it highlights the universal role parents play in nurturing, guiding, and supporting their children. But for parents of neurodiverse children, this day carries an added layer of meaning—one that is often unseen, under-recognized, and
Christina Massari
Jun 16 min read


Siblings and Neurodiversity: Balancing Needs and Expectations in the Family System
Raising siblings is complex under the best of circumstances. Each child brings their own temperament, strengths, vulnerabilities, and needs into the family system. When one or more children have neurodiversity, those complexities multiply in ways that are both deeply meaningful and challenging. Parents may find themselves walking a tightrope—trying to meet the needs of a neurodivergent child who requires more support while also ensuring that siblings feel seen, valued, and fa
Christina Massari
Mar 265 min read


How Neurodiversity Shapes Problem-Solving Skills
Parents of neurodiverse children often hear concerns framed around what their child struggles with: flexibility, organization, speed, social reasoning, or emotional regulation. Less often do they hear sustained, concrete discussion about how neurodiversity fundamentally shapes the way children think, especially when it comes to problem-solving. Problem-solving is not a single skill. It is a complex process. Neurodivergent children frequently approach problems differently.
Christina Massari
Mar 55 min read


How to Support Working Memory at Home During the Winter Months
Winter is a unique season for families. The colder temperatures, shorter days, disrupted routines, and long stretches indoors all shape the rhythms of daily life. For many neurodiverse children—those with ADHD, autism, learning differences, language delays, sensory processing needs, or executive functioning challenges—winter brings both new opportunities and new obstacles. One area where this shift is especially noticeable is working memory.
Christina Massari
Feb 107 min read


The Link Between Your Inner Voice and Your Heart Rate
A new study from Aarhus University in Denmark led by Mikkel Wallentin looked at the connection between our inner speech (that silent voice in our head) and a fairly concrete physiological marker: heart rate.
Christina Massari
Feb 35 min read


Push vs. Pause: Decision-Making for Winter Activities with Neurodiverse Children
Winter can be a season of joy, adventure, and activity—but it can also present challenges for families of neurodiverse children. From snow-filled days to icy sidewalks, cold weather, and shortened daylight, parents often face a critical question: When should we encourage children to engage in winter activities, and when is it better to pause? For neurodiverse children, this push vs. pause decision can be even more nuanced.
Christina Massari
Jan 216 min read


Winter Blues or Something More? Understanding Seasonal Shifts
Winter can be a magical season: twinkling lights, cozy evenings, family traditions, and hot cocoa. But for many children—and especially neurodiverse children—this time of year can also bring emotional challenges. Shorter days, colder temperatures, and changes in routine can influence mood, energy, and overall well-being. For parents, it can be hard to distinguish between a normal “winter slump” and something more concerning winter blues.
Christina Massari
Jan 26 min read


When the Holidays Are Hard: Supporting Yourself and Your Kids Through a Difficult Season
The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, connection, and celebration. Commercials show glowing families around dinner tables, social media feeds filled with matching pajamas, and conversations at school or work often center on plans for travel and festivities. But for many families, the holidays are not only complicated—they can be painful.
Christina Massari
Dec 18, 20256 min read


Helping Kids With Organization When Winter Gear, Layers, and Holiday Gifts Add Chaos
Winter can be a magical season—snowflakes, cozy sweaters, hot cocoa, family gatherings, and holiday lights. But for many families, especially those raising neurodiverse children, it’s also a season of added chaos. Suddenly, there are boots, coats, hats, gloves, scarves, snow pants, extra socks, and jackets cluttering entryways. The laundry seems endless. School bags get lost under piles of holiday gifts.
Christina Massari
Dec 16, 20257 min read


The Boredom Toolkit: 15+ Ways to Spark Creativity, Exploration, and Independent Thinking
This boredom toolkit is designed to give parents ideas to support healthy, productive boredom. The key is not to prescribe exactly what the child must do, but to provide options and materials that encourage exploration, creativity, and problem-solving.
Christina Massari
Dec 11, 20253 min read


Anxiety and the Holidays: Why Big Feelings Show Up—and How Parents Can Help
The holiday season is often pictured as joyful, magical, and full of family togetherness. But for many children—especially those who are prone to anxiety, have sensory sensitivities, or struggle with perfectionism—this time of year can be overwhelming. If your child melts down at gatherings, worries excessively about plans, or becomes rigid and perfectionistic during the holidays, you are not alone. In fact, it’s incredibly common for children’s big feelings to surface this t
Christina Massari
Nov 20, 20255 min read


Surviving the Holiday Schedule: Supporting Kids Who Thrive on Routine
For many families, the holiday season is filled with excitement—school breaks, family visits, festive outings, and special traditions. But for children who rely on structure, routine, and predictability, this time of year can feel overwhelming instead of joyful.
Christina Massari
Nov 18, 20255 min read


The Power of “Yet”: Teaching Flexible Thinking to Neurodiverse Kids
As parents, one of the hardest things to hear from our children is: “I can’t do it.” For neurodiverse kids—whether they have ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia, or other learning differences—those words often come after repeated experiences of frustration. This is where the power of “yet” comes in.
Christina Massari
Nov 10, 20255 min read


Helping Students Transition from Fall to Winter: Maintaining Routines
As autumn fades into winter, the days grow shorter, the weather colder, and the calendar busier. For many families, this seasonal shift is accompanied by changes in energy, mood, and motivation—especially for children. While it may feel easier to let routines slide when the holidays approach, maintaining structure is actually one of the best ways to support your child’s learning, mental health, and overall well-being during the fall-to-winter transition.
Christina Massari
Nov 4, 20256 min read


Why Are Some Kids With ADHD Prone to Disruptive Behavior?
If you’re a parent or teacher of a child with ADHD, you may have experienced moments when their behavior feels like it’s always on the edge. Maybe they shout out in class, refuse to follow directions, or suddenly storm out of a room. You’re left wondering: “Is this just ADHD… or is my child deliberately being disruptive?”
Christina Massari
Oct 31, 20257 min read
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