How "low-demand parenting" works

This week, we’re talking about parenting neurodiverse kids. We’ve got tips from experts and other parents to navigate getting your kid a diagnosis and help you get more support at work — plus a few book recs to start neurodiversity conversations with your little one. 

Bonus: We teamed up with our Skimm Well colleagues to learn how later-in-life diagnoses can be life-changing and why neurotypical people need to stop saying they have OCD. Read the latest issue, then sign up for their newsletter here.

The latest in parenting news, tips, and trends:

Non-intimidating tips to help neurodiverse kids make friends and improve their executive function. The key is practice.

How one mom’s uncomfortable switch to “low-demand parenting” added harmony to her household. Her take: Change can be hard — even if it helps.

Your FYP’s role in parenting — raising kids who aren’t ableist also means changing the content you take in. (Psst… that link includes who to follow instead.)

How to get the support you need at work when you have a neurodivergent child — from parents who’ve been there. Bookmark this for your HR team.

Wondering who needs to know about your kid’s diagnosis? Here’s how to decide. 

Last week, we asked you to vote on a question you’d like answered. The Skimm Well team asked their audience, too. This week, we’re answering the winning question from both newsletters.

FEATURED EXPERT:

Mark Bertin, MD

A board-certified developmental behavioral pediatrician

Let us help you get your spot. We’re building a new tool to guide you through making major life decisions, like who should care for your kids. Check out our five-step guide with expert-backed info on how to pick a daycare that’s right for you. Then let us know how we could improve it. We want to make your life easier, one choice at a time.

If today’s newsletter has you thinking about how neurodivergence relates to you, you’re in luck. This week, theSkimm’s Well newsletter covered ADHD in women, sensory disorders, and more. Check it out here.

Oh and…subscribe here to get a regular dose of their newsletter every week.

Three Books That Can Help Explain Neurodiversity to Kids

Whether you have a neurodiverse child or want to educate your neurotypical kids, these books can help you get the conversation going: 

• “My Brain Is Magic: A Sensory-Seeking Celebration” This book colorfully illustrates how a child’s brain processes things by using animals to describe the child’s active senses. One example: “Sometimes my brain is a bee, buzzing around the room.”

• “Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You” This one highlights kids’ differences while also showing how they can actually be a superpower. Plus, it teaches kids to “just ask” if they don’t understand why someone is different from them.

• “Different Thinkers: ADHD” The story follows three kids with ADHD to show how the disorder impacts everyone differently. The book dives into what ADHD is, how it impacts a child’s brain and emotions, and what kids with ADHD can do to manage their symptoms. 

“When my son was first diagnosed with ADHD I had no idea how to explain it to him — until I found the book 'Different Thinkers.' We started reading it and he could see kids who were just like him,” says theSkimm Editorial Director for Well and Parenting Karell Roxas. “My favorite part is the page that says to write down what you're good at. When my kiddo gets frustrated and says he's not smart, I pull up the page and we remind ourselves of all the things he's great at.”

PS: If your kid is more visual, consider watching this “Bluey” episode relevant to ADHD or PBS Kids’ “Hero Elementary,” which centers around a character on the autism spectrum.