Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

What if it's not just ADHD getting worse, but the world your child is growing up in?
In this week's episode of The Soaring Child podcast, Dana Kay sits down with licensed therapist Logan McIlwain to unpack what's really happening to kids' brains in today's digital world. From constant notifications to endless scrolling, today's children are growing up in an environment of nonstop stimulation, and for kids with ADHD, that impact can be intense.
You'll hear why screens don't create ADHD but can absolutely amplify symptoms like inattention, emotional dysregulation, and impulsivity. Logan breaks down what's happening in the brain with dopamine, why kids struggle to "just turn it off," and how devices can quietly become a child's primary coping tool.
Together, they also tackle one of the biggest challenges parents face today: setting boundaries without triggering meltdowns. If taking the phone away feels like a full nervous system explosion in your home, this episode will help you understand why and what to do instead.
Most importantly, you'll walk away with practical, realistic strategies you can start using right away. From creating consistent guardrails to helping your child build real-life regulation skills, this conversation is about supporting your child in the digital age.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
https://loganlcsw.com
The Anxious Generation by Dr. Jonathan Haidt: https://amzn.to/41vDzba
The Explosive Child by Dr. Ross Greene: https://amzn.to/4taYzAj
KEY TAKEAWAYS
[00:01] Modern childhood overstimulation explained
[02:10] Screens amplify ADHD symptoms
[06:10] Environment vs diagnosis debate
[09:32] Difference between distraction and ADHD
[13:03] Dopamine and addictive screen loops
[14:48] Loss of boredom tolerance
[17:01] Screens as emotional coping tools
[19:15] Importance of consistent boundaries
[22:10] How to reset screen habits
[25:34] Monitoring apps and content
[29:43] Externalizing executive function
[31:10] Small changes reduce nervous system overload
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
"When did childhood get so loud?"
"There is absolutely no way my brain could have handled this much input."
"Phones don't create true ADHD, but they absolutely create ADHD-like symptoms."
"It's like this slot machine effect."
"Our kids in this generation don't know how to be bored at all."
"These devices have become their emotional regulation tools."
"You can exercise your boundary muscle over and over again."
"Don't ask a struggling brain to do everything internally."
"We handed our children these tiny slot machines."
DANA KAY RESOURCES
🔗 WEBSITES:
https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/
https://dana-kay.com/
👋 SOCIALS:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute
📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK:
Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/
💻 FREE MASTERCLASS:
Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://hubs.la/Q042HrjF0
⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS:
 ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd
ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

What if your child's meltdowns, impulsivity, and focus struggles weren't behavioral problems but signs of a dysregulated nervous system?
In this episode, Dana Kay sits down with licensed professional counselor Dana Hargus to explore a powerful and often misunderstood tool: biofeedback. With over 25 years of clinical experience, Dana explains how we can train the brain to regulate itself, helping children feel calmer, more focused, and more in control of their emotions.
You'll learn how biofeedback works in simple, practical terms, what it looks like during a session, and why many families start seeing changes in sleep, emotional regulation, and behavior sooner than expected.
Dana also shares how this approach supports nervous system dysregulation (which can exacerbate ADHD), rather than just managing symptoms on the surface.
This is a hopeful, eye-opening conversation for parents who feel stuck in daily meltdowns, constant dysregulation, or the feeling that their child just "can't shift gears." You'll walk away with a deeper understanding of what's really happening in your child's brain and what you can start doing today to support them.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
https://eeginfo.com
📒 Show Notes and Resources 📒
📘 Connect with Dana Hargus
➡️Website: https://restoreofada.com/
➡️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restoreofada
➡️ Instagram: https://instagram.com/restoreofada
KEY TAKEAWAYS
[00:00] ADHD behaviors are often regulation issues, not behavior problems
[04:28] Biofeedback explained as "exercise for the brain"
[07:48] How real-time feedback trains the brain automatically
[09:07] Physical signs your child's nervous system is calming
[13:36] How frequency training supports calm and focus
[18:54] Real-life transformation using biofeedback
[22:09] Sleep is often the first and most important improvement
[25:31] Biofeedback can support all ADHD presentations
[27:57] Long-term effects and when maintenance is needed
[30:21] How to choose the right provider
[34:13] Simple parenting strategy to support regulation
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
"Why can't they just calm down?"
 "We can exercise our brain."
"You're basically showing the brain, don't do that, do this instead."
"The brain will do it on its own."
"Without sleep, everything is worse."
"Once the brain learns something new… it should not go away."
"Connection is the foundation for all mental health."
DANA KAY RESOURCES
🔗 WEBSITES:
https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/
https://dana-kay.com/
👋 SOCIALS:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute
📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK:
Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/
💻 FREE MASTERCLASS:
Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://hubs.la/Q042HrjF0
⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS:
 ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd
ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

Many children with ADHD know exactly what they're supposed to do but still struggle to do it. That frustrating gap between knowing and doing is one of the most misunderstood parts of ADHD, and it can leave parents feeling confused, exhausted, and questioning their child's behavior.
In this episode, Dana Kay sits down with ADHD parenting expert and coach Cindy Goldrich to unpack what's really happening in the ADHD brain when children don't follow through on simple requests. Cindy explains why ADHD is not a problem of knowledge, but a challenge with executive function, and how factors like working memory, hyperfocus, processing speed, and transitions can all impact a child's ability to act.
Throughout the conversation, Cindy shares practical strategies that help parents move away from constant reminders and power struggles and instead support their child's developing executive function skills. She encourages parents to shift from seeing behavior as defiance to recognizing the underlying skills that may still be developing.
When parents understand the brain behind the behavior, it creates space for more patience, better communication, and stronger connection with their child.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
Free Gift: First Chapter + Parenting Resources- https://ptscoaching.com/soaring
PTS Coaching Website - https://ptscoaching.com
Cindy Goldrich Substack - https://adhdparentandteacherexpert.substack.com
📒 Show Notes and Resources 📒
📘 Connect with Cindy Goldrich
Website - https://ptscoaching.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PTScoaching
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/PTScoaching
Substack - https://adhdparentandteacherexpert.substack.com
Free Gift - https://ptscoaching.com/soaring

KEY TAKEAWAYS
[00:00] The everyday parenting scenario where a child agrees to do something but doesn't follow through.
[03:56] Parents often feel confused when kids know what to do but still don't do it.
[04:26] ADHD is explained as the gap between knowing and doing.
[06:48] Hyperfocus can prevent kids from shifting attention to a new task.
[08:41] Multiple brain-based factors can explain why kids don't follow through.
[12:57] Processing speed challenges can make kids appear resistant.
[16:20] Understanding executive function helps parents shift their expectations.
[18:14] Misinterpreting behavior as defiance can damage connection.
[22:55] Parenting mindset plays a major role in how kids respond.
[26:28] Instead of labeling weaknesses, parents should look for ways to support skills.
[30:18] Executive function development is similar to learning any other skill.
[31:37] Kids improve with practice, structure, and guidance.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
"You ask your kid to put their shoes on. They say okay… and then they don't."
"What if the problem isn't defiance, but executive function?"
"ADHD is not a problem of knowing what to do. It's a problem of doing what you know."
"Maybe this kid is so hyper-focused on what he's doing that his mind is nowhere near what you're asking."
"They're basically saying, slow down. I can't process this fast enough."
"When we assume our kids are being difficult, we miss the opportunity to understand what their brain actually needs."
"It's not about labeling the weakness. It's about asking, how are we going to support this?"
"Why would this be any different than learning any other skill?"
"These are skills that develop with support and practice."
DANA KAY RESOURCES
🔗 WEBSITES:
https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/
https://dana-kay.com/
👋 SOCIALS:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute
📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK:
Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/
💻 FREE MASTERCLASS:
Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://hubs.la/Q042HrjF0
⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS:
 ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd
ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

Grab your ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123
You know what I wish someone had told me years ago when my son was diagnosed with ADHD? That ADHD isn't one neat little story.
ADHD isn't one problem. It's often driven by  five biological stressors stacked inside the same child. And depending on the day, a different stressor shouts loudest.
In this powerful solo episode, Dana Kay reframes ADHD in a way that instantly relieves shame and confusion for parents. If you've ever felt like you're parenting a different child by 4 p.m. than you were at 8 a.m., this episode explains why.
Dana walks listeners through the five biological stressors inside the ADHD Thrive framework: blood sugar dysregulation, gut-brain dysfunction, food reactions, poor detox pathways, and the nutrient deficiencies. Instead of asking, "Why are they doing this?" she teaches parents to ask a better question: "Which layer is loud today?"
If your child's symptoms fluctuate, if some days feel manageable and others feel impossible, this episode will help you understand the biology underneath the behavior.
Grab your ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
Grab your ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123
KEY TAKEAWAYS
[00:00] ADHD is not one story — it's five layers.
[00:23] Parenting a "different kid" by 4 p.m.
[00:50] The wrong question vs. the right question.
[02:10] Introduction to biological stressor layers.
[04:30] Blood sugar dysregulation explained.
[07:15] Gut-brain dysfunction overview.
[10:40] Food reactions layer.
[13:20] Detox overload layer.
[16:30] The final layer connecting impulsivity and picky eating.
[19:45] Identifying which layer is loud.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
"ADHD isn't one neat little story."
"It's five stories all squashed into the same kid wearing the same jumper."
"Depending on the day, you're parenting a different kid in the same body."
"By 4 p.m. you're Googling boarding schools in Switzerland…"
"We end up asking the wrong question."
"Which layer is loud today?"
DANA KAY RESOURCES
🔗 Access your free ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123
It's free for a limited time. You just pay shipping! 
🔗 WEBSITES:
https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/
https://dana-kay.com/
👋 SOCIALS:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute
📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK:
Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/
💻 FREE MASTERCLASS:
Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://hubs.la/Q042HrjF0
⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS:
 ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd
ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

What if picky eating and impulsive ADHD behavior aren't separate problems at all—but signals coming from the same biological root?
In a special milestone for the podcast — our 200th episode of The Soaring Child Podcast — Dana Kay explains how nutrient deficiencies can directly affect the brain systems responsible for focus, emotional regulation, impulse control, and sleep. Iron supports dopamine production. Magnesium and B6 calm the nervous system. Zinc shapes taste perception. Omega-3s carry the brain's messages. And vitamin D helps regulate serotonin and sleep cycles.
When these nutrients are depleted, the brain struggles to function properly. The result can look like impulsivity, hyperactivity, emotional outbursts, sleep struggles, and extreme picky eating. Dana shares the story of a young boy expelled from four preschools whose behavior transformed after severe nutrient deficiencies were identified and supported.
This episode helps parents understand how what looks like "behavior" may actually be a biological signal. Dana walks listeners through the nutrients most commonly involved in ADHD regulation, the signs that the brain may be running on empty, and how parents can begin identifying which biological stressors may be affecting their child.
If you're trying to understand the biological drivers behind your child's symptoms, start here: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123
The ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit helps parents translate symptoms into biology and identify which underlying stressors may be affecting their child.
Get the Decoder Kit here to learn more about how ADHD symptoms connect to biology here: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
Grab your ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123
KEY TAKEAWAYS
[00:00] Picky eating and impulsive ADHD behaviors may come from the same biological root.
[01:15] Case story of a child expelled from four preschools due to extreme behavior.
[02:10] Severe nutrient depletion revealed through lab testing.
[03:40] The concept of the "starving brain."
[05:00] Iron's role in dopamine production and emotional regulation.
[06:10] Magnesium and B6 supporting nervous system calm and sleep.
[07:00] Zinc deficiency affecting taste perception and picky eating.
[08:10] Omega-3s and brain communication.
[09:00] Vitamin D and its connection to serotonin and sleep.
[10:45] The Ferrari fuel analogy for brain nutrients.
[12:15] Signs that the brain may be running low on nutrients.
[14:30] Introducing the ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
"Picky eating and hyperactive and impulsive behavior are not two separate problems. They're the same conversation happening in different rooms."
"What if the brain isn't being difficult? What if it's just hungry?"
"A brain that's running on empty cannot do manners, patience or waiting turns."
"When the brain is starving, no amount of behavioral strategies will actually feed the brain."
"These nutrients are literally the wiring for the brain."
"You can parent beautifully, but if that fuel is not there, their system stalls."
"You're asking a Ferrari to run on cordial."
"A hungry brain cannot be polite."
"Feed the brain and the behavior follows."
DANA KAY RESOURCES
🔗 Access your free ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123
It's free for a limited time. You just pay shipping! 
🔗 WEBSITES:
https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/
https://dana-kay.com/
👋 SOCIALS:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute
📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK:
Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/
💻 FREE MASTERCLASS:
Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://hubs.la/Q042HrjF0
⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS:
 ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd
ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/