Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

A child screaming over shoes, melting down after school, or exploding over a tiny disappointment may look defiant from the outside. But in this episode, Dana Kay explains why many ADHD behaviors are not simply "bad behavior," attention-seeking, or manipulation.
Often, they are signs of a nervous system under stress.
Dana shares one of the biggest mindset shifts she  had as both a practitioner and a parent: behavior is usually the last thing happening in the chain. Underneath the meltdown may be blood sugar crashes, gut inflammation, food sensitivities, poor sleep, mouth breathing, nutrient deficiencies, or chronic inflammation. When those stressors stack, the brain and body can shift into survival mode.
In this solo episode, Dana walks parents through the biology beneath ADHD behavior, including why after-school meltdowns are so common, how the gut-brain connection can affect mood and focus, and why stable fuel matters for emotional regulation. Most importantly, she reminds parents that understanding biology does not mean removing boundaries. It means learning to respond with more clarity, compassion, and strategy.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/
https://dana-kay.com/
https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/
https://bit.ly/3GAbFQl
https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd
https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/
KEY TAKEAWAYS
[00:44] Dana introduces the idea that the child may not be fighting the parent. Their body may be fighting to survive.
[01:47] Dana sets up one of the biggest mindset shifts she has had as both a practitioner and a parent.
[02:10] Behavior is usually the last thing happening in the chain, which means parents need to ask what is happening underneath it.
[02:46] Many ADHD kids are carrying a heavy stress load, and when the body is overloaded, behavior can fall apart.
[02:54] Dana shares the Costco meltdown story with her son Oliver and how it became a turning point in how she viewed his reactions.
[04:47] When a child's nervous system is overloaded, the brain can shift into survival mode quickly.
[06:49] Signs like hunger meltdowns, after-school crashes, tiny disappointments feeling huge, and fast mood shifts are not random.
[07:01] After-school meltdowns are often a clue that a child has been masking and holding everything together all day.
[08:44] Dana explains that ADHD symptoms often have stacked stressors underneath them, including blood sugar crashes, gut inflammation, food sensitivities, mouth breathing, nutrient deficiencies, and chronic inflammation.
[10:06] Stable fuel matters because the brain cannot regulate properly when blood sugar is crashing.
[10:13] Dana explains why the gut-brain connection is one of the biggest light bulb moments in understanding ADHD symptoms.
[11:57] Understanding biology does not mean removing boundaries. It changes how parents interpret and respond to behavior.
[12:43] Dana encourages parents to start simple by looking for patterns instead of reacting immediately.
[15:05] Dana closes with the reminder that a child is not broken. Their behavior is communication.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
"Their body may be fighting to survive."
"But behavior is usually the last thing happening in the chain."
"And when the body is overloaded, behavior goes out the window."
"His reactions, they weren't random, you know, and that realization changed everything."
"Those aren't random."
"Home is the place, their body, their nervous system finally feels safe enough to unravel."
"If the brain does not have stable fuel, it can't regulate properly."
"Just because symptoms are showing up behaviorally doesn't mean the root issue is purely behavioral."
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/

Most advice about focus sounds simple: give them breaks, reduce distractions, use a timer, etc.  But for many kids with ADHD, the real struggle is not "focus" as one big thing. It is the tiny moments inside focus: starting, staying with it, transitioning, managing frustration, and not shutting down halfway through.
In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, Dana Kay sits down with Dr. Norrine Russell, founder of Russell Coaching for Students and creator of Connected Coaching, to talk about the practical micro-skills behind focus. Dr. Russell explains why telling a child to "just focus" often backfires, and what parents can do instead to support executive functioning in a way that actually helps.
Parents will learn how to shrink the starting point, reduce cognitive load, use presence without hovering, support emotional regulation with empathy, and create simple systems like whiteboards and second screens. This conversation is full of practical, doable strategies for helping kids move from stuck and overwhelmed to supported and capable.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
Russell Coaching: https://russellcoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russellcoachingllc/
ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety, Breaking Out of the Box podcast
Asking the Right Questions Before, During, and After Your Child's ADHD Diagnosis
KEY TAKEAWAYS
[00:00] Most focus advice is too general and misses the specific moments where ADHD kids get stuck.
[01:00] Focus is made up of smaller skills, and when one small skill is missing, the whole process can fall apart.
[03:07] Dr. Russell explains the executive functioning skills behind focus, including starting, transitioning, sustained attention, impulse control, and emotional regulation.
[06:14] Parents can help children begin by shrinking the starting point into one tiny, doable action.
[07:59] Support should change with age, moving from direct guidance in younger years to internalized skills in older children.
[09:30] Hovering increases stress and does not build self-regulation.
[09:59] Parents can support focus by being visible but silent, then gradually moving farther away as the child matures.
[12:59] Empathy is often the most helpful tool when a child becomes frustrated or overwhelmed.
[16:11] Asking whether a child wants to be heard or helped can prevent over-helping and build problem-solving skills.
[17:28] Reducing cognitive load is key, and a large whiteboard can help kids get thoughts, assignments, and goals out of their heads.
[20:16] A second screen can reduce working memory demands for students using a laptop.
[21:06] Sometimes the missing piece is not another strategy, but more time, support, acceptance, and brain maturation.
[23:24] Texting can be a helpful way to communicate with children and teens in a way that gives them space to process and respond.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
"Your child isn't struggling with focus sort of in general, they're struggling with very specific moments."
"Focus isn't just one skill. It's a series of really small skills stacked together."
"The least helpful thing that a parent can do is say something like, just focus, just get started."
"Attention is like a muscle."
"Shrink the starting point. Shrink the starting point."
"Hovering is not helpful. Hovering is not helpful."
"So you want to be visible, but silent."
"Our number one tool really when our kids are frustrated is empathy."
"Right, heard, helped, or hugged."
"You can't rush development. You can't rush brain maturation."
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 sugar isn't just making your child "a little hyper" but actually changing how their brain functions?
In this episode of The Soaring Child podcast, Dana Kay sits down with Mike Collins, a leading expert in sugar addiction and recovery, to unpack what sugar is really doing inside your child's brain. With over 40 years of experience and tens of thousands of detoxes behind him, Mike shares why sugar may be far more than a harmless treat and how it can impact focus, mood, impulse control, and behavior in ways most parents have never been told.
You'll hear eye-opening insights on how sugar affects dopamine and the brain's reward system, why cravings can feel impossible to control, and what makes sugar uniquely addictive compared to other substances. Dana also brings this conversation back to real life, helping parents understand how to recognize signs of sugar sensitivity in their child and what to do next.
If you've ever wondered whether sugar could be playing a bigger role in your child's ADHD symptoms, this episode will give you practical next steps.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
https://sugaraddiction.com/
https://sugardetox.com/
https://quitsugarsummit.com/
CONNECT WITH MIKE COLLINS
Website:  https://sugarfreeman.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realsugarfreeman/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSugarFreeMan/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SugarAddiction
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sugaraddictionsupport/ 

KEY TAKEAWAYS
[00:01] Sudden behavior changes after sugar exposure
[03:36] Introduction to sugar addiction and Mike Collins' work
[04:30] Is sugar addiction real?
[05:48] Brain function improvements after reducing sugar
[08:11] Rise of metabolic psychiatry
[09:45] Sugar as a neurotoxin
[13:22] How modern fruit differs from historical fruit
[15:05] Signs of sugar sensitivity in children
[17:01] Dopamine-driven behavior explained
[18:34] Why cravings are not about taste
[21:04] Sugar vs other addictions
[24:07] Dopamine and intermittent reward systems 

MEMORABLE MOMENTS
"What if sugar isn't just a treat? What if it's actually driving ADHD symptoms?"
"I believe sugar causes ADHD."
"Their brain came back online."
"Sugar is a neurotoxin."
"That is the worst thing on the planet… craving with no peace."
"They're not looking for a sweet taste. They're looking for dopamine."
"The science has outpaced the public's understanding."
"They're not looking for the behavior… they're looking for the dopamine hit."
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/

Picky eating is not something parents simply have to "deal with." There are strategies they can use to help expand the diets of their children.
In this episode of the Soaring Child podcast, Dana Kay sits down with ADHD Thrive Institute coach Andrea Daigle to unpack what's really behind picky eating. You'll learn why some kids rely on "safe foods," how texture sensitivity and digestion issues can drive food resistance, and why forcing bites may actually make things worse. You'll also discover that many children with ADHD who struggle at the dinner table are actually responding to deeper biological signals.
Andrea shares simple, practical strategies parents can start using immediately—including the powerful "add, don't subtract" method and the easy-to-implement cheese grater strategy that helps expand your child's diet without triggering overwhelm.
If mealtimes feel like a daily battle, this episode will give you a new perspective and a clear, compassionate path forward.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/
Book a ADHD Breakthrough Call: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/meet
KEY TAKEAWAYS
[00:00] The emotional reality of mealtime struggles
[04:00] Picky eating as a nervous system and gut signal
[05:42] Why pressure and forcing bites backfires
[07:44] "Add, don't subtract" strategy explained
[09:26] Cheese grater strategy for texture sensitivity
[12:00] When picky eating becomes a red flag
[12:47] Gut health and digestion as foundational drivers
[13:57] Sensory issues and nutrient deficiencies
[15:40] One simple action parents can start today
[16:15] Why repetition (15–20 exposures) matters
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
"Picky eating is rarely ever just a behavior problem."
"It's their nervous system saying, this just doesn't feel safe right now."
"Even the slightest pressure like just try one bite can trigger a defensive response."
"Instead of taking foods away, let's start upgrading what they're already eating."
"When you barely change that texture, the nervous system does not react."
"We can't change picky eating for a child whose body is uncomfortable."
"Zinc deficiency… changes the way that you taste food."
"We want to look at all the pieces of the puzzle."
"It can take 15 to 20 times for a kid to accept a new flavor."
Schedule a free call with Andrea and the team of ADHD Thrive Institute - https://bit.ly/3X5ZVvT 
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/

Most parents walk into IEP or 504 meetings hoping to advocate for their child, but unfortunately, many of them walk out feeling unheard, overwhelmed, and unsure of what just happened.
In this  episode of The Soaring Child podcast, Dana sits down with attorney and licensed clinical mental health clinician Paula Yost to break down exactly why these meetings feel so difficult and what you can do to change that. Paula brings a rare and deeply valuable perspective, combining legal expertise with real-life experience as a mom navigating the system herself. She is the author of Tumbleweeds: How to Be an Advocate for Your Children and Yourself in a Failing System.
You'll learn the critical differences between IEPs and 504 plans (and why many children with ADHD are often placed in the wrong one), how to recognize when your child isn't truly being supported (even if their grades look "fine"), and what to say in the moment when you feel dismissed or unheard.
This conversation is packed with practical strategies, real scripts you can use immediately, and empowering insights to help you walk into your next school meeting with clarity and confidence. Most importantly, it will remind you that you have the right to advocate for your child every step of the way.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
Paula's Website - https://paulayost.com
Paula's book, Tumbleweeds - https://amzn.to/3O2ej9y
CONNECT WITH PAULA YOST
Website: https://paulayost.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulajyostauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulayostauthor 
KEY TAKEAWAYS
[00:01] Why parents often leave school meetings feeling unheard
[04:34] The real reason IEP meetings feel so difficult
[06:08] The mismatch between parent and school goals
[06:47] What FAPE means and why it matters
[07:17] Key difference between IEP and 504
[09:13] Why IEPs matter long-term for your child
[10:20] High IQ masking ADHD struggles
[13:00] Signs your child isn't properly supported
[16:18] Common mistakes parents make in meetings
[19:36] What to say when you're not being heard
[21:11] What to do if your child doesn't qualify
[24:13] Why after-school crashes matter
[26:39] 3 things to prepare before a meeting
[27:47] Emotional reality of advocacy
[29:31] You always have the right to another meeting

MEMORABLE MOMENTS
"It's not a fair fight."
"That IEP is a legal document that follows you all the way through your life."
"The height of the IQ is masking the ADHD."
"I feel like I'm not being heard."
"We have to let them fail until they're nine."
"You are paying for your attorney and their attorney."
"I have never left anything as upset as I was when I have left an IEP meeting."
"Some days are just going to be like that."
"You always have the right to another meeting."
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/