Executive Functioning: Why Your ADHD Child Can't Start

Executive Functioning: Why Your ADHD Child Can't Start

If you've watched your ADHD kid stare at something they can absolutely do, unable to start, this episode is for you. Executive functioning is one of the biggest areas of impact in ADHD, and it's almost never what we think it is. Erica walks through what executive functions actually are, why they work as a team, and Dr. Russell Barkley's 30 percent rule, the developmental delay that has nothing to do with intelligence and everything to do with how the brain manages getting things done. Your child isn't lazy. They aren't choosing not to try. They're working with a brain whose project-management system develops on a different timeline. And it can be supported. FURTHER READING The 30 percent rule, in plain language: https://lifeskillsadvocate.com/blog/adhd-executive-age/ [https://lifeskillsadvocate.com/blog/adhd-executive-age/] Brain-maturity research from NIH: https://impactparents.com/blog/adhd/the-link-between-brain-maturity-academic-success-with-adhd/ [https://impactparents.com/blog/adhd/the-link-between-brain-maturity-academic-success-with-adhd/] Never miss an episode, join the behaviour coach podcast weekly newsletter [https://masterclass.neilsonmahoneycoaching.com/behaviourcoachpodcast]. If meltdowns are part of the daily picture, Meltdowns Mastery [https://app.hiro.fm/channel/meltdown-mastery] audio course. Pay what you can!

Justice Sensitivity

Your ADHD kid isn't a troublemaker. They're a justice keeper. This week: why fairness can feel like survival for an ADHD brain, why these kids get in trouble for defending others, and the support sequence that helps. Research and Resources: ADHD and justice sensitivity [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23223013/](the foundational pilot study) Why ADHD brains can't just ignore unfairness [https://www.additudemag.com/why-am-i-so-sensitive-adhd-in-adults/](parent-friendly overview) Never miss an episode: join the newsletter [https://masterclass.neilsonmahoneycoaching.com/behaviourcoachpodcast] When a sense of injustice floods the nervous system and tips into a meltdown, the Meltdowns Mastery [https://app.hiro.fm/channel/meltdown-mastery] audio course breaks down the whole cycle. Pay what you can, starting at just $5!

Sleep, Why ADHD Brains Fight It and What Actually Helps

You can't out-parent a child who can't sleep. This week: why sleep difficulty is biology, not bedtime discipline, why your ADHD kid genuinely isn't tired at bedtime, and the tools that actually move the needle. A note: this episode touches on sleep as a health need and mentions supplements and medical support in general terms. Nothing in this episode is medical advice. Please talk to your own medical team about what's right for your family. Research and Resources: ADHD as a circadian rhythm disorder [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41450833/](2025 research review): Sleep and ADHD, in plain language [https://drlewis.com/sleep-and-adhd/] (clinician overview): Never miss an episode: join the newsletter [https://masterclass.neilsonmahoneycoaching.com/behaviourcoachpodcast] When exhaustion is unraveling your days, the Meltdowns Mastery audio course [https://app.hiro.fm/channel/meltdown-mastery] can help you understand the whole cycle. Pay what you can (starting at just $5).

Sensory: The Invisible Driver Underneath It All

The sock was never the problem. This week we get into sensory processing in ADHD: the two senses nobody taught you about, why your kid crashes and chews and melts down over a tag, and what to do when you can't remove what's overwhelming them. Research and Resources: Sensory processing in ADHD (2025 systematic review & meta-analysis) [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890856725002096] The case for including sensory differences in ADHD diagnosis [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11095298/](open access) Never miss an episode: join the newsletter here [https://masterclass.neilsonmahoneycoaching.com/behaviourcoachpodcast] Follow me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/behaviourcoach/] for more ADHD Parenting tips If sensory overwhelm tips your child into full meltdowns, the Meltdowns Mastery audio course [app.hiro.fm/channel/meltdown-mastery] walks through what's happening and what helps, before, during, and after. All of my ADHD courses are pay what you can starting at just $5.

Rhythms and Routines for ADHD: Make Life Predictable

If you have ever heard the word routine and felt a little bit of dread, this episode is for you. So many parents have tried to build a routine, hit resistance on day three, and decided routines just do not work for their family. In this episode, I offer a different way to think about predictability. The difference between a rhythm and a routine. Why structure paired with flexibility is the goal, not rigid schedules. The shift that changes everything when a piece of your routine has become a daily battle. And practical strategies for mornings, evenings, and after school that actually work for the ADHD brain. Plus the question every parent of an ADHD child needs to stop asking themselves, and the permission slip you might not realize you need. If you want to go deeper check out my audio course on hiro.fm Connect with me: Instagram: @behaviourcoach  Newsletter: neilsonmahoneycoaching.com/podcast