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Psyched2Parent: Turning Brain Science into Tiny Wins for Parents

Psyched2Parent: Turning Brain Science into Tiny Wins for Parents

By: Dr. Amy Patenaude Ed.D. NCSP
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Psyched2Parent turns brain science into tiny wins for parents raising big-feeling, strong-willed, big-hearted, big-brained kids, especially the ones who hold it together at school and unravel at home. I'm Dr. Amy Patenaude, a school psychologist, parent coach, and your school psych in your pocket. Each week, I help you decode what's underneath the behavior, understand your child's brain and nervous system, and figure out what to do next at home and at school. You'll get parent-friendly explanations, tiny wins you can actually use, scripts for hard moments, and practical guidance for navigating school supports like IEPs, 504 plans, evaluations, and accommodations. We talk about meltdowns, executive function, anxiety, perfectionism, transitions, screen-time conflict, learning differences, and the messy middle of raising kids who feel deeply and need support that actually fits. The goal is not perfection. The goal is more clarity, more connection, fewer power struggles, and a steadier path forward, one tiny win at a time.2025 Hygiene & Healthy Living Parenting & Families Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships
Episodes
  • Is It Dyslexia? When Reading and Spelling Don't Stick

    Is It Dyslexia? When Reading and Spelling Don't Stick
    Jun 29 2026
    Is It Dyslexia? When Reading and Spelling Don't Stick Episode Summary Wondering if your bright child's reading struggles, spelling problems, or homework meltdowns could be signs of dyslexia? In this episode, Dr. Amy Patenaude explains why reading and spelling may not "stick" for some kids, even when they're smart, verbal, and trying hard. You'll learn how dyslexia and learning load can look like avoidance, shutdowns, attention problems, or math fact struggles, and what to ask the school when "they're doing fine" doesn't match what you see at home. This episode is for you if... Your child is bright, verbal, and curious, but reading is slow or exhausting.Spelling doesn't stick, even with practice.Homework turns into tears, shutdowns, anger, or avoidance.Teachers say your child is "doing fine," but home tells a different story.You're wondering if it's dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, sleep, motivation, or learning load.You want clear school scripts without writing a novel of an email. In this episode you'll learn Spot signs of dyslexia and related learning struggles in bright kids.Understand why reading, spelling, writing, and math facts can take so much brain fuel.Recognize when attention problems may actually be learning load or overload.Name the cost of learning struggles: time, tears, and self-story.Ask the school for a clear intervention plan, progress data, and a review date.Try tiny, low-shame supports at home without turning homework into a nightly battle. Key Takeaway It's not a motivation problem. It's a mapping problem. When reading and spelling don't stick, kids may need explicit support to build the brain's "word photo album," plus accommodations that reduce fatigue while skills grow. Tiny Wins to Try This Week Pick one. One is enough. Notice when the crash happens. Is it during reading out loud, spelling, writing ideas on paper, math facts, or copying steps?Write one dot-log sentence for three days. "Reading took ___ minutes + [tears/avoidance]. Audio helped."Try one support. Audio + print for one assignment, speech-to-text for a first draft, or grid paper for math.Send one clear school email. "I'm noticing a pattern. What supports are in place, and what data will we review in 6–8 weeks?"Lower the load before homework. Try snack, a short reset, and one tiny ask instead of jumping straight into the worksheet. Free Resources Volcano Moments + Hurricane Level Feelings Phrases Guide When homework, transitions, or after-school runway turn into a full volcano moment, this guide gives you words to borrow so you don't have to improvise while everyone is already escalated. Grab the Volcano Moments freebie here. Summer Without the Spiral If summer brings more screen battles, transition stress, big feelings, or "now what do we do all day?" energy, grab this free support to help your family move through summer with more structure and less spiraling. Grab Summer Without the Spiral here. What to Ask the School Use these questions to move from vague reassurance to an actual plan: What is the goal skill, and what is the instructional plan to build it?What intervention is being used?How many minutes per week?Is it individual or small group?How will progress be measured?When will we review the data? Research Snapshot This episode is informed by current dyslexia definitions, dyslexia myth-busting resources, and school psychology guidance on Specific Learning Disability evaluation and support. The key takeaway for parents: dyslexia is not a lack of intelligence or effort, and bright kids can compensate in ways that make the struggle harder to see at school. Comprehensive evaluations should look at patterns across multiple sources of data, not just one score, and instructional response data should help guide support without becoming an endless waiting room. The episode translates these ideas into parent language: pattern, cost, response. Resources and Links Follow Psyched2Parent on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/psyched2parent/Follow Psyched2Parent on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/psyched2parent/Support Amy's fundraiser for the Kyle Pease Foundation https://kyle-pease-foundation-inc.networkforgood.com/projects/297130-amy-patenaude-s-fundraiser Disclaimer "This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical, psychological, or legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a provider-client relationship. If you're concerned about your child's mental health, safety, or development, please consult a qualified professional in your area."
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    26 mins
  • Traveling With Kids Who Melt Down: A Regulation Plan

    Traveling With Kids Who Melt Down: A Regulation Plan
    Jun 22 2026
    Traveling With Kids Who Melt Down: A Regulation Plan

    If travel with your big-feeling kid feels less like a vacation and more like scanning the horizon for the next meltdown, this episode is for you. After a two-week multigenerational trip that included a 16-hour nonstop flight, Dr. Amy shares what actually helped her family get through long travel days, sibling spice, sensory overload, screen decisions, and those "everyone is hot, hungry, cramped, and done" moments.

    You'll learn the simple travel rhythm that made the biggest difference: Move. Meet. Mellow. Then screens. We're not doing screen shame here. Screens can absolutely be a tool on travel days, but this episode will help you use them on purpose instead of letting them become the only coping plan. The goal is not a perfect trip. It's helping your child's nervous system, and yours, stay supported enough to enjoy the good parts.

    What you'll take from this episode
    • A simple travel rhythm: Move. Meet. Mellow. Then screens.
    • Why travel meltdowns are often about capacity, not attitude
    • How to build in movement before long stretches of sitting
    • Why connection matters before kids disappear into screens
    • What "mellow time" is and how it helps kids downshift after busy moments
    • How to set screen boundaries before your good parent brain goes offline
    • What to say when siblings get spicy and fairness becomes a courtroom case
    Parent script to copy

    "Here's what's next. Here's what might change. If it changes, we'll get information and make a new plan."

    "We're not solving fairness right now. Bodies are hot and hungry. Reset button."

    "Mellow means quiet downshift time so our brains can come back online."

    "If you need screens to survive today, that is allowed. Screens start at ___. Screens end at ___. When screens end, you can choose mellow or Kindle."

    Tiny Wins to try this week

    Pick one. One is enough.

    • 🧳 Travel rhythm: Write Move. Meet. Mellow. Then screens. in your Notes app before your next outing or trip.
    • 🏃 Move: Pick one movement tool you can use anywhere: hallway walk, toe taps, wall push, playground stop, or ball toss.
    • 🌿 Mellow: Define mellow for your family: "Mellow is quiet downshift time so our brains can come back online."
    • 📱 Screens: Decide one screen boundary before the hard moment: "Screens start at ___. Screens end at ___."
    • 🔥 Sibling spice: Practice saying, "We're not solving fairness right now," then offer snack or mellow.
    Helpful links
    • Summer Without the Spiral
    • Volcano Feelings Freebie
    • Shownotes and previous episodes
    Connect
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • TikTok
    Support the show

    If this episode helped, share it with the friend who has a big trip coming up and a kid who struggles with waiting, screens, or sibling spice.

    You can also leave a review wherever you listen, follow along on Instagram for the hot mess express version of Dr. Amy outside office hours, or donate to KPF if you're in a season where you can give.

    Donate to KPF

    Disclaimer

    "This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical, psychological, or legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a provider-client relationship. If you're concerned about your child's mental health, safety, or development, please consult a qualified professional in your area."
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    26 mins
  • Pride Month, Panic, and the Open Door: How to Stay Connected When Kids Ask Big Questions

    Pride Month, Panic, and the Open Door: How to Stay Connected When Kids Ask Big Questions
    Jun 15 2026
    Pride Month, Panic, and the Open Door How to Stay Connected When Kids Ask Big Questions

    June is Pride Month, and this episode is for every parent who wants to support LGBTQ+ kids, raise kind allies, and know what to say when children ask big questions about identity, Pride, pronouns, belonging, or friends.

    Maybe your child is LGBTQ+. Maybe your child is questioning. Maybe your child has a friend who came out. Maybe your child saw a rainbow flag and asked, "What does Pride mean?" Or maybe you simply want your child to grow up as an ally, advocate, safe friend, and kind human.

    In this episode, Dr. Amy Patenaude talks about how parents can move out of panic mode and into safe-adult mode. You'll hear how inclusivity connects to start-line access, finish-line belonging, school safety, family connection, and the belief that there is always room at the table for one more.

    This is not a politics episode. It's a relationship-safety episode.

    The goal is not a perfect conversation. The goal is an open door.

    This episode is for you if…
    • Your child has asked questions about Pride Month, LGBTQ+ identity, pronouns, or belonging
    • Your child has a friend who is LGBTQ+ or questioning
    • You want to support your child but feel scared of saying the wrong thing
    • You want your child to grow up as an ally, advocate, and safe friend
    • You care about creating a home where hard, tender conversations can happen
    In this episode, you'll learn
    • How to talk to kids about Pride Month, LGBTQ+ identity, pronouns, and belonging in simple, age-appropriate ways
    • Why parents can feel panicky or awkward when children ask big questions, even when they love their kids deeply
    • What kids may be listening for underneath the literal question: "Am I safe with you?"
    • How to respond if your child comes out, tells you about a friend, or asks you to use a different name or pronoun
    • Why protecting your child's privacy matters and how to let them control their own story
    • How to advocate at school if your child is experiencing teasing, bullying, exclusion, or identity-based comments
    • How to raise kids who become allies, advocates, and safe friends for LGBTQ+ peers
    Tiny Wins to try this week
    • Try one sentence of visible safety: "In our family, people are allowed to be who they are."
    • Send one micro-connection text: "Thinking of you. Love you." No lecture attached.
    • Pause before reacting and ask: "Is this about my child's safety, or is my nervous system trying to win the internet?"
    • Try one repair rep: "I've said some things in the past that I would handle differently now. I'm learning, and I want you to know I love you."
    • Ask one privacy question: "Is this something you want help sharing, or something you want to keep private for now?"

    Pick one. One is enough.

    Free resources

    Volcano Feelings Freebie
    For those big, hot, explosive-feeling moments when everyone's nervous system is doing a thing.
    https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/volcanomoments

    Summer Without the Spiral
    For more structure, less chaos, and fewer summer meltdowns.
    https://psyched2parent.myflodesk.com/summerspiral

    Mentioned in this episode

    Amy's Kyle Pease Foundation Fundraiser
    https://kyle-pease-foundation-inc.networkforgood.com/projects/297130-amy-patenaude-s-fundraiser

    Sara Wiles on Instagram
    https://www.instagram.com/sara_wiles/

    Connect with Psyched2Parent

    Instagram
    https://www.instagram.com/psyched2parent/

    Facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/psyched2parent/

    Disclaimer

    "This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical, psychological, or legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a provider-client relationship. If you're concerned about your child's mental health, safety, or development, please consult a qualified professional in your area."
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    27 mins
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