Ideas to Help Parents Raising Neurodivergent Kids: Whole-Body Strategies That Actually Work

If you’re parenting a neurodivergent child, you already know there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. What helps one kid can completely miss the mark for another. That’s why the best parenting advice always starts with this: your child is unique, and their brain deserves to be understood, not “fixed.”

In episode 138 of the Every Brain Is Different Podcast, Lauren and I talked with functional medicine practitioner Yana Kleyman about what it means to look beyond symptoms and start supporting the whole child. Her story and strategies offer ideas for parents who want to help their kids feel better, think clearer, and find their calm.

1. Look Beneath the Surface

Most of us are used to treating outward signs of distress like hyperactivity, impulsivity, or meltdowns. Medication can absolutely be life-changing for some kids, but it usually works at the symptom level.

Functional medicine looks at the root causes: things like gut health, inflammation, nutrient absorption, and even environmental toxins. When those roots aren’t nourished, the whole system struggles. When you feed the roots, everything above the surface begins to thrive.

If your child is struggling, start by asking, “What might be happening underneath this behavior?” Sometimes it’s inflammation. Sometimes it’s an overloaded nervous system. Sometimes, it’s just that your kid didn’t sleep well and their brain is doing its best with limited resources.

2. Clean Up the Basics: Food, Sleep, and Movement

Before you dive into complicated interventions, start small:

Food:
Try “shopping the perimeter” of the grocery store. Start with fruits, vegetables, meats, and whole foods instead of packaged snacks. Many kids react to dyes and preservatives, which can fuel hyperactivity or mood swings. Soda, especially, is a sneaky culprit; it depletes magnesium, a key nutrient for brain health.

Sleep:
The hours before midnight are golden. That’s when the brain’s detox system (the glymphatic system) is most active. Prioritize a consistent bedtime and minimize screens before bed to help your child’s brain truly rest and reset.

Movement:
Daily exercise isn’t just good for the body; it’s like medicine for the brain. Just 30 minutes of active movement (especially outside in sunlight) can improve focus, attention, and mood on par with medication for many kids.

3. Get Outside

Nature resets the nervous system. The combination of sunlight, rhythm, and gentle sensory input helps both parents and kids regulate. You don’t have to make it complicated; go for a walk, play tag, jump on the trampoline, or have a family bike ride.

When I spent 45 minutes playing two-square outside with my son, I noticed that I could focus better all afternoon. My ADHD brain felt clear and calm. This was all because I took a break and got outside.

4. Address Hidden Stressors

Sometimes, behavior challenges come down to invisible factors like mold exposure, gut imbalance, or chronic inflammation. Functional lab tests can help uncover what’s happening inside your child’s body.

Even without testing, you can begin to reduce toxic load by:

• Using cleaner household and body products (check out the Environmental Working Group’s database).

• Filtering drinking water if possible.

• Ventilating your home to reduce mold risk.

These small steps can add up to big changes in how your child feels.

5. Treat the Whole Family

Parenting a neurodivergent child often means you’re running on fumes. It’s easy to focus all your energy on helping your kid regulate and forget that your nervous system matters too.

When you rest, move, and eat well, your child benefits. You’re modeling what self-care looks like and giving your family the calm energy it needs.

6. Medication or Natural Support? The Answer Might Be “Both.”

There’s no single “right” path. For some kids, medication is essential. For others, it’s not the best fit. Even when medicine helps, addressing the whole body still matters. Supporting sleep, nutrition, and brain health ensures medication works better and your child feels their best.

Every child deserves a future that isn’t predetermined by a diagnosis. Whether your child thrives on medication, functional medicine, or a blend of both, the goal is to help them live healthy, joyful, connected lives.

Start simple:

• Eat more real food.

• Prioritize sleep.

• Move daily.

• Get outside.

• Support your child’s (and your own) nervous system.
  

For more on this subject, listen to episode 138 of the Every Brain is Different podcast.