Understanding Behaviour in ADHD, Autism & PDA: A Parent's Guide

Why does your child behave this way? Strategies for understanding and responding to behaviour in neurodivergent children, including PDA, AuDHD, demand avoidance, and meltdowns.

Behaviour as Communication: You're reacting to the behaviour but not understanding what's driving it
Understanding and Supporting Stimming: Your child stims (flaps, rocks, hums, spins) and you're unsure whether to intervene
Elopement and Running Away: Your child bolts or runs away in unsafe situations (car parks, shops, near roads)
When Children Hurt Others: Your child hits, kicks, bites, or hurts siblings, peers, or adults
Managing Property Destruction: Your child throws, breaks, rips, or destroys items when frustrated or overwhelmed
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA): Your child avoids everyday demands with extreme anxiety, even things they enjoy
Understanding and Unmasking: Your child is masking: hiding their true needs, suppressing stims, and performing neurotypicality. The toll is making everything worse at home
PDA — When Demands Trigger Distress: Your child has a PDA profile and traditional parenting approaches (rewards, consequences, firm boundaries) make everything dramatically worse
Supporting Your Child's Identity: Your child is neurodivergent and you're unsure when, how, or whether to tell them, or how to help them feel proud rather than ashamed of who they are
AuDHD: When Your Child Has Both ADHD and Autism: Your child has both ADHD and autism (AuDHD) and strategies designed for one condition keep clashing with the other