Helping Neurodivergent Kids Make Friends

<p>In this episode of <i>Thriving Kids</i>, Dr. Dave Anderson is joined by Caroline Maguire, an ADHD and executive function coach and author of <i>Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults</i>. They discuss friendship, social anxiety, and how neurodivergent kids and teens can build more authentic relationships without feeling pressured to hide or “mask” who they are.</p><p></p><p>In this episode, they cover:</p><p>• What masking is and how it can affect kids’ mental health<br />• Why getting support for social skills doesn’t mean people need to abandon their authentic selves<br />• How black-and-white thinking can make social situations feel more painful<br />• How parents, clinicians, and coaches can help kids build confidence in relationships</p><p></p><p>Key takeaways</p><p>• Masking — hiding how you really feel — can help people get through social situations, but over time it may lead to anxiety, depression, people-pleasing, and disconnection from the self.</p><p>• Neuro-affirming social support should help kids and adults connect with others while still honoring their own needs, values, and personalities.</p><p>• Social mistakes are part of being human, and over-apologizing or repeatedly revisiting them can make anxiety worse.</p><p>• Black-and-white thinking can turn a mostly positive interaction into something that feels like a failure.</p><p>• Building authentic friendships often starts with understanding your own patterns, communicating your needs, and finding people who appreciate you as you are.</p><p></p><p>Further reading</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://childmind.org/article/kids-who-need-a-little-help-to-make-friends/" target="_blank">Kids Who Need a Little Help to Make Friends</a><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://childmind.org/article/helping-girls-with-adhd-make-friends/" target="_blank">Helping Girls With ADHD Make Friends</a><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://childmind.org/article/what-is-neurodiversity/" target="_blank">What Is Neurodiversity?</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p>