Should we adapt our homes for our neurodivergent children, or does that just make them unable to cope with life outside the home?

Dave and Kate delve into this crucial topic, arguing that such adaptations can actually enhance resilience rather than weaken it. They explore the delicate balance parents must strike between reducing triggers at home and preparing children for the realities of the outside world. With insights from research, they emphasize that an adapted environment can significantly lower anxiety levels, allowing children to develop emotional awareness and coping skills.

To financially support this podcast, donate at our GoFundMe page at faithfulgod.net.

To read helpful articles from Kate, head to her Substack page, An Extraordinary Normal

Dave's Bible story podcasts are called Stories of a Faithful God and Stories of a Faithful God for Kids and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.

This podcast is a part of the Faithful God Network. Discover more great podcasts at faithfulgod.net

Citations

Attwood, T. (n.d.). The impact of anxiety on daily life. Attwood & Garnett Events. https://www.attwoodandgarnettevents.com/blogs/news/autism-the-impact-of-anxiety-on-daily-life

Baiden, K. M., Williams, Z. J., Schuck, R. K., et al. (2025). The social validity of behavioral interventions: Seeking input from autistic adults. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 55, 1172– 1186.

Chellappa, S. L., & Aeschbach, D. (2022). Sleep and anxiety: From mechanisms to interventions. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 61, 101583.

Fountain, C., Winter, A. S., Cheslack-Postava, K., & Bearman, P. S. (2023). Developmental Trajectories of Autism. Pediatrics (Evanston), 152(3), 1

Dundon, R. (2024). A therapist’s guide to neurodiversity affirming practice with children and young people. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Grant, R. J., et al. (2021). The complete guide to becoming an autism friendly professional: Working with individuals, groups, and organizations. Taylor & Francis Group.

Hull, L., Mandy, W., Lai, M. C., Baron-Cohen, S., Allison, C., Smith, P., & Petrides, K. V. (2019). Development and validation of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(3), 819–833.

Mouton-Odum, S., & Golomb, R. G. (2021). Helping your child with sensory regulation: Skills to manage the emotional and behavioral components of your child’s sensory processing challenges. New Harbinger Publications.

Raymaker, D. M., Teo, A. R., Steckler, N. A., Lentz, B., Scharer, M., Delos Santos, A., & Nicolaidis, C. (2020). “Having all of your internal resources exhausted beyond measure and being left with no clean-up crew”: Defining autistic burnout. Autism in Adulthood, 2(2), 1–12.

Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68–78.

Vasa, R. A., Keefer, A., McDonald, R. G., Hunsche, M. C., & Kerns, C. M. (2020). A scoping review of anxiety in young children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Research, 13(11), 2038–2057.

Wehmeyer, M. L., Bersani, H., & Gagne, R. (2000). Riding the third wave: Self-determination and self- advocacy in the 21st century. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 15, 106–115.

Wehmeyer, M. L., & Smith, T. E. C. (2012). Promoting self-determination and social inclusion: A review of research-based practices. In D. Zager, M. Wehmeyer, & R. L. Simpson (Eds.), Educating students with autism spectrum disorders (pp. 246–261). Routledge.

Keywords:
neurodivergence parenting, adapting homes for children, neurodivergent children needs, reducing anxiety at home, emotional awareness for kids, parenting strategies for anxiety, home environment and resilience, supporting neurodivergent kids, triggers in the home, parenting and mental health, family dynamics and neurodivergence, creating safe spaces for children, benefits of adapted homes, parenting neurodiverse children, building resilience at home, managing stressors for kids, emotional regulation strategies, child anxiety solutions, Christian parenting and neurodivergence, coping mechanisms for neurodivergent kids