Ep 83: Helping Neurodivergent Kids Connect with Grandparents (Part 1 with Kim Botto)
Jun 20, 2025
LISTEN NOW:
SHOWNOTES:
Do you have a child with autism, ADHD, or sensory needs—and wonder how to help them build a real connection with their grandparents?
In this powerful episode of The Value of Wrinkles, host Isabel Tom shares her personal journey of discovering ADHD as an adult and parenting children who are wired differently. She’s joined by Kim Botto, a trauma-informed parenting expert and TBRI Practitioner®, to talk about how families can support neurodivergent children in forming meaningful, joy-filled relationships with their grandparents.
🎙️ You’ll hear:
- Why differently wired kids often struggle in social/family situations
- How to gently guide your child through interactions with older adults
- Why neurodiverse-friendly tools (like the Grandkid Investigator Kit) can ease connection
- Encouragement for parents who feel isolated or exhausted
This episode is for you if you're raising a uniquely wired child and long to see them known, understood, and loved by the older generation.
Highlights:
3:50 – How Kim got started working with kids with hidden disabilities
6:17 -What is a hidden disability?
8:28 – What to do when grandparents don’t believe the autism/adhd diagnosis?
12:27- How so many of their interactions are negative and the role of grandparnets.
Connect with Kim Botto:
Read Kim Botto’s Book: Boundless Hope for Every Child – written for church leaders, but loved by parents and grandparents alike → kimbotto.com
Resources mentioned:
· “You can’t teach children to behave better by making them feel worse. When children feel better, they behave better.” – Pam Leo, Connection Parenting, https://connectionparenting.com/
· Use the Grandkid Investigator missions as a tool to help and guide your child through interaction with grandparents.
