Screens, ADHD & Dopamine: What Parents Are Getting Wrong About Tech ft. Dr. Randy Kulman

Join Our Patreon and Find All of Our Faves! If you’ve ever wondered whether screens are helping your ADHD child regulate… or completely hijacking their brain, this episode is for you.This week on Chaos & Caffeine, Danielle sits down with clinical psychologist Dr. Randy Kulman — founder of LearningWorks for Kids and creator of Digitally Nutritious — for one of the most nuanced conversations we’ve had yet about ADHD kids, screen time, dopamine, gaming, play, AI, and technology.Because here’s the truth nobody seems willing to say out loud: neurodivergent kids experience screens differently.And parents are exhausted trying to figure out where the line is between “helpful,” “educational,” “regulating,” “addictive,” and “please just let me cook dinner in peace.”Dr. Kulman has spent more than 40 years studying how children learn through play and how technology impacts developing brains. In this episode, we unpack:Why ADHD kids are often more intensely drawn to screensThe connection between dopamine, emotional regulation, and gamingWhat “digitally nutritious” technology actually meansThe difference between digital junk food and healthy screen experiencesWhy play is critical for executive functioning and ADHD developmentHow AI and emerging technology may impact neurodivergent kidsSigns your child’s relationship with technology may be becoming unhealthyWhy “just take the screen away” usually backfires for ADHD familiesPractical, judgment-free strategies for creating healthier tech boundariesThis is not a fear-based anti-screen episode.It’s a real conversation about raising ADHD kids in a world where technology is everywhere — and learning how to navigate it without shame, panic, or perfectionism.If you’re parenting a neurodivergent child in the age of iPads, YouTube, gaming, TikTok, AI, and endless dopamine traps… this episode will make you feel seen.Connect with Dr. Randy Kulman 👉 Learning Works for KidsThis Month's Sponsors:🌙 MoonbuddyHelping kids calm their nervous systems without another screen in sight. Use code: CHAOSANDCAFFEINE10🎲 Taco Cat GamesHelping ADHD families get off screens without triggering a full-blown meltdown… 📱 My Screen CoachHelping families raise kids who can actually unplug. 🧠 Social ThinkingHelping kids build the social and emotional skills that don’t always come naturally. 🌱 MaryRuth OrganicsIf you’ve got a kid who treats vegetables like a personal enemy, MaryRuth Organics might become your new best friend. Join Our Patreon and Find All of Our Faves! 📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected] the showDanielle is the host of Chaos & Caffeine, a fast-growing ADHD parenting podcast where she interviews leading psychologists, clinicians, researchers, and neurodivergent advocates about what actually helps ADHD kids thrive in the real world. Through science-backed conversations and very real mom-in-the-trenches storytelling, the show helps parents navigate executive function challenges, emotional regulation struggles, learning differences, and the everyday chaos of raising neurodivergent kids.Each week, Danielle translates complex ADHD research into practical tools parents can actually use — from building routines that support developing brains to helping kids strengthen focus, flexibility, and self-regulation skills.Listen to the podcast and explore expert interviews at:https://linktr.ee/chaosandcaffeinepodcastDanielle frequently speaks and writes about ADHD parenting strategies, executive function development, emotional regulation, screen use and attention, learning challenges like dyslexia, and building resilient neurodivergent families.