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In an age when the need for behavioral health support has never been higher, and when access to direct professional support remains all too scarce, the opportunity for scalable digital tools to play a role is increasingly evident. But when it comes to the challenges faced by children, how do we address their needs safely, ethically, and effectively? What should we consider when we design digital tools to benefit underserved groups, such as neurodivergent children?
Understood.org is a nonprofit leveraging digital tools to shape environments that promote growth, understanding, and resilience in neurodivergent children, specifically those with learning and thinking differences like ADHD and dyslexia. And as a bonus, we’re equipping parents with strategies to manage their own emotions and behavior — a win for all.
All kids, especially those in the early elementary years (ages 5–9), are learning to manage their emotions. Neurodivergent kids may struggle more with emotional regulation. They may be more easily triggered by sensory overload and unexpected changes to their environment or schedule. All of this can result in tantrums or meltdowns. Our research shows that these behaviors are among the greatest challenges for parents and caregivers. Not knowing the best way to respond, parents often feel hopeless, isolated, and frustrated.
Parents are more overwhelmed than ever. At this age, the caregiver-child relationship is paramount for long-term thriving. If we can reduce the parent’s stress, and improve the relationship, that’s a powerful short-term shift for long-term thriving.
Parents aren’t the problem. They’re the opportunity. They’re on the frontlines, in the best position to implement small changes to support their kids. And truly the best developmental asset a child can have at this age is a strong, positive relationship with their primary caregiver. Anything we can do to boost the parent’s capacity is a win.
One of the best, all too often overlooked ways to address the challenges digitally is through direct support for parents. We have two pathways to do this. We can reduce the stressors. Or we can increase the positives. In our digital tools, we consider both.
It’s important to understand that behavior is just the tip of the iceberg. All behavior is a form of communication. Challenging behavior can be a clue about what’s happening for a child — and the support they might need.
When parents can’t understand why a certain behavior occurs, it’s natural to feel powerless, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Some parents blame themselves. Others blame their child, thinking they’re doing it on purpose.
Therapy and support are financially out of reach for many parents, so they don’t have access to expert-vetted, actionable strategies to address challenges effectively. And when they look for information online, much of what they find is inaccurate or trying to sell a costly solution. It can be hard for parents to tell which online information is credible.
Not having the tools to understand and support their kids hits hard. It means missed opportunities for positive interactions, often creating a strain on the relationship. Without knowing how to address challenging behaviors, many parents struggle with low confidence, frustration, and shame. This is devastating for them. And it’s hard for their children, who are looking to them to be confident guides.
That’s why Understood.org created free, science-based Lessons and a Behavior Tracker. These digital solutions help parents and caregivers better understand and respond to outbursts. The self-paced Lessons (on U.org and the Understood App) and Behavior Tracker (Understood App) are grounded in science-based approaches like Behavioral Parent Training.
While these exercises are quick, we know that they’re also effective. In a study of parents who used the Understood App across a two-week time span, 9 out of 10 agree that it’s a helpful tool for understanding their child’s challenging behavior. Specifically, we saw a 9% decrease in parents believing the myth that their child is acting out on purpose, and a 10% decrease in the belief that their children require harsh discipline.
Across parents surveyed, 80% reported that the Understood App helped them feel more confident handling their child’s outbursts. Nearly half said they feel closer to their child as a result of using the app.
Equally encouraging is the feedback around the boost in well-being for the parents themselves. We’re proud that on average, parents reported a 24% improvement in their own well-being after using the Understood App. It reinforces the value of building smart, compassionate tech solutions that don’t overlook that human beings are at the other end.
While we have further to go, we’re heartened to see that brief solutions can decrease stressors and increase the positives — including the invaluable relationship between parent and child.
The Behavior Tracker and Lessons are just two examples of digital tools that Understood.org created to help parents along the journey they’re on with their kids. Because we know that every journey looks different, our experts have worked to create thousands of vetted articles, hundreds of ad-free podcast episodes, and dozens of digital resources to help parents anticipate challenges and prepare to address them. Everything from how to talk to teachers and navigate IEPs, to how puberty might uniquely impact kids with ADHD.
Our tools are not intended to be a replacement for therapy or working with health care or education professionals who understand your child’s unique needs. We build our tools to benefit parents whether or not they have access to professional human support. For us, it’s about democratizing information and support so every individual can thrive, including caregivers. As a result, one million people visit Understood.org’s website each month.
Parenting a neurodivergent child, in a world not designed for their brain, comes with joys and real challenges. Too often, families are left to navigate those challenges without the right tools or support. But that’s beginning to change. With thoughtfully designed digital solutions like Understood.org’s Lessons and Behavior Tracker, parents now have access to evidence-based strategies that are not only effective but also easy to integrate into daily life.
These tools are more than just tech. They’re a bridge between frustration and understanding, between reacting and responding with intention. They offer a way for parents to build stronger relationships with their children, identify behavioral patterns early, and manage outbursts with more confidence and less guilt.
As technology continues to evolve, so does its potential to revolutionize behavioral health, making support more accessible, more personalized, and, perhaps counterintuitively, more human. The future is full of promise, and parents should not have to walk this path alone.
Visit https://www.understood.org/en/app to download the free Understood App to access science-based Lessons and the Behavior Tracker, and join a growing community of families using technology to build a calmer, more connected home.
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