Aaron Hartman, MDFunctional Medicine Specialist | Clinical Researcher

Debunking a Major Misconception About Kids | The Truth About Neurodivergent Kids

9 Apr 2025 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

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A short YouTube video (Aaron Hartman, MD) arguing that many children's challenging behaviors—especially among neurodivergent kids—are not deliberate personal attacks but automatic, autopilot reactions that signal a need for support. The speaker urges caregivers to avoid personalization and interpret repeated negative statements or actions as signs of unmet needs rather than hatred or intent.

Chapters

One of the greatest misconceptions about all kids is that kids are doing things on purpose. The majority of the time. Kids, I promise you, are not doing things on purpose. They are reacting on autopilot. Yes, they repeat things because they don't know another way. And so you have to stop thinking about it as personalization that they're coming after you. They hate you. Maybe they even tell you they hate you. They don't hate you. But what happens is, is that they are just reacting again on autopilot, and it's a sign that they need support.