Aaron Hartman, MDFunctional Medicine Specialist | Clinical Researcher

Kids Aren't Doing It on Purpose! | The Truth About Neurodivergent Kids

11 Apr 2025 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

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Short YouTube video by Aaron Hartman, MD (uploaded April 11, 2025) arguing that children—especially neurodivergent kids—often behave on autopilot rather than intentionally. The speaker urges caregivers to avoid personalizing misbehavior (e.g., assuming the child 'hates you') and instead recognize repeated reactive patterns as signs that the child needs support and alternative strategies.

Chapters

So 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.