Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children

TPP 326a: Educator Sam Young on Reimagining Socializing for Twice-Exceptional Students

Mar 27, 2026

Sam Young, a neurodivergent educator and two-time Fulbright scholar who runs Young Scholars Academy, discusses reimagining social lives for twice-exceptional kids. He explores how online communities can be valid social spaces. He highlights interest-driven programs, alternatives like improv and D&D, and building supportive environments that focus on strengths rather than deficits.

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ADVICE

Put Kids In Interest Based Programs

Build strength-based, interest-driven spaces where twice-exceptional kids can operate at higher levels and meet like-minded peers.
Sam created Young Scholars Academy offering niche courses like cryptocurrency or entrepreneurship to match students' passions.

INSIGHT

Let Go Of How Friendship Should Look

Reimagining socializing begins with adults letting go of expectations about how friendships "should" look and asking what we actually want kids to experience.
Sam urges parents to accept new formats (online, asynchronous) and focus on whether kids are connecting, laughing, and leading, not the medium.

INSIGHT

Evaluate Online Friendships By Outcomes

Online social worlds can meet core social goals like shared interests, community, leadership, and belonging even if they don't resemble in-person play.
Sam suggests writing desired outcomes (connection, shared joy) then checking if those are met online instead of dismissing tech outright.

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Today I’m talking with neurodivergent educator Sam Young about a topic I haven’t covered on the podcast before, and that is our neurodivergent kids’ social lives. The world has changed so very much in the past few years, including in no small way how our kids relate to other kids. I get a pang of nostalgia when I think about how I used to form friendships when I was younger in a more analog world, but I can also feel excitement about the many possibilities that have opened up for kids like ours to find their communities thanks to the technology they’re growing up with.

In this episode, Sam is going to talk with us about what a meaningful and healthy social life might look like for our differently wired kids, and how we can support them in the process. We explored how online communities have impacted socializing for neurodivergent kids, how parents can support kids in developing the skills to help with social anxiety, key elements to look for in ideal social environments for our differently wired kiddos, and much more.

About Sam Young

Sam Young MEd, or Mr. Sam as his families call him, is a growth-minded, two-time Fulbright Scholar and Director of Young Scholars Academy, a strength-based, talent-focused virtual enrichment center that supports twice-exceptional, neurodivergent, and gifted students and their families.

Mr. Sam is a neurodivergent educator who has ADHD. As an ADHD learner, he has a tremendous understanding of, experience in, and respect for all things related to neurodiverse education. Before founding Young Scholars Academy, Mr. Sam taught in a variety of capacities—including nearly a decade at Bridges Academy — at an array of programs in the US, Europe, and Asia. Travel and culture are near and dear to him. He has led 2e students to over 7 countries for immersive cultural and educational trips.

Mr. Sam has been featured in the documentary 2e2: Teaching The Twice Exceptional, the textbook Understanding The Social and Emotional Lives of Gifted Students, 2nd Ed., Variations Magazine, over 20 podcasts, 10 seminars, 2e News, and other publications.

Things You'll Learn from This Episode:

What reimagining our kids’ social life really is about

How online communities have impacted our kid’s social lives

What Sam’s students wish their social lives looked like

How parents or adults in kids’ lives can support them in building skills to help them with social anxiety

Sam’s thoughts on social skill groups and their efficacy

Expectations that parents have that might be getting in the way of their kid’s social lives

How parents can support a kid who is feeling alone to the point of their self-confidence and self-worth being affected

Resources Mentioned

About Sam YoungThings you’ll learn from this episodeResources mentioned about the social lives of 2e students

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