How Hydroponics can help ADHD and Parent-Child Bonding
Jan 22, 2025
Innovations and Collaborations: How Bonding Health and Hydroponics Could Shape the Future of Parenting and Mental Health
When you think about hydroponics, NASA, and ADHD parenting, they don’t exactly sound like they belong in the same sentence. But at Bonding Health, a startup dedicated to transforming how parents navigate the challenges of raising children with ADHD, innovation and creativity are always on the table—and sometimes on the vertical farm, too.
Let’s dive into the unique collaborations and ideas brewing at Bonding Health, where we blend emotional regulation, global food solutions, and cutting-edge partnerships to create meaningful change.
We met with Federico Marques, CEO of Moonflower Farms and Dennis Deleo and advocate for hydroponics.
Emotional Regulation: The Core of Bonding Health
At the heart of Bonding Health is our app, designed to help parents of ADHD children manage their emotions and foster better relationships. With features like symptom-focused bonding exercises, mood tracking, and 15-second Qik Audio Guides (Quick Impact Kits), the app offers a tailored approach to emotional regulation.
But Bonding Health isn’t stopping at individual families. We’re leveraging partnerships to amplify our impact on communities and explore how emotional well-being intersects with other critical areas—like education and food security.
Samples of Qiks include:
1. To get started when You don’t feel like it, shift your focus to your resourcefulness and resources rather than self-doubt.
2. Use discernment in your words. You can say what’s on your mind, you don’t have to say everything.
3. When you compare yourself to others you can label It “unhelpful” or use others' success as inspiration.
4. Set a goal to ask for help today. It may be outside your comfort zone- try stepping out Anyway.
Hydroponics and ADHD Parenting: A Surprising Synergy
One of our most exciting discussions has been with Moonflower Farms, a hydroponics innovator with ties to NASA. At first glance, hydroponics—a method of growing plants without soil—might not seem connected to ADHD parenting. But here’s where the dots connect:
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Hands-on Learning: Incorporating hydroponics into school curriculums could teach children critical life skills, including responsibility, patience, and problem-solving. These are particularly valuable for kids with ADHD, who often thrive with interactive and engaging tasks.
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Diet and ADHD: A balanced diet can significantly affect ADHD symptoms. Hydroponics can provide fresh, nutrient-dense foods, potentially improving focus and emotional regulation in children.
- Resilience Through Innovation: The resilience parents develop when managing ADHD mirrors the innovative thinking behind hydroponics. Both require adaptability, creative problem-solving, and a forward-looking mindset.
From California Fires to Emotional Growth: Broadening the Impact
The collaboration with Moonflower Farms goes beyond food. Federico highlighted the farms’ resilience during the Texas power outages—a testament to the scalability of hydroponics as a disaster-ready solution. Similarly, Bonding Health’s app serves as an emotional lifeline, which may help families navigate challenges like school disruptions or natural disasters.
By linking emotional regulation to broader issues like food security and climate resilience, Bonding Health aims to create a ripple effect that may benefit entire communities.
ADHD, Emotional Regulation, and Synergy
At Bonding Health, we embrace the creativity and ingenuity that often come with ADHD. Our cofounders, Pen King Jr., Dr. Lara Honos-Webb exemplify this synergy by generating innovative ideas for collaboration. Whether brainstorming hydroponics education for Montessori schools or connecting emotional regulation to trauma recovery post-COVID, they model the “gift” side of ADHD.
As Dr. Honos-Webb explains, “ADHD isn’t just a challenge—it’s a unique way of thinking that, when channeled effectively, can drive innovation and problem-solving.”
Case Study: How Hydroponics Could Transform a Family
Meet Maria, a single mom of two kids with ADHD. Her son, Leo, often struggles to focus on schoolwork, while her daughter, Sofia, finds it hard to regulate her emotions. Maria discovered Bonding Health through her therapist, who recommended the app.
Using the Bonding Health app, Maria began incorporating emotional regulation exercises into their daily routine. One day, while learning about hydroponics through a blog for Bonding Health Maria and her kids began exploring hydroponics. They ordered a starter hydroponics kit.
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Leo’s Growth: By learning about hydroponics, Leo became more interested in his science class, and used his time better and developed a newfound sense of accomplishment.
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Sofia’s Emotional Wins: Her mothers use of the Bonding Health app helped her better manage her outbursts.
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Maria’s Resilience: Through guided exercises in the Bonding Health app, Maria learned to pause, reflect, and respond more calmly to her children’s behaviors.
The family not only strengthened their bond but also gained valuable life skills, showcasing how Bonding Health’s innovations can extend beyond the app.
The Future of Bonding Health: Big Ideas Ahead
Here’s what’s next for Bonding Health:
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Hydroponics in Schools: Partnering with Montessori and alternative education models to integrate emotional regulation with hands-on learning. This process has already started as Dennis has reached out to a Montessori school in the Detroit area.
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Therapist Outreach: Distributing the app to therapists in major cities like Los Angeles to expand access and offer a resource for the trauma families are likely experiencing.
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Community Resilience: Collaborating with organizations like Moonflower Farms to address broader social issues through emotional regulation and education.
Why Emotional Regulation Matters
Emotional regulation isn’t just about managing meltdowns. It’s about creating environments where families can thrive despite challenges. Whether it’s through bonding exercises, innovative collaborations, or hydroponics education, Bonding Health is committed to empowering parents and children.
As Dr. Honos-Webb often says, “Emotions are the bridge to connection, growth, and resilience.” With that in mind, Bonding Health is building not just an app, but interested in impacting broader health and education impacts.
Closing Thoughts: Laughter, Learning, and Lettuce
Who knew an app for ADHD parenting could intersect with hydroponics and emotional growth? At Bonding Health, we’re proving that innovation knows no bounds—and that sometimes, the best ideas come from thinking outside the box, or inside the hydroponics garden!
So whether you’re navigating tantrums or considering starting a home garden, remember: growth takes time, effort, and a little creativity. And with Bonding Health by your side, you’re never alone on the journey.
