Has your child been identified as gifted or twice-exceptional? Could you use some tips for navigating what that means and how to meet the needs of your child at home and school?

Join Jessica Esway, Director of Menlo Park Academy, as she guides families through what it means to be gifted or twice-exceptional and how to work together with schools to get the best support for your child. Jessica will also share practical tips for creating a supportive home environment, highlight common mistakes to avoid, and offer strategies for handling complex emotions.

 Does your child forget to turn in homework or constantly blurt out answers in class? Do they become easily upset over small things? If so, your child might have executive function challenges. 

Join Tori Cordiano, Ph.D., who will discuss how core executive functioning skills impact daily life, including homework completion, following directions, time management and emotional regulation. She will also explore typical executive functioning struggles at different developmental stages and what red flags may signal a need for support. Learn practical, effective ways to help children build executive functioning skills at home and school. 

Does your child struggle to attend school due to stress, anxiety or bullying? Are you facing daily battles to get them out the door each morning? 

Join Rob Adams, PsyD from Barlow & Adams Behavioral Health and Rebekah Bryson, LISW, therapist and school social worker for Avon Local Schools, as they discuss the factors contributing to school avoidance both in and out of the classroom. Families will learn how to improve communication, adopt positive coping strategies to manage stress and collaborate effectively with educators, counselors, and therapists to support their child's success.

Do you worry about how screens and digital devices are impacting your child’s mental health? Are you struggling to help your child navigate the online world while also supporting their development?

Join Dr. Nicole Pucci, Clinical Psychologist, and Dr. Kelly Christian and Dr. Emily Lauster, of the Ethan D. Schafer Center for Learning Differences at Lawrence School, for a discussion on how to lessen the negative effects of screen time, as well as strategies to promote development, mental health and social interactions.

Do your kids constantly fight with each other? Does the competition among siblings in grades, sports or any activity drive you crazy? Do you have a child with a disability who has differing needs and other siblings get jealous?

Join Nikki Rotshtein, Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience, and Parent Coach and founder of Kavana Parenting, as she teaches you tools to support all of your children whether you are dealing with sibling conflict, jealousy or competition. She will also discuss how having a sibling with disabilities impacts others in the family and ways that a new baby changes the family dynamic.

 Is your child a master at procrastination when it comes to bedtime? Is demanding a drink or snack the norm every night just before bed? Does the process of putting on pajamas and brushing teeth take what seems like hours? 

Join Ochanya McRoberts-Wells, MEd, as she discusses the ugly hour—that time before bed where chaos reigns and your little angel turns into a bedtime monster. She will provide you with tools to support a smoother bedtime for the whole family. You will also learn nighttime rituals to help establish predictability for all involved. 

 Shavaun Tucker, LISW, will discuss practical ways to help your child build better coping skills at home and in the classroom. She will also address ways to manage intense emotions and decrease the causes of anxiety. Learn the importance of self-care routines like hydration and sleep in a child’s day. 

Did your child recently receive an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis? Or, are you trying to navigate new territory with a child previously diagnosed? How can you best support your child in whatever stage they are currently in? 

Join Nathan Morgan, MSSA, LSW, of Milestones Autism Resources, as they present facts, debunk myths and provide the most up-to-date terminology currently available on ASD informed by their experiences as both a licensed social worker and autism self-advocate. Each autistic person is unique. Learn about differing strengths, lagging skills and accommodating ever-changing support needs.

Do you know how a parent’s role in the healthcare process changes during puberty?

 Join Nikki Montgomery, M.A., M.Ed., GPAC, Director of Strategy and Communications for Family Voices National, as she leads a discussion on how to begin to involve your child in planning and decision-making now to prepare for future self-advocacy. 

As part of her work with Family Voices, Nikki also leads the National Center for Transition to Adult Health Care for Youth with Disabilities, and will be addressing how race, disability and special health needs can affect healthcare outcomes. 

Families will learn to grow their child’s independence and advocacy skills in order to more confidently navigate this adolescent transition.

Does your child feel the pressure to be perfect? Do they feel stress about academics or earning good grades? Is their self-esteem tied to being the best in an extracurricular or sport? 

Join Kate Boylan LPCC-SUPV, MS, of Larchmere Center for Well-Being, to discuss how parents can help alleviate this pressure through healthy communication and attachment. Learn how to boost your child’s self-confidence, foster pride outside of achievement and guide them in building relationships with peers.