BRIGHT & QUIRKY CHILD SUMMIT 2021
TAME THE
OVERWHELM
Summit 2021 Program
Welcome to the 4th annual Bright & Quirky Child Summit. We’re thrilled that you’ll be joining us. We’ve got 28 amazing experts ready with insights and strategies to shift your perspective and empower your progress on the bright and quirky journey. All talks begin airing at 8am Pacific time and will be free and accessible for 24 hours. Find your local time zone here.
Day 1: Taming Stress, Anxiety & Worry
Monday, March 8, 2021. Begins at 8am Seattle/11am NY/4pm London
Calling all dads, this talk is for you! Have you ever been stymied about the best way to support your bright and quirky kid in tough moments? Many dads say they often don't know whether to push, ignore, or just give in to avoid conflict. We're delighted to have Dr. Stephen Porges and Dr. Mona Delahooke, two pioneers in understanding how a child's neurology and biology affect behaviors, give dads a new and much more effective game plan for dealing with challenging behaviors. All parents and caregivers will benefit from this talk although it is especially geared towards dads.
Learn more about Mona Delahooke, PhD & Stephen W. Porges, PhD
Now more than ever, kids need powerful tools to work through anxiety, overwhelm, and uncertainty in their lives. Help your child become the superhero of their own story. Renee Jain, master storyteller and founder of GoZen!, shares powerful ways for kids and teens to recognize anxious behaviors, identify the root causes of worried thinking, and realize that strength can be found in reclaiming one's inner superpowers. Renee discusses ideas from her new book, Superpowered: Transform Anxiety into Courage, Confidence, and Resilience, and offers an empowering reframe of anxiety with practical strategies to help kids feel less worry and stress in their lives.
Learn more about Renee Jain, MAPP
What if there was an effective way to reduce a child or teen's distress from anxiety or OCD that doesn't require them to do anything differently? That's the premise of SPACE, a new evidence-based approach for parents developed at Yale by Eli Lebowitz, PhD. He shares from his new book, Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD: A Scientifically Proven Program for Parents, powerful insights and strategies for changing parent responses to anxious behaviors while demonstrating warmth, acceptance, and confidence in a child's ability to handle their anxiety. In this talk, Dr. Lebowitz mentions this approach has also been studied and found effective with children with ARFID (extreme picky eating).
Learn more about Eli Lebowitz, PhD
Bright and quirky kids are also known as 'twice exceptional' kids. Looking for a clear, concise summary of what twice-exceptionality (2e) is? Look no further than this talk with Dr. Dan Peters, psychologist and founder of the Summit Center, specializing in gifted and 2e children and teens. In clear language, Dr. Dan explains the combination of advanced abilities and challenge areas 2e kids have, what developmental asynchronies are, and steps to take when you see your child struggling. Dr. Dan also shares the most common school accommodations for 2e students that help them thrive in a learning environment. Most importantly, Dr. Dan and Debbie discuss the importance of blowing on the embers of a child's strengths and interests so their gifts lead the way, not their deficits.
Learn more about Dan Peters, PhD
Gather your family to watch this empowering talk geared for kids and teens by renowned 2e researcher and psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman. From struggling special-ed student to ivy league professor and top psychology podcaster, Dr. Scott offers a powerful message to help kids break free from limitations that may be currently defining them, and help them find authentic ways to become the person they are meant to be. This talk includes members of Bright and Quirky's Catalyst program for kids and teens. Being a 2e kid can be lonely, and this talk is a wonderful reminder that our kids are not alone on this journey!
Learn more about Scott Barry Kaufman, PhD
Day 2: Motivating Kids & Balancing Tech
Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Begins at 8am Seattle/11am NY/4pm London
Let's face it, screens have won out during COVID. They're ubiquitous - for schooling, socializing, and recreational escape. How do parents begin to reign it in and help kids find more motivation for school? How do you know if your child is "addicted" to gaming? Join an informative conversation with two experts, executive function coach Michael Delman and screen addiction psychiatrist Dr. Cliff Sussman, to learn new ways to meet your kids where they're at with screen use, including understanding what they're getting from their screen activities and collaboratively setting reasonable limits with the information presented in this session. Dr. Sussman will discuss when screen use is problematic and steps parents can take to achieve a healthier balance.
Learn more about Michael Delman, MEd & Clifford Sussman, MD
The transition from bright and quirky teen to young adult can be both exhilarating and tumultuous. Many parents wonder early in the journey how they can support their child's growth towards an authentic and satisfying life. In this whole-hearted and sage talk with Julie Lythcott-Haims, former Stanford Dean and author of How To Raise An Adult and her upcoming book, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult, Julie shares a continuous self-discovery process that can put our teen on a path towards wholeness, healthy relationships, and optimizing their life experiences. No matter what age your child is, don't miss this important talk that can change your parenting trajectory. Consider watching this interview with your teen or young adult and see what resonates!
Learn more about Julie Lythcott-Haims, JD, MFA
It's common for our bright and quirky kids and teens to have ADHD plus other diagnoses such as anxiety, autism, or learning challenges. It can be overwhelming, and many parents wonder how to address these multiple challenges and where to start! In this talk, Dr. Thomas Brown, former professor at Yale, shares 30 years of wisdom on how to work with the complex interactions of ADHD and other co-occurring challenges. He offers a solution-seeking roadmap that addresses the whole child and the larger picture, not just the ADHD.
Learn more about Thomas E. Brown, PhD
Our bright and quirky kids don't come with an owner's manual, but fortunately, we have Elaine Taylor-Klaus, co-founder of ImpactADHD.com and author of 'The Essential Guide to Raising Complex Kids with ADHD, Anxiety, and More,' to shine a light on the journey. Incorporating parenting strategies for executive functioning, motivation, and improved relationships and communication, Elaine shares a practical and collaborative roadmap for empowering our complex bright and quirky kids to self-regulate, self-actualize, and take positive control over their own lives.
Learn more about Elaine Taylor-Klaus, PCC, CPCC
So many of our kids and teens have turned to video games during the pandemic, to be with friends, blow off steam, and escape the realities and responsibilities of life. In this talk, Dr. Raffael Boccamazzo (Dr. B) talks to kids directly, with the credibility of being a gamer himself, about their love of games, what they're getting out of them, how to know if games are getting out of balance in their lives and what they can do about it. Self-management and self-determination are the ultimate goals for our kids before they leave home and become more independent in their screen choices. Will your child be ready for that independence? This is a great talk for kids and parents to watch together and discuss afterwards. Lots of great tips for parents included!
Learn more about Raffael Boccamazzo, PsyD
Day 3: Thriving & Learning
Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Begins at 8am Seattle/11am NY/4pm London
Teaching is one of the most important jobs on the planet, but it doesn't come with an instruction manual for how to respond to the sometimes challenging behaviors of bright and quirky students. Thanks to the work of Dr. Stephen Porges and Dr. Mona Delahooke, teachers now have an effective new way of intervening with a child's struggling behavior that seeks to understand what's underneath the behavior and what the child's nervous system needs to get back into the "green zone" of learning and receptivity. This lively talk with two giants in the fields of child psychology and neurobiology offers practical strategies for how teachers can connect with students in profound ways that communicate safety and belonging in the classroom, with the end result of reducing behavioral challenges. Parents are encouraged to share this brief video with their child's teacher!
Learn more about Stephen W. Porges, PhD & Mona Delahooke, PhD
This talk is for our older kids and teens who have been worn down, dismayed or traumatized by messages that they are less than, lazy, stupid or broken because of their differences. Invite your tween or teen to listen to this talk with the inspirational and engaging neurodiversity advocate Jonathan Mooney who has been in their shoes. He shares how he navigated the struggle, beyond the multiple diagnostic labels he was given in school, to build a successful life built on his natural strengths as a national author and speaker. (Yes, dyslexics can become authors!) Parent advisory: Jonathan uses occasional coarse language (no major swear words), and his own contemplation of suicide at age 12 is mentioned briefly, without detail.
Learn more about Jonathan Mooney
What do you do when your child is miserable at school and the light in their eyes is dimming? Join homeschooling expert, gifted education teacher, and bright and quirky mom Colleen Kessler to learn the signs that a change in environment might be needed and important considerations for that change. Colleen explains how homeschooling can work for busy families, and how homeschooled teens can prepare for the college of their choice with research and planning. Colleen also discusses a hybrid model that utilizes public school and homeschool resources for a customized education that fits your child best. You will learn how to meet your child where they're at, and help nurture their head and heart by creating the best educational setting for them to thrive.
Learn more about Colleen Kessler, MEd
When kids and teens are struggling with mental health challenges, if we look beneath the surface, lifestyle choices can be major contributing factors. The mind-body connection is powerful! According to functional medicine physician Dr. George Papanicolaou, rather than just treating the symptoms of anxiety, depression or ADHD, it's imperative to get to the root cause of these conditions. Dr. George shares the 5 foundational pillars that help optimize our body's systems and how we can start making small shifts towards feeling mentally and physically better today. He discusses the gut-brain connection (did you know the gut microbiome manufactures 70% of the serotonin our body uses?), what type of nutrition fuels your body and brain best, what type of sleep you need and how to get it, and how to balance screen and exercise time. This talk is for the whole family.
Learn more about George Papanicolaou, DO, IFMC
The pandemic has created pressure-cooker stressors like never before and kids and families are feeling the toll. How can families increase their resilience through this time and tame the overwhelm? Join Debbie in a conversation with clinicians in the trenches, psychologist Dr. Matt Zakreski and family therapist Lauren Hutchinson, as they share what's working for bright and quirky families right now, including small wins we can start harnessing immediately and how we can build collective resilience as a family, starting with our own personal resilience during this time.
Learn more about Matt Zakreski, PsyD & Lauren Hutchinson, LMFT
Day 4: Neurodiversity & Autism
Thursday, March 11, 2021. Begins at 8am Seattle/11am NY/4pm London
There's no substitute for hearing about autism from someone living it both professionally and personally. Kristy Forbes is an autistic mother, educator, and advocate who provides a beautiful blueprint for families to embrace a positive autistic identity that honors the emotional, social and environmental needs of everyone in the family, including respecting a child's own timeline of development. According to Kristy, the only way for an autistic person to truly thrive is when they are allowed to be their authentic self. Don't miss her powerful message of love, support, and radical acceptance for who our kids are truly meant to be.
Learn more about Kristy Forbes, GradDipEd
Many autistic people report that their experience, while different for each individual, is often paved with misunderstanding, unrealistic expectations, and pressure to fit into a neurotypical world. Often this leads to masking behaviors in order to fit in that creates burn-out from having to do things in a way that doesn't match how the autistic brain is wired. Autistic advocate Kieran Rose shares his lived experience with autism, and the mental and physical health perils of disregarding the essential needs of autistic people in order for them to thrive. This is an important talk for everyone who parents, teaches, and interacts with autistic kids, including autistic people themselves who are trying to understand their own experiences and neurodiversity.
Learn more about Kieran Rose
What if some of the dysregulation your child experiences were to disappear by tailoring their environment to be more in tune with the way their brain is wired? Developmental psychologists Amy Laurent and Jacquelyn Fede share an intriguing person-specific, evidence based process that helps autistic children and adults find "goodness of fit" in their lives through self-awareness, skill-building, and modifications that yield powerful results. Their Autism Level Up! program is transforming how autistic people engage, learn, play, contribute, and collaborate, and how supportive environments, partners, and activities help create this powerful context for success.
Learn more about Amy C. Laurent, PhD, OTR/L & Jacquelyn H. Fede, PhD
Now more than ever, our world needs all kinds of thinkers to help solve the problems we face, from the environment to innovations in space exploration. Who better to summarize the different kinds of minds and how our kids can find their unique path according to their brain's strengths than the legendary Temple Grandin? Dr. Grandin shares her own unique thinking style and makes a compelling case that requiring kids to pass algebra may be holding them back from exploring and discovering their innate talents. Dr. Grandin offers solutions to help align our kids to their natural thinking strengths so they can find their place of thriving in this world.
Learn more about Temple Grandin, PhD
Is your child or teen highly sensitive, avoidant, or resistant to the everyday demands of home or school? It can often look like non-compliance, aggression, or outright defiance, but under the surface it may have more to do with a hypersensitive threat detection system in the brain. Autistic mother, educator, and advocate, Kristy Forbes is well acquainted with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) as someone who experiences a distinct profile of autism herself. In this talk, Kristy helps parents find a new understanding and response to a child's PDA behavior in ways that facilitate relationship and healing. Kristy is a firm believer that PDA also comes with a set of strengths that can help in this healing process.
Learn more about Kristy Forbes, GradDipEd
Day 5: Coping, Growing & Self Care
Friday, March 12, 2021. Begins at 8am Seattle/11am NY/4pm London
Raising a bright and quirky child can be a lonely parenting journey, full of worry, second guessing decisions and self-criticism. Why are we so hard on ourselves? Because we care so much and want to do right by our precious kids. What would make it an easier, lighter journey? Self compassion, a powerful, evidence-based way of befriending ourselves and lightening the load. Join self compassion pioneer and researcher Dr. Kristin Neff as she shares effective healing strategies and her personal journey cultivating acceptance and compassion for herself and her autistic son. Now more than ever, it's time to be an ally to yourself and have your own back during difficult times. Not only will you get to a more self-regulated place of calm, but so will your child.
Learn more about Kristen Neff, PhD
So many of us feel like we're stuck or even regressing in our parenting journey right now, but positive change is absolutely possible through the power of quick wins. Join Debbie in this deep conversation of the heart with Debbie Reber and Seth Perler as they discuss the essential work of parenting right now, including how to harness the potential mini-successes that are everywhere, even if they are invisible in this moment. What if this time is actually teaching us and our kids a new sense of competency where we learn to navigate struggle with connection, positivity, and small wins? Seth and Debbie also share their top strategies for supporting our kids through school whether they are doing in-person schooling, remote learning, or homeschooling.
Learn more about Debbie Reber, MA & Seth Perler, MEd
Are you feeling frayed around the edges right now? If so, you are definitely not alone. It's become clear that we are in a marathon, not a sprint, and many parents report feeling depleted from the past year of enormous challenges in our world. Now more than ever, physical and emotional self-care is vital to getting through our current reality intact. And who better to lead us through new ideas for calming and coping than the nurturing voice of Dr. Laura Markham? You will walk away from this session better equipped for the marathon with a variety of ideas to self-soothe and recharge your energies. As the primary "giver" to all those around you, you deserve to make yourself and this talk a priority to move into a calmer, more restored state of being.
Learn more about Dr. Laura Markham
Do you ever wonder which coping skills are best to help tame your bright and quirky child's big feelings and worries? Learn from anxiety therapist and coping strategies guru, Janine Halloran, LMHC, why finding different tools for different brains matters. Janine touches on a number of coping strategies including mindfulness, relaxation, breathing, distraction, sensory, movement, and processing. Janine also covers topics like self-awareness, sleep, sibling struggles, the importance of joy and play, and test anxiety. Come get advice about how to help your child build a coping toolkit that fits them and their personality best, and don't miss Janine's Coping Skills Checklist in the resources.
Learn more about Janine Halloran, LMHC
Our bright and quirky kids and teens are suffering from depression and anxiety at alarming rates. Dr. Stuart Shanker, author of Self-Reg and founder of the MEHRIT Centre, describes the roles stress and self-regulation play in this phenomenon. Parents will learn what they can do to help kids restore before they get into a depressed state and spot hidden stresses before they accumulate. Dr. Shanker also talks about how to unlock the most effective mechanism the brain has to overcome depression, and when our child may need more help to break the cycle of depression. Don't miss this essential talk about the mental health and wellness of our bright and quirky kids.
Learn more about Dr. Stuart Shanker