Webinars

Empowering Parents to Advocate for Their Child's Success in School

A live conversation with Dana Jonson, MSEd JD, Special Education Attorney, host of the podcast “Special Ed on Special Ed,” and mom of five children with disabilities.

Join us for an insightful conversation with special education attorney Dana Jonson, hosted by Dr. Rebecca Jackson, Chief Programs Officer at Brain Balance. In the next webinar in our Parents Know series, Dana will equip parents with essential tools to take charge of their child’s education, particularly if they have an IEP, 504 Plan, or require special education services.

Dana, with over 20 years of experience, brings a wealth of knowledge as both a legal advocate and a parent of children with disabilities. She’ll discuss what parents need to know about IEPs and 504 Plans, how to ensure their child stays on track with goals, and when to seek outside support from an advocate or special education lawyer. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed navigating your child’s education plan, this webinar will offer clarity and actionable steps to empower you as the CEO of your child’s educational journey.

Debunking ADHD Myths and Offering Expert Tips for Supporting Your Child’s Focus and Behavior

A live conversation with Sarah McDowell, M.A., LPC-S, Licensed Professional Counselor, and behavioral health therapist with over 20 years of experience with ADHD children and their families. 

Dr. Rebecca Jackson, Chief Programs Officer for Brain Balance, will be joined by Sarah McDowell, a Licensed Professional Counselor and behavioral health therapist with over 20 years of experience working with ADHD children and their families. Together, they’ll debunk the most common myths surrounding ADHD and provide parents with valuable insights and practical strategies to help their child thrive, no matter their age.

ADHD is often misunderstood as simply a behavior issue or something kids will "grow out of." Dr. Jackson and Sarah McDowell will explain the brain-based differences behind ADHD and how it impacts attention, emotion regulation, and executive functioning. They will also discuss practical daily lifestyle changes—such as nutrition, sleep, and screen time—that can significantly influence behavior, focus, and overall brain health.

Tips to Navigate School Communication, Build Strong Relationships, and Set Meaningful Goals

A live conversation with Elizabeth MacWilliams, M.S.A. Former School Principal and Educational Consultant.

Thursday, September 12th, 2024
1 pm ET | 12 pm CT | 10 am PT 

As the back-to-school season approaches, this insightful discussion will equip parents with the tools and strategies needed to set their children up for a successful school year.

Drawing on decades of experience, Elizabeth will share practical tips on how to effectively navigate school communication systems, build strong relationships with school staff, and support your child in setting and achieving personal and academic goals.

Whether you’re preparing for a new school year or navigating unexpected challenges like schedule changes and illnesses, this webinar will provide you with the proactive strategies and mindset needed to create a positive and productive start to the year.

Use the summer months to nurture mindfulness and emotional regulation skills in kids of all ages. 

A conversation with Beth Snow MacMullan, M.S. Ed., Founder of Breathe Learn Connect Services, LLC. Executive Functioning Coach, Mindfulness and Yoga Teacher, and Professor. 

Watch the conversation between Dr. Rebecca Jackson, Chief Programs Officer for Brain Balance Centers, and Beth Snow MacMullan, M.S. Ed., Founder of Breathe Learn Connect Services, LLC. As an Executive Functioning Coach, Mindfulness and Yoga Teacher, Professor, and Neurodiversity Specialist, Beth brings a wealth of expertise in fostering mindfulness and emotional regulation in children of all ages.

Beth has developed trusted multi-sensory methods and techniques to help students find ease, efficiency, and emotional balance. From simple breathing exercises to daily mindfulness moments, her approach is engaging, enjoyable, and practical for everyday life.

Discover essential habits for your child to cultivate this summer, promoting mindfulness and incorporating breathing techniques into daily routines. Learn how to activate the parasympathetic nervous system for calmness, prevent escalations, and integrate mindful practices into your family's summer activities.

A conversation with Dr. Robyn Silverman, renowned child development specialist and host of the parenting podcast, and author of the book titled "How to Talk to Kids About Anything.”

Do you worry about your child making friends? Are you often struggling with knowing how to help when your child has an issue with a friend?

Join us for an enlightening conversation between Dr. Rebecca Jackson, Chief Programs Officer for Brain Balance Centers, and Dr. Robyn Silverman, renowned child development specialist, parenting expert, podcast host, and author of "How to Talk to Kids about Anything." In this webinar, we delve deep into the crucial topic of guiding children through the complexities of friendships.

Dr. Silverman shares invaluable insights from her book, offering practical advice and strategies for parents at every stage of their child's development. Discover how to gently teach children about friendship, identify the essential qualities of a good friend, and navigate the ever-changing dynamics of social connections.

A conversation with Dr. Kelly Cagle, PhD, Educational Researcher, Podcaster, and Parenting Coach

Join Dr. Kelly Cagle, Ph.D., and Dr. Rebecca Jackson, Chief Programs Officer at Brain Balance, for a live conversation.

In today's fast-paced world, many children struggle with disengagement from learning, leading to increased anxiety and doubts about their abilities. Dr. Kelly Cagle is on a mission to change this narrative by empowering parents to leverage daily moments as opportunities for their children's growth and development.

In this webinar, Dr. Cagle will share practical tips and strategies to help parents nurture lifelong learners, fostering confidence, problem-solving skills, and independence. From understanding and supporting learners every day to creating a family's educational philosophy, participants will gain invaluable insights into raising children who thrive academically, emotionally, and spiritually.

…And Five Foods to Always Avoid for ADHD. 

A conversation with Kelli Berghoff, MAS, RD, LD, Registered Dietitian, and Brain Balance Director of Nutrition. 

Watch the conversation on the crucial role nutrition plays in managing ADHD with Dr. Rebecca Jackson, Chief Programs Officer for Brain Balance, and Kelli Berghoff, MAS, RD, LDN, Registered Dietitian, and Director of Nutrition for Brain Balance. 

In this webinar, we'll delve into the power of food in supporting individuals with ADHD. Kelli will share her insights on the five foods that can positively impact ADHD symptoms as well as 5 foods to always avoid if you struggle with focus, impulsivity, emotional regulation, and attention. 

A conversation with Teresa Kaelin, MSOTR/L, Occupational Therapist, Professor, and Executive Director of Brain Balance in Lincoln, NE.

Watch as we delve into the fundamental aspects of sensory processing and its profound impact on various facets of our lives. The sensory system forms the bedrock of our ability to learn, maintain attention, navigate social interactions, and even regulate our emotions.

In this Sensory Processing conversation, Teresa will share her personal story about her son, providing valuable insights into how auditory sensitivity and processing challenges can manifest in everyday situations. Drawing on her expertise, she will discuss practical tips and tricks that can be implemented at home to support immediate regulation, as well as long-term strategies aimed at fostering internal self-regulation.

A conversation with Janine Halloran, licensed mental health counselor, author, and founder of Coping Skills for Kids. 

Watch this conversation with Janine Halloran, a licensed mental health counselor, accomplished author, and founder of Coping Skills for Kids. In this enriching discussion, Janine will share her wealth of experience working with kids and teens, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of children's mental health and practical strategies for parents to foster coping skills in kids who struggle with anxiety and big emotions.

Learn how Janine’s journey parenting two teenagers has evolved based on the changing needs of her children and the impact it has had on her approach to her professional practice. Discover how to tailor your parenting approaches as your children grow older and more mature to help foster self-regulation and emotional control strategies.

A conversation with Nicole Rawson, internationally recognized digital wellness expert and founder of Screen Time Clinic®.

Don't miss this conversation between two renowned experts in the field,  Dr. Rebecca Jackson, Chief Programs Officer of Brain Balance, and Nicole Rawson, internationally recognized digital wellness expert and founder of Screen Time Clinic®. With over 20 years of teaching experience and a personal journey of helping her own son overcome gaming addiction, Nicole brings a unique perspective to the discussion.

They’ll delve into the impact of screens on brain development, executive function skills, sensory input, and physical activity. They'll explore the differences between reward-driven attention and sustained attention and provide insights into how screens can affect children and teens with ADHD, sensory processing struggles, or anxiety.

A Conversation with Singer-Songwriter Alec Chambers

Join us for a candid and insightful conversation with acclaimed recording artist Alec Chambers as he opens up about his personal journey with anxiety and ADHD, from his childhood through adulthood. Alec's story is a powerful testament to the real experience of a person growing up with ADHD and anxiety. Alec will share how the Brain Balance program helped enlighten his understanding of his brain and create improvements in his daily life.

This is an invaluable opportunity for parents to learn how their kids feel growing up with ADHD, anxiety and expressive struggles and gain insights into how to better relate to their kids. 

Watch an engaging conversation between two distinguished experts, Dr. Rebecca Jackson, Chief Programs Officer of Brain Balance, and Dr. Robyn Silverman, renowned child development specialist and host of the parenting podcast and author of the recently released book titled "How to Talk to Kids About Anything”.

Together, they will explore the art of navigating those tricky, unexpected questions that children often pose, offering invaluable strategies, scripts, and insights to help you communicate effectively with your kids.

“Hand in your homework… Raise your hand… Pay attention… What did my teacher just say?… How do I get to my next class?… That noise is so distracting… Pay attention!... Wait, where did I put my homework?...”

Parents, this is your child’s brain in school. 

Believe it or not, your child’s brain is trying really hard to keep up in school! There are many underlying processes in the brain that contribute to classroom success, they’re called executive functioning skills.  

Watch the conversation between Dr. Mark Goldenberg, Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist, and brain development expert, and Dr. Rebecca Jackson, Chief Programs Officer for Brain Balance as they dive into the world of executive functioning skills and their profound impact on school success.

Parents, you’ve had a relaxing break from the stresses and pressures put on your child during the school year. But, as the new school year gets underway, what strategies can you use now to set your child up for a more successful school year?

Join our live conversation with Dr. Rebecca Jackson, Chief Programs Officer for Brain Balance, and tenured elementary and middle school educator, Lynn Brittnacher, as they discuss tips for parents and teachers to prepare for a successful school year. 

Whether your child has difficulties with attention, remembering academic information, comprehension, or behavior, you’ll learn actionable steps to take before parent-teacher conferences to help ensure school feels easier for your child this year. 

How can you align your parenting to support your child’s behavior goals?

Parents, you’re tirelessly trying to guide your child to improve their behavior. But as your child makes progress, your old parenting strategies may not be nurturing their growth. 

Join our live conversation with Dr. Rebecca Jackson, VP of Programs for Brain Balance and Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist, Dr. Michelle Robertson, Ph.D., LCMFT, as they discuss how to align your parenting styles to support the behavior goals you have for your child. Dr. Robertson will give strategies to address challenging behaviors in kids and teens. 

You can practice skills NOW to improve your child’s focus in school. 

Watch our live conversation with  UCSF scientist and researcher, Dr. Courtney Gallen, Ph.D. as they discuss the two types of attention abilities children need for academic success. Dr. Gallen will dive into the latest research on how mindfulness exercises can help improve focus and give tips for what parents can do this summer to set kids up for success in the next school year. 

Lack of focus and being easily distracted can have an impact on all areas of life, but knowing what to do about it is more complex than it seems.

Brain Balance VP of Programs and Outcomes, Dr. Rebecca Jackson sits down with scientist and researcher, Dr. Joaquin Anguera to talk about what the latest science reveals about focus and distraction. Dr. Anguera will share three key things parents need to understand and provide insight into what can be done to improve these areas.

Whether you are hoping to avoid the use of medication or your child is currently medicated yet there are still areas of struggle, focusing on a whole-child approach to addressing ADHD is a must. 

Join Dr. Rebecca Jackson to discuss how we can go beyond medication to reduce ADHD symptoms and improve overall well-being. You will also hear from a Brain Balance parent who will share her family's journey.

Parenting a student with an IEP or 504 Plan sometimes feels like playing a game of “Whack-a-Mole” – resolve one issue, and another one pops up screaming for attention. Parents need to have a firm understanding of each of these two avenues for school accommodations and services — and a roadmap for what to do when things don’t go right. 

In this webinar, we will look at the top 10 issues that parents encounter with IEPs and 504 Plans.

Get conversation starters and sample language for each parenting stage — childhood, middle school, and high school — plus strategies to build connections, ideas for one-on-one activities they’ll love, and advice for better listening and asking questions to build connection will all be included.

Get a list of lesser-known but highly enjoyable games and activities, plus learn how to prepare for game nights and make the experience successful.

You get a phone call from the school that your child is having behavior issues in the classroom. Now what? Interfering school behavior problems create academic, social, and emotional gaps in a learner’s progress. If left unaddressed, behavior struggles can lead to social isolation, a loss of instructional time, decreased self-esteem and academic under-achievement.

This webinar will walk parents through steps to take from the very first phone call about their child’s behaviors to the implementation of individualized strategies.

Dyscalculia is a learning disability that makes it difficult to do math and tasks that involve math. It often leads to math anxiety — in students and even adults. It is not understood as well as dyslexia, but some experts believe dyscalculia is just as common. 

Students with dyscalculia are often lost in the math classroom. This webinar explains why even good math instruction “doesn’t stick” for the dyscalculic learner, and how to optimally engage at-risk students and achieve deep understanding of math concepts.

The past year was tough, confusing, and emotionally draining for students (and their parents). Pandemic learning arrangements tripped up and, in some cases, halted kids’ progress in school. What can and should parents do to help their children recoup the learning losses of the past year and prepare for the new school year? 

Learning experts Susan and Paul Yellin discuss the key things that parents and students can do right now to help the new school year get off to a strong start.

What's happening in the brain at the core of a child's ADHD symptoms? In this webinar, learn they key brain functions that contribute to issues with focus, attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

Understand how times of stress contribute to a child's ability to function.  Learn strategies to make the brain stronger and improve focus, mood, and resilience for kids and teens during times of stress and change. 

Guest speaker Teresa Kaelin, MSOTR/L, occupational therapist, professor and Brain Balance Center Executive Director joined Dr. Rebecca Jackson, Vice President of Programs & Outcomes for Brain Balance to discuss child and teen sensory processing struggles.

In this webinar you'll get parenting tips to navigate your child's sensory processing difficulties and information on how these difficulties are related to brain development.

Brain Balance was excited to welcome guest speaker Dr. Robyn Silverman, well-known child & teen developmental specialist and host of the parenting podcast “How to Talk to Kids About Anything.” Dr. Silverman joined Dr. Rebecca Jackson, Vice President of Programs & Outcomes for Brain Balance.

Learn how to navigate time at home with your family by understanding emotions, diffusing fighting and implementing self-care tips.

Attention and focus success requires many brain functions coming together, driven by brain connections. When the brain networks are NOT on-track with development there may be an impact on focus!

Learn about focus and attention as it relates to your child's brain development and for tips to help set up your child for success during school closures.

Did you know that behavior can be a result of development? The more our brain matures, the easier it is to stay calm, even when frustrated!

Learn key information on why some children are more prone to meltdowns and defiant behaviors than others and tips to for parents when your child's meltdowns become unmanageable.

Did you know that your child's food choices has a big impact on behavior, focus and attention?

Learn key information on how nutrition affects brain development and how food choices can trigger negative behaviors. Gain a foundation for clean eating habits for the whole family.

Why do certain situations cause sensory overload for one child, when another feels calm and confident?

Learn key information on why sensory overload occurs and tips to help your child lessen the stress brought on by sensory processing challenges.

Why do gatherings with family and friends cause cause stress for my child, when it does not for another?

Learn key information on how to successfully navigate family relationships to make the most of your time together this holiday season.

Why does a situation cause anxiety for my child, when it does not for another?

Learn key information on why some children are more prone to stress and anxiety than others and tips to help ease your child’s anxiety.

Is homework time a source of stress for your family’s daily routine?

Learn tips to ease homework difficulties to help set your child up for success in school.

Is your child’s struggle to pay attention affecting your family’s life on a daily basis? Understanding the relationship between focus and brain development is critical to improving attention levels.

Learn key information and tips around focus and attention to help set your child up for success at home and in the classroom in the new school year.

Tracking developmental progress is critical to understand the struggles your child may be facing.

Learn about the typical childhood development milestones, what are some red flags to watch out for, and how those red flags may present themselves in your child’s struggles.

Did you know that vacations can be difficult for children who struggle from a brain development perspective?

Learn some tips to assist you in having a memorable family vacation.

Did you know that transitioning from school to summer can be a stressful time if your child has been struggling all year?

Learn how to help your child have a summer experience that will lead to a positive start in the new school year.

Is your child's diet boosting their academic potential, or holding them back?

Gain powerful tools you can use right away to boost your child's potential in the classroom.

Did you know that when kids spend time outdoors and engage in physical activity they are boosting their brain development?

Learn more about finding ways to get your kids outside and moving this summer.