Bright Stars Parenting Program
An online parent training program created by Dr. Deborah Pontillo for parents and caregivers of highly intelligent children on the mild end of the autism spectrum.
Why parent training matters most
The online parent training program, Bright Stars, has been created specifically for parents and caregivers of highly intelligent children on the mild end of the autism spectrum.
In my years of practice, I have seen countless children with ASD who have incredible potential but are struggling with social, behavioral, and/or emotional challenges at home or at school. These children may not need (or qualify for) special education or intensive ABA therapies. And yet, there are obstacles that parents find extremely challenging to navigate.
In the months following an initial diagnosis, or even further down the line, I often find parents returning to my office to seek advice and consultation on dealing with behavior issues, tantrums and rigidity. Most of the time, these parents are already juggling all kinds of therapies that have been recommended for their child: speech, OT, social groups, ABA and every other activity they can think of to give their child opportunities to learn and grow. Amidst all this, there is one thing I see taking a back seat time and again, and it is actually the most crucial component of the child’s growth and success: parent training.
Some of the questions parents ask me most often
What more can I do at home to help my child progress socially?
I really need help figuring out how to deal with the day-to-day frustrations.
My child has a lot of anxiety. How can I help him cope with it?
I know my child can do so much better at school if she could only focus! How can I help her with it?
The idea behind Bright Stars
While regular consultations with an expert would help with these issues, they can become cost prohibitive, not to mention take up valuable time. To be honest, while bringing your child to see a professional is important, and warranted in many circumstances, in my professional opinion the most crucial ingredient to your child’s success is that you, who spend more hours with your child than anyone else, are equipped with the knowledge, skills and tools of experts like myself.
Unlike coughs, colds and sinus infections, the remedy doesn’t begin and end in the doctor’s office with a prescription. It takes the active education and participation of parents for the “treatment” to succeed.
And this is the idea behind Bright Stars. Through this program I have condensed answers to literally hundreds of parent questions, problems and challenges into concise, content-rich video modules, giving you the education and support you need to have the information and energy to be your best self and bring out the strengths of your child.
— Dr. Deborah Pontillo
Three modules, one solid foundation
Each module includes a video and an accompanying parent handout with strategies for that topic. I find this online format highly effective and less time consuming (and, needless to say, more cost-effective) than individual office visits.
The three modules have been carefully chosen to give you a solid foundation in understanding the underlying causes of problem behaviors and challenges, effective tools to handle them when they happen, and ways to anticipate and prevent them before they happen again.
Behavior Challenges and Motivation
How do you motivate your child? What do you need to do to help your child make good behavior choices, and why do some typical discipline strategies often fail? We talk about how to establish the best parenting framework to elicit your child's motivation and improve his or her behavior.
Perspective Taking as a Second Language
Social communication isn't only about conversing or getting your needs met. It's also about reading subtle gestures and body language, and inferring from tone what isn't said directly. This can be a major challenge for children on the spectrum, affecting how they relate to peers and family and contributing to anxiety and self-confidence. We outline the main parenting tools for teaching social perspective taking.
Tools and Tips for Handling Rigidity
Why does a small change in routine elicit such a strong reaction? Life is full of unexpected events. How do you handle an outburst over a seemingly small change in plan, or a child who is stubborn, strong-willed, or refuses to budge on their agenda? We discuss what you need to know to teach flexibility.
Start with the free introductory video
Here is a free introductory video that gives a framework for understanding the unique developmental profile of your bright child on the autism spectrum.
If you have any questions about the program, or are interested in purchasing it, please email us at contact@sdkidsfirst.com.