Are You...
Baffled by your child's behavior?
Unsure how to help your atypically developing child?
Afraid a misstep will set your child's development or behavior back?
Parenting doesn't come with a guidebook, but there is a way to understand, predict, and even control behavior. It’s all in the science of behavior and the behavioral laws learned from that practice.
It's science, but it's not rocket science!
Understand how the science of behavior
impacts children and their caregivers
at every stage of development.
Holiday tips FOR AUTISM: How to help your child with autism have a great holiday season
Autism| Parenting strategies
If you have a child with autism or on the autism spectrum, you already know that changes in his or her schedule can wreak havoc. And nothing says ‘holiday season’ like a ton of extra obligations, late nights, new events, and family chaos. So how can you have a merry holiday season while respecting the…
What does it actually mean to have a strong-willed child?
Autism| Parenting strategies
A strong-willed child is spirited and courageous. Strong-willed kids are known for their daring, their desire to test limits and learn things for themselves, and their deep sense of self. They have big, strong feelings and emotions, and tend to be at full-speed in everything they do. Raising a strong-willed child is challenging. Whether you want…
SPD Halloween tips: How to help your kid with SPD or autism
Autism| Parenting strategies
Sensory issues and trick-or-treating? SPD and unfamiliar costumes? Autism and too much candy and stimulation? Can these things go together (or can we at least survive them unscathed)? Yes! SPD Halloween tips are out there, and we’ve collected some of the best, to help you and your child with SPD or autism have a fun-filled…
What are executive functioning skills?
ADHD| Ages and stages: 0-5| Ages and stages: 12-18| Ages and stages: 6-11| Autism| Behavior basics
You may have heard of ‘executive functioning’ at your child’s school, OT office, or psychiatry appointment. It’s kind of a big deal. At the same time, executive functioning is very basic. You use executive functioning skills every day! So, what is it? The executive functions are a set of processes that allow you to manage…
school support help: how parents can support school personnel, teachers, and caregivers
Ages and stages: 0-5| Ages and stages: 12-18| Ages and stages: 6-11
Now that school is underway, it’s time to turn our attention to how we can support those important people who support our kids daily! Supporting our teachers is more important than ever, and school support help is crucial. Here’s what you can do, no matter what age child you have, or what type of school…
How to spot delays of Theory of Mind in kids
Ages and stages: 0-5| Autism| Understanding Behavior
Theory of Mind is a term in psychology that assesses an individual’s degree of capacity for empathy and understanding of others. It is a crucial social-cognitive skill that kids need to develop, so delays in theory of mind are worth paying attention to. Theory of mind enables kids to understand that others experience feelings, others…
Understanding Behavior
How to spot delays of Theory of Mind in kids
Ages and stages: 0-5| Autism| Understanding Behavior
Theory of Mind is a term in psychology that assesses an individual’s degree of capacity for empathy and understanding of others. It is a crucial social-cognitive skill that kids need to develop, so delays in theory of mind are worth paying attention to. Theory of mind enables kids to understand that others experience feelings, others…
Parenting with co-regulation: how to calm your child
Ages and stages: 0-5| Autism| Understanding Behavior
You know how when your child gets more and more ramped up, YOU also get more and more agitated? Or maybe the reverse is sometimes true: when you get increasingly stressed over a situation, your child begins to react to this vibe, becoming more upset. This was me—full-scale hostage in the fit of a lifetime….
When is it sensory processing disorder in kids?
ADHD| Autism| Depression and anxiety| Understanding Behavior
And when are sensory issues a symptom of something else, such as autism? This is the question parents ask themselves a lot when seeing the signs of sensory processing disorder in kids. What is sensory processing disorder? Sensory processing disorder (SPD) affects how your brain processes sensory information such as things you see, hear, smell,…
Creating social narratives to help kids with autism
Autism| Understanding Behavior
We already know that behavior is simply any action that can be observed and measured. And we’ve learned that ABA therapy can greatly help kids with autism. Part of ABA therapy is teaching new skills, and another part is discouraging undesirable behaviors. We’re going to focus on the teaching new skills part. One thing your…
Why your parenting needs science
Ages and stages: 0-5| Understanding Behavior
Six weeks and two days was as long as I lasted. Yes, I counted the days. I had always thought of myself as the fairly strong-minded, perseverant person. I was completely prepared for motherhood—the sleepless nights, the changes to my body, the mental and physical toll—all of it. I felt like I was walking into…
ADHD behavioral therapy: How to use ABA therapy for ADHD
ADHD| Understanding Behavior
You might think of ABA as a therapy tool for kids on the autism spectrum (which it totally is!). But ABA therapy for ADHD is a proven resource, and one you may not have yet explored for your child or teen with ADHD. Back up. What is ABA? Let’s start at the beginning. ABA is…
Behavior 101
What are executive functioning skills?
ADHD| Ages and stages: 0-5| Ages and stages: 12-18| Ages and stages: 6-11| Autism| Behavior basics
You may have heard of ‘executive functioning’ at your child’s school, OT office, or psychiatry appointment. It’s kind of a big deal. At the same time, executive functioning is very basic. You use executive functioning skills every day! So, what is it? The executive functions are a set of processes that allow you to manage…
7 ways to connect with your toddler or preschool-aged child
Ages and stages: 0-5| Behavior basics
I know what you’re thinking…you’re probably ‘connected’ with your child all day, every day! After all, it’s not hard to connect with your toddler or preschooler…they’re hanging on you all the time, needing something constantly, and go with you everywhere. Right? But what about meaningful connection? Sounds hard? Time-consuming? It’s not! We have 10 ways…
How to motivate kids (when nothing seems to work!)
Ages and stages: 0-5| Ages and stages: 12-18| Ages and stages: 6-11| Behavior basics
You want your child to behave in a certain way, perform to a particular standard (say, in school), or simply not embarrass you with a tantrum in the grocery store aisle. But how to motivate kids who don’t want to comply? I have one kid who is motivated simply by guilt…he’s a parent pleaser and…
Rethinking Willful behavior: Is my child defiant or is something else going on?
Behavior basics| Parenting strategies
Willful behavior is worrisome, but good news…sometimes, your child may not be acting willfully at all. Your defiant child may be going through something else entirely. Case in point: The task was simple, or seemingly simple. My young friend had stepped on another friend’s fingers and he needed to do the socially appropriate thing and…
TOP STRATEGIES EXPERTS USE TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR (AND HOW YOU CAN USE THEM!)
Autism| Behavior basics
Whether you have a special needs child or a typically-developing child, these top parenting strategies for changing and directing behavior are key! We already know that guiding behavior is hard, but as we learn the science behind behavior, top parenting strategies emerge. The following strategies are used every day with ABA therapists and can be…
The danger of inconsistent reinforcement (and how to avoid it)
Autism| Behavior basics| Parenting strategies
Inconsistent reinforcement sounds like a big concept, but I promise it’s not! A child–whether atypically developing or typically–will repeat behaviors that are reinforced or rewarded (this is positive reinforcement) and will most likely not repeat behaviors that are not reinforced or punished. We all understand this concept as human beings; after all, we see it…
We get it!
We’ve been there.
Jessica Bowers is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and founder and program director of Waypoint Behavioral Health Solutions (link), who found solace and solutions in behavioral science. Her journey began more than 15 years ago, sitting in a therapist’s office with her own four-year-old boy, hearing the words “autism diagnosis” for the first time.
Even with a background in education, special needs, and curriculum development, Jessica still struggled to find her footing and the right direction for her family.
Whether you’re raising typically-developing children or your child has been given a behavioral diagnosis, you’ll find science and research-backed tools for your parenting toolkit, real-life solutions, and community.
Get the Answers You Can Use
Have You Ever...
Rewarded your
child with a treat?
Taken away a beloved toy when necessary?
Left early from a fun event to give your child (and you!) a much-needed time out?
Then guess what? You already implement behavioral science in your daily parenting without even realizing it!
-You Got This-
(Remember, behavioral science isn’t rocket science.)
