Most Popular Presentations
Ann Douglas is a passionate and inspiring speaker who sparks conversations that matter about parenting and mental health. She is the author of numerous bestselling books in the pregnancy and parenting books category, including The Mother of All Pregnancy Books. Her most recent books on parenting are Happy Parents, Happy Kids and Parenting Through The Storm.
Interested in inviting Ann to speak at your school or to your community group? She'd love to brainstorm the possibilities.
Looking for some ideas and inspiration in the meantime? What follows is a list of her most popular parenting presentations.
Wondering where Ann has spoken recently or what events she has in the works right now? Here is a list of her upcoming events and her recent presentations.
FOR PARENTS
KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
HAPPY PARENTS, HAPPY KIDS
Keynote address for parents (elementary, middle school, or high school)
60 minutes
Focus: Mental health, physical health, family health, parenting strategies, and tapping into support
Parenting doesn’t happen in a bubble. As parents, we can’t help but be affected by what’s happening in the wider world. Is it any wonder then that so many of us are feeling anxious, guilty, and overwhelmed? In this thought-provoking presentation, Ann Douglas highlights the broader cultural forces that have made everything about parenting feel incredibly high stakes. Then she pivots to solutions, explaining how parents have the unique opportunity to serve as agents of change in their families and their communities. Her takeaway message is clear, powerful, and potentially life changing: you can tame the anxiety, embrace the joy, and thrive alongside your kids while building a better world.
This presentation is based on Ann’s brand new book, Happy Parents, Happy Kids.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
PARENTING THROUGH THE STORM
“Ann has that rare gift of being able to put a smile on your face while opening your mind. She was able to connect with the audience in such a meaningful way.”
Keynote address for parents (elementary, middle school, or high school)
60 minutes
Focus: Mental health
“Ann Douglas was an absolute pleasure to work with. She was prompt, attentive, and genuinely took the needs of our organization into consideration when designing her presentation. Ann had an incredible ability to connect with our audience, and she offered some very valuable parenting advice and thoughtful insights. We couldn’t have asked for a better guest speaker!”
“Having a child who is struggling doesn’t make you a bad parent, just as being a child who is struggling doesn’t make your child a bad kid.” That’s a powerful and reassuring message to hear if you happen to be the parent of a child who is struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, an autism spectrum disorder, or a related challenge. In this encouraging and story-rich presentation, Ann Douglas shares some of her own hard-won wisdom about thriving as a family while weathering one of life’s many storms (the focus of her recent book Parenting Through the Storm). The workshop is based on interviews with more than 50 parents who have walked this walk and who are eager to share their best advice with other parents. Expect a workshop that is kind, encouraging, and real and that leaves you feeling anything but alone.
Workshop content: parenting strategies, advocacy skills, stress management and coping skills, self-care, self-compassion, creating your own support network, and lifestyle (nutrition, fitness, sleep, and making time for fun).
Note: Read Ann’s recent interview with Bell Let’s Talk to learn more about her approach to parenting and mental health. Or watch her being interviewed on Canada AM about her book.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
BIG-PICTURE PARENTING
Keynote address for parents (elementary, middle school, or high school)
60 minutes
Focus: Parenting strategies and mindful parenting
“Ann draws in the audience with her compelling personal stories and keeps them listening with solid, doable advice. The feedback from our attendees was very enthusiastic.”
In this thought-provoking presentation, parenting author Ann Douglas discusses the advantages of taking a big-picture approach to parenting (parenting with your hopes and dreams for your children and your family in mind). She will discuss the importance of tuning into your child’s needs, being mindful of your parenting decisions, building relationships with other parents, and practicing self-care. Expect a compelling mix of practical advice and lively anecdotes from this popular and engaging speaker. This eye-catching graphic recording captures some of the key ideas in this one-of-a-kind presentation.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
HEALTHY PARENTS, HEALTHY KIDS
“Ann is an engaging speaker, who shares her heartfelt messages with humor and compassion and in doing so, connects with her audience in a genuine way.”
Keynote address for parents (elementary, middle school, or high school)
60 minutes
Focus: Parent wellness
Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s self-preservation. It’s also an act of kindness toward your child. (Every child deserves the gift of a happy, healthy parent, after all.) In this thought-provoking presentation, author and radio columnist Ann Douglas will talk about the importance of practicing self-care by prioritizing the four pillars of good health: sleep, physical activity, nutrition, and time for fun. You will learn about the power of self-compassion, the magic of connection, and the secrets to achieving your health and wellness goals (how to set goals that are realistic, measurable, and achievable—and to maintain your commitment to achieving those goals). Expect to be inspired and moved by the wisdom and stories shared by this thought-provoking speaker—a bestselling author and mother of four who has experienced her own transformative physical and mental health journey.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
PARENTING IN AN AGE OF ANXIETY:
A STRESS AND ANXIETY TOOLKIT FOR PARENTS
Keynote address for parents (elementary, middle school, or high school)
60 minutes
Focus: Stress management and coping skills for parents and kids
“Ann Douglas was the opening keynote speaker for our Mindful Parenting Conference 2015. Her presentation was informative and inspirational and set the tone for the whole day. Ann conveys her wealth of knowledge in a personal way that engages the audience. The feedback we received from participants said that her presentation was one of the things they enjoyed most about the conference. Speaking as an organizer, Ann is very professional and a pleasure to work with.”
All kids experience stress and anxiety. These emotions are part of being human, after all. But one in eight children experiences such a high level of anxiety that the child finds it difficult to manage at home or at school. In this thought-provoking presentation by Ann Douglas, a bestselling parent author who also struggles with anxiety herself, you'll learn how to tell the difference between stress and anxiety (and why this matters); stress management skills for kids and adults; and anxiety management skills for kids and adults (what makes anxiety better, not worse).
KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
THE TRUTH ABOUT TEENS
Keynote address for parents of teens and/or preteens
60 minutes
Focus: Adolescent development and parenting strategies
This informative and encouraging presentation focuses on adolescent development (how understanding adolescent development can make you a better parent), parenting strategies (the three things teenagers need most from their parents), and the job description for the job of teenager (the four “key developmental tasks” of adolescence). It explains why the teen years can be such a challenging time for both parents and teens alike — and how parents can respond that challenge in a way that strengthens, not weakens, their connection to their teen. It also discusses the important role that parents can play in supporting adolescent mental health throughout the teen years and beyond—and what that means in practical terms (how parents can apply this information to their everyday lives, starting right now).
KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
SOCIAL MEDIA SMARTS:
TECH STRATEGIES THAT WORK FOR PARENTS AND TEENS
Keynote address for parents of teens and/or preteens
60 minutes
Focus: Adolescent development and parenting strategies; social media and technology
This presentation explains
Why teens are so drawn to social media and what parents need to know in order to support them in making healthy choices
Why less screen time is beneficial for parents and teens
How to make more conscious and deliberate decisions about the use of technology plus highlights from the science of habit change on how to make those changes stick.
FOR PROFESSIONALS
“Ann Douglas was an amazing keynote speaker at our citywide professional development conference on Parent Engagement. Leading up to the event, she worked closely with us to ensure that the content of her presentation was relevant to our profession, informative and meaningful to our staff. She checked in frequently to make sure that we were all on the same page, had great ideas and was wonderful to brainstorm with. She was an inspiring presenter, using humor and touching personal stories to promote a greater understanding of the parent perspective when we engage with our children and their families. Our clinicians were touched by her honesty, motivated by her words of wisdom and truly energized to make changes in their daily practice. Ann’s presentation was a great way to kick off our conference! Thank you, Ann, for a presentation that our staff are still talking about!”
KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
SUPPORTING FAMILIES THROUGH THE STORM
Keynote address for professionals
60 minutes
Focus: What professionals need to know about supporting a family with a child who is struggling.
Wondering what you can do to make a difference for a child or a family who is struggling? Eager to learn how you can communicate your caring and support in a way that recognizes and builds upon the strengths of that family? In this practical and inspiring presentation, Ann Douglas will connect the dots between the growing body of research about family support and engagement and the real-world needs of children and families. After all, if it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to support that child’s parent. Here’s how to be that village….
Learning objectives:
Learn strategies for helping parents navigate difficult parenting challenges that can directly impact mental health outcomes in parent and child.
Understand your role in supporting an individual with a mental health challenges—and the importance of supporting other family members at the same time.
Discover best practices for building trust with families who are struggling—and in a way that is validating and empowering.
INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP:
LET'S START A SELF-CARE REVOLUTION!
Workshop for professionals
60 minutes
Focus: How
Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s self preservation. And it’s what allows you to function at your best when you’re working with children and families. In this practical and thought-provoking workshop, Ann Douglas will walk you through the process of developing a self-care plan for yourself (lessons she freely admits to having learned through the School of Hard Knocks herself). Expect a lively workshop that is amply sprinkled with stories. You won’t want to miss this one!
Learning objectives:
Learn strategies for prioritizing and practicing self-care.
Understand how to create a self-care plan that is realistic, achievable, and self-sustaining.
Discover how to shift your workplace culture to one that celebrates self-care for everyone, including the families you serve.
“Ann was a delight to work with—flexible, responsive, and kind. Her presentation was organized and clear and the feedback we received was nothing short of stellar.”
KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
JOURNEYING TOGETHER: THE HOW AND WHY OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
Keynote address for professionals
90 minutes
Focus: What family engagement means and why it matters
A thought-provoking look at the how and why of family engagement: what it does (and doesn't) mean; why it matters (the case for family engagement); how to apply the latest research on family engagement to your organization's work with families.
FOR GENERAL AUDIENCES
“Ann Douglas is an articulate and passionate speaker. Not only does she offer her audience expert knowledge in parenting, but she also demonstrates kindness, integrity, and heart. Ann has been a valued speaker at The Baby Show since its inception in 2013. Her talks are always well attended and she delivers relevant, helpful information in a very approachable and honest manner. Ann Douglas is a must-have speaker at any event or conference.”
INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP:
THE COURAGE TO CHANGE
Workshop for high school students
60 minutes
Focus: Finding purpose; embracing change and growth
Are you living your dream life or have you convinced yourself to settle for second-best? In this thought-provoking presentation, author Ann Douglas will encourage you to embrace rather than fear the possibility of change. You will learn about the power of self-compassion (how treating yourself with kindness and gentleness as opposed to bullying yourself opens the door to possibility), the magic of connection (the importance of finding allies who will truly support you on your journey of change and growth), and the secrets to setting yourself up for success (how to set goals that are realistic, measurable, and achievable—and to maintain your commitment to achieving those goals). Expect to be inspired and moved by the wisdom and stories shared by this thought-provoking speaker—a bestselling author and mother of four who has experienced a transformative health journey.
INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP:
THE POWER OF STORIES
Workshop for high school students
60 minutes
Focus: Making sense of the evolving story that is your life
“Each of us has the power to change the world. That change is sparked when we dare to share the contents of our hearts with other people. Sharing your story can be life changing — for you and for everyone else whose lives you touch.”
– Ann Douglas
You can allow a difficult experience to destroy you or you can allow it to strengthen you. And one of the ways to find strength in the wake of a difficult experience is by helping other people. This is the approach that has defined Ann Douglas’ career as a writer—one that has allowed her to find purpose and passion in daily living. In this practical and yet highly personal presentation, she will talk about how learning to embrace her own imperfection gave her the courage to share her story with others. “A painful or difficult experience doesn’t have to limit or define you, she notes. “It simply becomes a thread in the fabric of your life story.”
WHAT TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS WORK WITH ANN?
You can find a complete list of all of Ann's speaking engagements organized by date here.
Schools and School Boards and other education organizations
A couple of appearances each month at schools and/or board-wide parenting conferences
Parenting organizations (non-profits and for profits)
Hincks Dellcrest Centre
Parent Education Network, Toronto
Mindful Parenting Conference, Durham Region
Life with a Baby (postpartum support non-profit)
The Baby Show, Ottawa
The Baby Show, Toronto
VOICE For Hearing Impaired Children, Family Camp Presentation, Haliburton, Ontario
Autism Ontario Peel
Mnaadmodzawin Health Services, Little Current, Ontario
Adoption Society of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
Mindful Parenting Conference, Whitby, Ontario
Mental health organizations
Bell Let’s Talk (Mississauga headquarters)
Centre for Mental Health and Addiction (CAMH)
Partners for Mental Health (national mental health advocacy organization) (webinars and videos)
Children’s Mental Health Ontario
Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa
Sarnia-Lambton Rebound, Sarnia, Ontario
Morneau Shepell Children’s Support Solutions (webinars)
International Bipolar Foundation (webinars)
Families Advocating for Better Mental Health Everywhere
Bartimaeus Family Services, Toronto
Social service organizations
Early Childhood Development Support Services, Edmonton, Alberta
Etobicoke Brighter Futures Coalition Conference, Toronto, Ontario
UNICEF Canada and the Canadian Index of Child and Youth Wellbeing, Toronto, Ontario
Child Development Resource Connection Peel, Mississauga, Ontario
North Hastings Children’s Services, Bancroft, Ontario
Supportive Housing In Peel, Mississauga, Ontario
Waterloo Region Family Network, Kitchener, Ontario
Mnaadmodzawin Health Services Parenting Conference, Little Current, Ontario
Caledon-Dufferin Victim Services
Health care institutions
Toronto Public Health: Early Abilities
Ontario Association of Children’s Rehabilitative Services (now Empowered Kids Ontario)
Child Bright Network: Brain-Child Partners Conference
Cornwall Hospital Foundation, Cornwall, Ontario
Alberta Children’s Hospital: Community Education Service, Child And Adolescent Mental Health
Rare Disease Foundation Parent Support Group At SickKids
Toronto Parents Of Multiple Births Association
Peterborough Health Services Foundation fundraiser, Peterborough, Ontario
Literacy Festivals
Spur Festival, Toronto
Ottawa Writers’ Festival
Edmonton Literacy and Learning Day
Trent Literacy Conference
Toronto Public Library Tutors' Conference
Corporations and Business Groups
TD Bank Group
Women's Business Network of Peterborough
Note: Ann welcomes the opportunity to partner with schools and community groups who have applied for funding under the Ontario Ministry of Education’s PRO Grant program. If you’re working on your application for the 2018-19 Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grants program and you’re looking for ideas, inspiration, or tips on what has worked well for other schools that have partnered with Ann, please get in touch. She would be happy to share what she’s learned.