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Parent Coaching Programs at Early Days Autism Center utilize the Early Start Denver Model that has been tested within a parent delivered approach for toddlers ages 10 months to 35 months. The parent training curriculum of the ESDM addresses the unique needs of children in the 12-24 month period in several ways (Smith et al, 2006). First, the intervention is carried out at home or in natural centers (“parent & me” playgroups), and the parents are centrally involved in planning and implementing the learning goals. Parents are taught to choose materials, activities and routines that are enjoyable and interesting for their child. By reading their cues and following their interests, play routines that add meaning and predictability for their child are developed. Parents are taught to develop joint activity routines that are designed to build skills and “fill in” current gaps for the child.
Early Days Parent PlayGroup
Learn, Play, and Grow Together
The Early Days Parent PlayGroup is a 12-week evidence-based program designed to help parents become confident, active participants in their child's developmental journey. Built on the principles of the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), the program teaches families practical strategies they can use during everyday routines, play, and daily interactions to support their child's communication, social engagement, and learning.
Parents participate in weekly educational sessions based on the curriculum from An Early Start for Your Child with Autism by Sally J. Rogers, Geraldine Dawson, and Laurie Vismara. These sessions provide step-by-step guidance on incorporating ESDM techniques into natural caregiving routines, helping children learn through meaningful interactions at home.
In addition to the parent education classes, families attend weekly Parent-Child PlayGroup sessions, where they receive hands-on coaching from Early Days Autism Center clinicians. These interactive sessions allow parents to practice the week's strategies while receiving individualized feedback in a supportive environment.
For children who demonstrate readiness for peer engagement, PlayGroup sessions also provide opportunities to develop social interaction skills with other children. Parents learn how to encourage and support these early peer relationships, helping their child build confidence in social settings.
Program Goals
The Early Days Parent PlayGroup is designed to:
- Empower parents with practical, evidence-based teaching strategies.
- Strengthen the parent-child relationship through positive daily interactions.
- Increase children's communication, social engagement, and play skills.
- Help families incorporate learning opportunities into everyday routines.
- Support the generalization of skills from therapy into home and community environments.
- Build parents' confidence and sense of accomplishment as their child's primary teacher.
Parent Training Curriculum
Parent coaching is one of the defining features of the Early Start Denver Model and has been a cornerstone of Dr. Cynthia Zierhut Ursu's work since 2007. After years of providing individualized parent coaching, Dr. Zierhut Ursu developed and successfully implemented a group-based parent training model, making high-quality instruction accessible to more families while fostering a collaborative learning community.
Throughout the 12-week program, parents complete a structured curriculum covering the core principles of ESDM. Weekly topics include:
- Step into the Spotlight – Capturing Your Child's Attention
- Find the Smile! – Building Joy Through Sensory Social Routines
- It Takes Two to Tango – Developing Back-and-Forth Interactions
- Talking Without Words – Understanding the Importance of Nonverbal Communication
- "Do What I Do!" – Teaching Through Imitation
- How Children Learn – Understanding Developmental Learning Principles
- Creating ESDM Learning Objectives
- The Joint Attention Triangle – Sharing Interests and Experiences
- It's Playtime! – Learning Through Play
- Let's Pretend – Encouraging Imaginative Play
- Moving Into Speech – Supporting Early Language Development
- Putting It All Together – Integrating Skills Into Everyday Life
Each lesson builds upon the previous week's concepts, giving parents a comprehensive understanding of how to support their child's development throughout the day.
Home Practice
Learning doesn't stop when class ends.
Parents are encouraged to practice newly learned strategies every day during naturally occurring family routines such as meals, bath time, bedtime, outdoor play, reading, and community outings.
These everyday moments provide countless opportunities to strengthen communication, social engagement, and learning while helping children apply new skills across a variety of settings.
Who Can Participate?
The Early Days Parent PlayGroup is available to:
- Families receiving services through their Regional Center in El Dorado County, Sacramento County, San Francisco, and Marin County.
- Families seeking services through private pay.
- Families who prefer the convenience of telehealth parent coaching, when appropriate.
At this time, the curriculum is offered in English only. Participating parents or caregivers should be able to speak and read English fluently to fully engage with the educational materials and group discussions.
Enrollment and Assessment
Once a family receives a referral or is invited from the program waitlist, the enrollment process begins with a comprehensive intake assessment.
Parents will be contacted by Dr. Cynthia Zierhut Ursu or a member of the Early Days Autism Center administrative team to schedule an approximately three-hour intake appointment.
During this visit, an Early Days Autism Center clinician meets with the family to:
- Learn about the child's developmental strengths and needs.
- Explain the Parent PlayGroup program in detail.
- Discuss family priorities and goals.
- Complete portions of the Early Start Denver Model Curriculum Checklist (Rogers & Dawson).
- Collaboratively develop an individualized learning plan.
Working together, parents and clinicians identify approximately 10 short-term developmental objectives, along with practical teaching strategies that can be incorporated into everyday family routines. This personalized plan serves as the foundation for the family's participation throughout the 12-week program.
Helping Families Become Their Child's Greatest Teacher
At Early Days Autism Center, we believe parents play the most important role in a child's development. The Early Days Parent PlayGroup provides families with the knowledge, confidence, and practical tools needed to support learning every day—not just during therapy sessions.
By combining evidence-based education, individualized coaching, and meaningful parent-child interactions, our program helps children build communication, social, and developmental skills while empowering families to create lasting positive change together.