I am incredibly passionate about my work and about the fact that parents and children deserve to feel good about themselves, their interactions, and their work towards accomplishing goals.  It is my firm belief that all children, parents, and families need support from time to time. Whether coping with the struggles of typical infancy and early childhood or dealing with special needs, support is invaluable. In my work I have found that for family education to be effective it must be relevant to each family’s unique situation. Each member’s stage of development should be considered and interaction must be supported in order for a situation to improve.

By combining child and parent education, issues are dealt with from multiple directions. This type of work educates parents in how to read their child’s cues and interact with their child based on where they are functioning developmentally. Taking the struggle out of parenting makes it a far more rewarding endeavor.  When working with children the focus is on the whole child, encompassing all areas of their development. Each child is individually assessed and a plan is created to help that child reach their fullest potential. Throughout my work with children with special needs and their families, I focus on strength and abilities. I use those areas as motivation for success and to inform individualized plans for parenting, education, and behavior.

My goal is to support a family in their desire to be happier and healthier. I’ll be there with you, up to my elbows if necessary, as you and your children make this investment in yourselves.  I am confident, that together, we can accomplish this goal!

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  3rd Annual “All Kids Fair” to Celebrate Childhood on 4-28-13

      JOIN US: Dana's Kids is Offering A Workshop at the 3rd Annual "All Kids Fair" The 3rd Annual All Kids Fair takes place on Sunday, April 28, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Melville Marriott - Long Island.  The event is dedicated to bringing together individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations with children from birth through high ...

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  A Case Against Time-Out

  I believe strongly in giving people the benefit of the doubt.  So when I think about “time-out,” I’m sure it was created with good intentions.  Having a child sit on a spot, in a naughty chair, or on a step, one minute for each year of their age, must have come from someplace good.  Both ...

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  Disney Tips 2013

  I sit here Monday evening, after a weekend at Walt Disney World, equally happy and exhausted to tears.   There's a wide variety of families, children, and ages that visit Disney each year.  Most people have a "plan of attack" that works for their brood.  Below find the tips I compiled from 2 days at ...

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  Mommybites Toddler Series: Potty Training 2-26-13

  Event:  Manhattan: Toddler Seminar Series – Potty TrainingStart:2-26-13 7:30 pmEnd:2-26-13 8:30 pmCategory:Manhattan EventsOrganizer:MommybitesUpdated:12-12-12Venue:Big Apple PortraitsAddress: Google Map 143 West 72nd Street,New York, NY, 10023,United States Just when your baby is finally sleeping through the night and you begin to get your life back, your baby turns into a toddler and guess what?  You encounter a whole new inevitable set ...

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  Baby, Its Cold Outside! (Part 1)

  Let's be honest, as it gets darker and colder, no one really wants to take young children to the park. It's always been remarkable to me that children don't seem to feel the frigid temperatures in the same way adults do. From an educators' standpoint, gross motor work at a park or playground is important ...

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  The Great Potty Debate

  When a parent comes to me for advice about potty training, I always start the conversation the same way.  Let's consider what it takes to pee on the potty.  A child has to be aware that they need to pee, let you know, hold the pee, get to the bathroom, adjust their clothing, sit on the ...

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  Fun and Developmentally Appropriate Gifts 2012 (Birth-3)

  The holiday, gift-giving season is upon us once again.  And while you've probably already read 10 different lists about what to buy for your infants and toddlers, I thought I'd throw in my thoughts about fun, but developmentally-appropriate toys. Toys that are developmentally appropriate are designed keeping in mind the way in which children develop, ...