Celebrating 26 Years
Up Wee Grow, Inc. is an agency approved by the NYS Early Intervention and CPSE programs to provide evaluations and services to children and families in their homes and schools, In-Person (or via Telehealth). Evaluations and Therapies are provided for children from birth through age 5 in Suffolk County, Nassau County, and all 5 Boroughs of New York City.
Our services are provided to children by fully licensed therapists and certified teachers through the New York State Early Intervention Program and the New York State Board of Education Committee for Preschool Special Education.
ABA - Applied Behavior Analysis
Psychology
Service Coordination
Speech Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Audiology
Special Education
Physical Therapy
Social Work
Serving seven counties of New York State: Suffolk | Nassau | Queens | Brooklyn | Bronx | Manhattan | Staten Island
Contact us and speak with an Early Intervention Specialist.
Birth To 3
Early Intervention
Birth To 3 - Early Intervention
Up Wee Grow, Inc. is approved by New York State and has contracts with Suffolk, Nassau, New York City, and Westchester to provide Early Intervention services.
Ages 3 to 5
CPSE
Ages 3 to 5 - CPSE
If you are concerned about your child's development between the ages of 3 and 5 you may refer him/her to your School District’s Committee for Preschool Special Education (CPSE) to request an evaluation.
Autism
ABA Program
Autism - ABA Program
Up Wee Grow, Inc. provides the highest quality A.B.A. programming (Applied Behavior Analysis) at the direction of our Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Psychologist (Ph.D.).
We teach parents Maximum Strength Parenting through use of F.E.A.T.S. (Family-friendly Evaluation and Teaching System), our comprehensive system to empower parents to promote positive growth across six developmental domains with a multi-modal approach. This includes six interactive charts that we created based on 22 well-normed, peer-reviewed assessment instruments to provide families with realistic guidelines regarding typical developmental milestones in six areas from birth through kindergarten.
F.E.A.T.S Tips For Parents
Putting Shoes On
“Well Heeled” Have your child try on shoes that are much too big, so he learns the feeling of slipping into shoes. Have your child watch as you place shoes on your...
“I tried ‘Time-Out’ and it doesn’t work!”
As indicated above, the term “Time-Out” is an abbreviation and originates from the longer phrase “Time-Out from reinforcement.” As such, there are many ways to conduct...
Carefully Compare
“Keeping up with the Joneses” drives the economy. Making comparisons of oneself to others is one way to “participate” in society (e.g.,...
Knows Edible vs. Non-Edible
“To Eat or Not To Eat? That is the Question”. Does your child mouth non-edible objects? If so, take the objects away and present something else. Give your child an...
Giving Up The Bottle
“What Do I Look Like, Some Sort of Baby?” Once your child has mastered drinking from a cup, gradually decrease the amount of liquids in the bottle. Give bottles less...
“What is this ‘school’ all about?”
In this “school” you will find teaching tips and “F.E.A.T.S.™ Techniques” to help boost your child’s development in the areas of Language (speaking and understanding),...
Fastens and Unfastens Buttons
“No BUTS, Just BUTTON IT!” Demonstrate buttoning and unbuttoning so that your child can see how it is done. Have your child practice buttoning and unbuttoning on...
Words that Wound: The worst fairy-tale you can tell your kids
Let’s say your child speaks nastily. You then try to teach Junior to be kind, and you say, “When you say that, it makes me sad/angry/feel bad.” That sounds simple...
Are you some sort of wise apple?
Nature thrives through giving and receiving. In order to inhale, we must exhale. To receive a handshake, we must give one. If the flow of blood and of...
Requesting Help To Clean-Up Spills
“Into Each Life, A Little Spill Must Fall” Your child may be resistant to help or may not know when or how to ask for help. Here are suggestions to help: When...
Cooperating with Dressing and Undressing
“Dress-Up: Mess-Up or Yes-Up?” Create a calm and relaxed environment while dressing and undressing your child. Make dressing a fun activity. Sing songs, put on music,...
How ‘useful’ is your opinion?
Psychologist Carl Jung said, “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” Try to keep that in mind on our journey together...
Choose and implement the solution(s) most likely to work
Step 3: Choose and Implement one/some of you’re A.T.I.P. techniques Choose the technique(s) that are most likely work based on your knowledge of: what has been...
Finger Feeding
“Finger Foods” Eating with the fingers allows your child to enhance skills such as coordination, grasping, and independence. Introduce foods that are easy to...
Keep the boat (and behavior) on course: “The Navigator’s Mind-Set”
Medical doctors often strive to cure diseases (e.g., an antibiotic “works” because it “fixes” and eliminates an ear infection), however, it is equally important for...
Riding a Tricycle
Riding a Tricycle with Pedals, Maneuvering Around Obstacles, Turning, Stopping and Starting “Road-Test” To determine if the tricycle is the right size for your child...
The “Pain of the Problem” versus the “Pain of the Solution”
Marie Meyer, Ph.D. was a professor emeritus in the Psychology Department at Hofstra University, who taught that “people make changes only when the pain of the problem...
Choosing Appropriate Clothing Based On Weather
“You’re Gonna Get A Cold!” Help your child to learn which clothing is appropriate in different situations. You can use a paper doll (you can make one yourself or you...
Holding Own Bottle
“Message in a Bottle: MMMMM!” Position your child at a 90-degree angle. Make sure both you and your child are comfortable and supported. Present a bottle to your child,...
“Show-and-Tell Scaffolding”
“Show and Tell” is an easy way to remember and implement the technique of scaffolding. “SHOW” involves providing your child with...
“But my child doesn’t comply when I offer “Yes-When deals” Instead of obeying, he throws tantrums or hits!”
Everyone wins with “Yes-When deals”, regardless of your child’s response. Here’s why: If your child does not give you the compliance that you are requesting in your...
“At what age can I begin to use ‘Time-Out’?”
Remember that “Time-Out” by definition is a “Punishment” as it is intended to decrease negative behaviors. Nowhere in the definition is it mentioned that a child must...
How many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb? One, but the light bulb has to want to change
Try to guess the best predictor of success for those who engage in therapy with a psychologist. Is it a patient factor, like the patient’s age, intelligence, or...
Snaps and Unsnaps
“SNAP TO IT!” Have your child practice snapping on coats, pants, shirts, and sweaters that your child is not wearing. Demonstrate how to hold one piece of the snap with...
Indicating a Wet or Soiled Diaper
“HELP! Somebody, Please Save Me (From Myself)!” Observe your child’s verbal and non-verbal signals for indicating a soiled or wet diaper (e.g., vocalizations, hugging,...
Puts Outerwear in an Assigned Place
“Hang-Up Your Coat!” Create a designated area to place the family’s outerwear (coat rack, closet, hook). Place your child’s name in the designated area so your child...
Your moment, make it a good one
Fast forward many years: The master plan was kind to you. Your “moment” has come. You had a nice run, and you’re ready to check out. Hopefully, you won’t be in too...
How ALL (met and unmet) Expectations Undermine Happiness
It is obvious that expectations decrease happiness when those expectations are not met, but expectations also decrease happiness when they are met! How?...
The Sacred Parent-Child Relationship
As we wrote this book we always remained mindful that the parent-child relationship is sacred. We have great respect for this sanctity, and we will not desecrate your...
Modify as needed
Step 6: Modify as needed Based on the results of Step 4 (Monitoring the Effectiveness of my Strategy) and Step 5 (Monitoring my own attitude and behavior in the...
Imitating Adult Actions
“Do As I Do (AND as I say)” Allow your child to participate as you do household chores. When preparing meals, give your child a spoon to help mix. Give your...
Smearing Feces
“UGH” Children sometimes smear their own feces. Among very young children who are not yet toilet-trained, this behavior is more common than you would think. It is...
Assisting with Bathing
“SCRUB in the TUB” Give your child a basin, a bar of soap and a washcloth. Provide your child with opportunities to wash dolls, toys, and dishes. Guide your child’s...
Washing Hands
“Did You Wash Your Hands?!” Encourage your child to wash hands as part of a daily routine (e.g., before eating, after using the toilet before coming in from outside,...
SLEEP: Good Night!
How much sleep do we need? Infants usually sleep about 16 hours and 2-year-olds sleep about 10 to 14 hours (including naps). How common are sleep problems? 25% of kids...
Tantrums – Tirades and Tyranny
“WHAT is a Tantrum?” tan·trum noun. A fit of bad temper. (according to The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, Copyright © 2000 by...
Returning Objects To Their Proper Location When Finished with Them
“CLEAN UP THIS MESS!!” Go with your child to where the toys are kept (playroom, den, basement, bedroom). Take out a variety of toys that you know he likes to play with ...
What is Maximum Strength Parenting?
Maximum Strength Parenting is the art of using all of your gifts and knowledge in the most important and influential job you will ever have, parenting. “Maximum” refers...
“I Can’t Use Time-Out Because my child (1) doesn’t care, (2) screams and fights, AND/OR (3) laughs in my face!”
When in “Time-Out” most children either (1) scream/cry/physically aggress, (2) appear unaffected, or (3) appear to enjoy time-out (e.g., laugh, test-limits), and very...
The Missing Tile Syndrome
The “Missing Tile Syndrome” refers to a preoccupation with imperfections and anomalies. Picture a large beautiful tile mosaic where out of the 1,000 tiles, 10 are...
Teacher or Torture?
It’s the day after Halloween. Do you hide the bowl of candy (to avoid tantrums), or do you keep it within your child’s view (and set limits on when and how much candy...
When is a Bride a Reward, and when is a Reward a Bribe?
We often hear parents say things like, “Junior didn’t want to go to the store, but I bribed him with a lollipop.” We disagree with the assertion that the child was...
“It’s Not FAIR!”
Definitions of “fair” vary. To be “fair” can mean being free of bias, injustice, or deceit. “Fair” can mean moderate conditions or quantities (e.g., fair weather,...
Running From a Caregiver (in public places)
Many young children run away from their caregivers in public places. You may find yourself conflicted about how to react, due to anxiety, anger, and/or concern with...
Knowing “9 – 1 – 1” and When To Use It
“Just in Case” It is very important that your child knows how to reach someone in an emergency as soon as possible. Discuss various situations that your child...
Don’t Berate, Educate!
The son refused to clean up the mess. The Daddy yelled, “How many times have I told you?! You know better!” The Daddy drove off for work...
Resistance To Changes
“How do I help my child move past ‘ritualistic’ behaviors so that we can have some ‘smooth sailing'? How do I decide what is ‘ big deal worth ‘battling’ over?”...
Hitting (of Others by a Child)
Kids hit. There, I said it. But that’s not good enough, right? You want to figure out “why” your kid hits. Fine. A child may hit when: others do not understand...
“Divide and Conquer”
Alright, maybe the “battle cry” of “divide and conquer” is not especially nice when we’re talking about our children, but I’m quite sure that many of you have been...
Behavior, Understanding & Language: How are the three related?
Parents and professional often assume that a child’s behavior will improve when his language skills and understanding advance. While this may be true, it...
Mother Nature’s ‘optimal’ Birth Spacing
Due to economic and social factors, couples are waiting longer and longer to have their first child. As a result, there has been a decrease in “birth spacing” (i.e.,...
“Sleep: Those little slices of death, how I loathe them” – Edgar Allen Poe
Bedtime often is a stressful, hectic time, and if you need help managing Junior’s sleep, refer to the section in Chapter 4 entitled “Sleep: Good Night.” Once you get...
Mommy Cheerist: Do parents have a moral obligation to their children to be happy?
Do parents have a moral obligation to their children to be happy? First, let’s consider a few things about “happiness.” Dictionary definitions of “happy” include...
Siblings (with or without) Rivalry?
In the classic 1994 book, “Siblings without Rivalry: How to help your children live together, so you can too” authors Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish make several...
Shyness
How much of shyness can be attributed to “nature” and how much to “nurture?” While we cannot say with certainty, it is clear that shyness has a strong...
The Short Tale of WAGE and SAGE
Two old friends (one named “Wage” and the other named “Sage”) crossed paths. Here’s what they said: WAGE: So how old is your son? SAGE: 2 years, 4 months, 10 days...
Reality Show
One of the Buddhist noble truths is that “Desire is the root of all suffering.” In thinking about disappointments, you will no doubt find this to be...
Looking Both Ways Before Crossing the Street
“What is the Chicken Supposed To Do Before Crossing The Road?” Accompany your child to a road or street where there is no traffic light and explain that you are going...
The Gift of Adoption
The first recorded evidence of adoption is in antiquity, yet there has been more change in the world of adoption over just these past five decades than in all of...
Paving the Road to Empathy
Of course, demonstrations of empathy depend not only on individual characteristics but also on situations. Still, here are some age-based guidelines regarding the...
“I Know I shouldn’t compare kids, but…”
Comparing Kids? Go Ahead! COMPARE (but do it right): Somewhere along the line, a notion has evolved: “YOU SHOULDN’T COMPARE KIDS.” Still, many parents go right on to...
“What is the PURPOSE of ‘Time-Out’?”
While “Time-Out” is a simple enough concept, its purpose is subject to great interpretation, complexity, and nuance. Some say that “Time-Out” is intended to be a...
What were the names of your great-grandparents?
Are you just two generations away from being forgotten? These can be biting questions, but, nevertheless, they are questions that beg answers. “What were the names of...
“How do I build my child’s self-control through Time-Out?”
“Time-Out” is clearly a technique of “Punishment,” as it is intended to decrease negative behavior. However, “Time-Out” can (and should) become a technique of...
Define specific behavior problems/goals
Step 1: Clearly define a Goal – a specific negative behavior that you want to decrease or a specific positive behavior you want to increase By clearly defining a...
Test your “vision”
Agree or Disagree? The glass is Half-Empty. Agree or Disagree? The glass is Half-Full. Agree or Disagree? It is TERRIBLE for a toddler...
“What is ‘Time-Out’?”
The term “Time-Out” is an abbreviation that originates from the longer phrase “Time-Out from opportunities for positive reinforcement.” It may be defined as “a...
Removing Shoes
“Take Off Your Shoes and Wipe Your Feet!” Provide your child with adult shoes that can be easily removed. Allow several opportunities throughout the day for your child...
Brushing Teeth
“Show Them Pearly-Whites” Take your child to the store to choose a toothbrush. Make sure it is developmentally appropriate, colorful and interesting. Buy a second...
Skipping
“Don’t Skip The Basics” Skipping can be a difficult skill for your child as it requires using both sides of the body in a cross pattern (i.e., left arms swings forward...
How Much Do Parents Really Matter?
The classic question of “Nature versus Nurture” has long ago given way to the question of the “Nurture of Nature.” There have been outstanding, thought-provoking books...
The Terrible (or Terrific?) Two’s
The “Terrible Two’s” need not be “Terrible” at all. In fact, the “Terrible Two’s” could just as easily be called the “Terrific Two’s”. The supposed “Terrible” aspect...
“But my child will just ignore me and do whatever he wants on his own.”
Never forget that you control the privileges, and therefore you control the “Yes-When deals.” If you allow your child to wander off and enjoy freedom after he has...
Generate a list of possible solutions
Step 2: Generate several possible solutions from the categories of A.T.I.P. Of course, each of the categories in A.T.I.P. may not be applicable in all situations...
Pulling to a Standing Position
“You’ve Gotta Pull Your Own Weight” Draw your child’s attention to a favorite toy that you have placed on a couch or low table. Then place your child in various...
Without failure, improvement is impossible
My dear friend Trevor Smith wrote: When I was learning to walk, often I would fall. Never asking “why”, I’d stand back up. As time went by, I would still fall, but...
Telling the Name of a Parent
“Family Tree” This skill becomes very important as children become more independent. If separated from you, Your child will be reunited with you much faster if your...
AWE you? Or AWE you not?
To take stuff “for granted” is to be stagnant. To be stagnant is to survive rather than thrive. If you have allowed yourself to become “bored”...
When All Else Fails – “I have tried everything and nothing @#%^$ works!”
Which category you choose (Avoiding, Teaching, Ignoring, or Punishing) to manage a given negative behavior is less important than your consistency and your...
Put Shoes on Correct Feet
“Do You Have Two Left-Feet?” Have your child select a pair of shoes from a pile of several. Encourage your child to sit on the floor or a chair as your child attempts...
Wait Training
Consider your use of “Yes-When” deals to be a version of “Wait Training” for your child. By offering him opportunities to earn privileges, you are building his...
Discipline Using Physical Contact (that is NOT Corporal Punishment)
Corporal punishment refers to the use of physical pain to punish and change a person’s behavior. In this section, we consider discipline involving the use of physical...
Wiping Nose with Help
“Don’t Look Down Your Nose At Me!” Leave a box of tissues within your child’s reach. Make sure the tissue is soft so it doesn’t irritate your child’s nose. During play,...
Toilet Training “Triumph!”
“Readiness”: We don’t teach algebra in kindergarten because 5-year-olds aren’t ready. So how do you know when your child is “ready” for training? To begin training,...
Somersaults
“Tumbling Tykes” Don’t be afraid! Show your child how it’s done! Talk to your child about each action while it is happening. Have your child squat down and put both...
Picking Up Small Objects with a Pincer Grasp
With a PINCER GRASP (the tips of the index finger and thumb) Use of the Pincer Grasp allows for more refined manipulations of objects that is required for some more...
Building Abdominal Strength
“Gut Check” Sit on the floor and allow your child to lie face-up on your extended legs. Bring your child’s feet up toward your chest, then quickly push them away,...
The Best “Time-Out” Happens with “Time-In”
In our “A.T.I.P.” model of discipline (i.e., Avoiding, Teaching, Ignoring, or Punishing), by definition “Time-Out” falls into the “Punish” category, because it is...
Finding Your Cool: “But I lose my cool…I can’t help it!”
No matter how difficult it is, try to remember the following points about discipline and behavior management: Pick and choose your battles wisely, and stay firm...
“But my child does not care when I withhold privileges”
I have just advocated patience, reasonable criteria in your “Yes-When deals”, and consistency. But perhaps most importantly, never conclude from your child’s...
Trichotillomania (Self Hair Pulling)
What is Trichotillomania? Trichotillomania (sometimes referred to as TTM or "trich") is a disorder involving the repeated urge/behavior of pulling out one’s own hair. ...
Yes-When, If-Then, or No-Until?
When you use “Yes-When” deals it is important that you remain positive in your tone of voice and demeanor. When parents experience frustration, it is very easy for...
Caution, this website may make you dizzy
Buckle up. The “flavor” of Maximum Strength Parenting varies greatly from chapter to chapter (and sometimes moment to moment). At various points throughout this book,...
Anxiety and Fear
The expression “Time heals all wounds” is nice, but not entirely true. Specifically, time heals most wounds, but not anxiety. For example, if you have a fear of...
Quiz: Are you a Democrat, Dictator, or Doormat?
To determine your parenting style, take this little quiz by circling what you would do in each of the following scenarios. Of course, “it depends on the...
“What’s the difference between Punishment and Discipline?”
“Punishment” only refers to decreasing negative behavior, while “Discipline” not only refers to decreasing negative behavior but also to increasing positive behavior. ...
I was walking down the street one day…
Imagine being on a walk with your child and you are approached by a frail, physically non-threatening stranger who begins to yell at Junior. Given the...
Rotary/Diagonal Chewing Patterns
“CHEW YOUR FOOD!” Present your child with a variety of foods. Vary the texture (e.g., mushy, crunchy, lumpy, etc.). Place the foods in different parts of your child’s...
Spreading With a Butter-Knife
“Spreadin’ Yourself Thin” Frost a cake, cupcake or even cookies. Spread peanut butter or jelly on a cracker. Spread cream cheese or butter on toast or a bagel....
Monitor your own attitude and behavior in this process
Step 5: Monitor your own attitude and behavior in this process You may recall from the previous chapter, the “Dirty-Dozen” reasons why your behavior management efforts...
Up Wee Grow, Inc. was founded in 1996 by Andrew Vaughan, Ph.D., Lauren Resnick, M.S., CCC, SLP, and Anne Long, M.S., Sp.Ed..
We value Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and although these ideals are never truly fully achieved and completed, we strive to keep them ever-present in our day-to-day work.
We value equal access to opportunity, engagement, education, health, stability, respect, and compassionate care in all communities.
The obvious and subtle qualities that make us different also make us resilient and strong. Join us as we celebrate our passion and work: Taking care of each other.
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