Now Celebrating 27 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
Kicking A Rolling Ball
“Getting Your Kicks” Have your child stand in one place. You roll a ball directly towards your child. As the ball is near him, state “Kick the ball!” Watch for the...
Helping To Dry After a Bath
“UGH! Twisted Wet Pajamas!” Provide your child with opportunities to wash and dry dolls and toys. Give your child a small cloth or dishtowel to practice drying dolls...
“What is a “Yes-When” Deal? And why are “Yes-When’ Deals ‘The Way of the World’?”
Every child should have a RIGHT to certain things. These RIGHTS (or entitlements) include food, shelter, love, and education. Aside from these RIGHTS, children have...
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,...
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...
Eats Solid and Semi-Solid Foods
“Breakin’ Bread” Using foods of different textures, allow your child to accept new foods. Position the food toward the back of your child’s mouth to elicit a swallow....
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...
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...
Combing/Brushing Hair
“Doin’ the Doo” Have your child go with you to the store to buy a comb or brush. Buy a small comb or brush for your child to use to brush a doll’s hair during play....
Does your child “have to” or “get to” go to school?
The United Nations has created eight “Millennium Development Goals,” to be achieved by the year 2015. One of these goals is Universal Primary...
“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...
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...
Feeding Fixes for your Toddler and Preschooler
DISCLAIMER: This information is NOT meant to apply to children with oral-motor or other medically- or physically-based feeding difficulties or disorders of sucking,...
“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...
“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...
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,...
“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...
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...
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,...
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...
Manipulating Objects at Midline
Grasping and manipulating provide the basis for exploration and learning. Use pull-apart toys (e.g., Mr. Potato Head, interlocking blocks, pop beads, objects to bang...
“What is the process of a ‘Yes-When Deal’?”
“Processes” are used with most jobs. Consider two examples: flying to the moon and doing the laundry. When flying to the moon your process is complex: Build a rocket,...
“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...
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...
Real Live Make Believe
“Play” is the instinct of all young beings. It is observed all over the world, among cubs and calves, and among puppies and pip squeaks. Play is the fast track to the...
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...
Amazing Grace
John Newton is generally credited with writing “Amazing Grace” based on his reading of the Old Testament as he prepared a sermon about his conversion while on a slave...
Anger: It’s all the rage
“You gotta vent, let it all out, go ahead, it’ll make you feel better.” Such is the common wisdom about anger. It seems, though, the...
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...
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.,...
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...
“What educational principles are “F.E.A.T.S. Techniques” based upon?
Two of the most well-known and well-respected theorists in the field of early childhood development are Jean Piaget (1896 to 1980) and Lev Vygotsky (1896 to 1934)....
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...
“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...
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....
Drinking From a Cup Independently
“CHEERS!” Make sure your child is in an upright, comfortable position. Give your child a cup that is an appropriate size. A cup with a handle is easier for him to...
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...
“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...
Where there’s a Will there’s a way – The importance of having a Last Will and Testament
Sure it’s an unpleasant topic, and of course, we can’t control the world from the grave, but having a will is an important legal document not only for leaving assets to...
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...
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”...
All the simplicity money can’t buy
It’s a classic scene: the birthday gift sits in the distance, while the kids play with the wrapping paper and box the gift came in. It’s enough with...
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...
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...
“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...
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...
A.T.I.P. You Should Never Forget
“I don’t know what to do about (this or that or the other) behavior……I guess I need A.T.I.P.!” We saw the great importance...
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...
The “Dirty-Dozen”: 12 Reasons Why YOU WILL FAIL with your Behavior Management Strategies
Here are the “Dirty-Dozen”: Twelve reasons why your behavior management efforts will fail. These are different types of common, yet irrational, factually incorrect...
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...
Pouring Liquids
“Don’t Cry Over Spilt Milk…Just Learn How To Pour” Position your child in a sturdy position. Demonstrate pouring the liquids into both a cup and a bowl. Give your child...
“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...
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...
Zipping and Unzipping
“Just Zip It!” Practice makes perfect. Give your child opportunities to zip and unzip. Present your child with sweaters, coats, pants, zip-loc bags, pocket books,...
Mother Nature’s guidelines for giving up the bottle/pacifier
There is evidence that babies have used some version of a pacifier for “non-nutritive sucking” since 1,000 B.C. Also, “non-nutritive sucking” begins in the womb and is...
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...
The Long-view: Humane and strong parenting “over the years and through the tears”
Here are two major societal trends: (1) Expectation of Instant Results: We have come to expect instant results. Within less than 1 second an internet search can return...
“What is the difference between Rights and Privileges (and why is that SO important)?”
There are rights and privileges in the world. In each country, governments decide for their citizens what is a “right” and what is a “privilege.” In your role as...
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...
“Forget my child…I wouldn’t mind a little ‘Time-Out’ for myself!”
“Time-out” is as much for you as it is for your child. Take your child’s “Time-Out” as an opportunity for you to calm down and “take a break.” You can view his...
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...
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,...
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...
Mouthing Solid Food and Toys
“Eatin’ the Leg Off the Table” Place something sweet or good tasting on your child’s toys. Give your child a food they can hold in their hand. Make sure it is something...
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...
Sitting Alone
“Sittin” Pretty” Move your child to a sitting position and provide support at the hips or just above the hips. Fade your support as necessary. Set up a “Busy Box” or...
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...
PAIRenting: Where do you land (or fall) on ‘agreement’ with your partner in child-rearing?
It is often said that “You don’t know somebody until you live with them.” We reject that notion, and, offer, instead, the following: “You don’t know somebody until...
Should I give ‘warnings’ to my child before implementing ‘Time-out’?
No. If you give your child a warning (or two, or three!) before placing him in “Time-Out,” all you are doing is demonstrating inconsistency, which will undermine the...
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 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...
“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,...
“How long should ‘Time-Out’ last?” (Use the Clock and the Calendar)
The best known and most generally accepted guideline for the duration of “Time-out” is one minute per year of age (e.g., 2 minutes for a 24-month-old; 2-½ minutes for a...
Hopping Forward Ten Feet on Either Foot Without Help
“Let’s Go Do The Hop!” Demonstrate hopping forward on one foot for your child. Talk about what you are doing as you are completing the skill. Repeat hopping several...
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...
Standing Alone
“Stand On Your Own Two Feet” Use a standing position to remove your child’s coat. Hold the coat but not your child’s body. Following a bath place your child in a...
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...
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...
“Where did God come from?” asked my 5 year old
It took me a few seconds to get my mind around his question when my 5-year-old son asked one day, “Where did God come from?” On another day, my 4-year-old daughter...
Head-Banging
It is not especially uncommon for a child to bang his head in the context of a temper tantrum, however, it is important to take head-banging seriously. Given the...
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...
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...
Removing Clothes
“Undress Yourself and Get Ready For Your Bath!” Give your child opportunities to assist with undressing. Make undressing fun and interesting for your child. Play...
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,...
Transitions
How can I get my child to ‘Go with the flow’?” When your child’s routine is interrupted and/or when transitions are imposed, he may become frustrated, resist, and/or...
Walking Alone
“These Boots Are Made For Walkin” Walk holding both of your child’s hands, hold just one hand, then briefly withdraw and re-introduce your hand(s) for support....
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness
In the previous section we considered “Useless Dissatisfaction” and “Useful Dissatisfaction” in the terms of the moral obligation parents have to their children to be...
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...
“TOY-JACKING” – High-Crime or Misdemeanor?
Charles Dickens wrote, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Indeed, turn-taking, sharing, and social relations can bring out the best (and/or worst)...
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,...
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...
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. ...
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...
Frustration and Easily “Giving Up”
“My child frustrates very easily…I feel like I’m always walking on eggshells” When an activity could not be completed or a goal could not be reached, your child’s...
“Your Duty, Honor, and Privilege”
It is every parent’s duty, honor, and privilege to teach their child. No doubt, you will find that many of the following “F.E.A.T.S.™ Techniques” are obvious, but...
Drying Hands Independently
“Dry As A Bone” Encourage your child to wash hands as part of daily routines (e.g., before eating, after toileting, when coming in from outdoors, after messy...
“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...
Cruising
Oh, You’re Cruising” Place a favorite toy a few feet away while your child holds onto the couch. Play “ring around the rosy” (which involves side-to-side movements with...
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...
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.