CHILD SUPPORT
When the tantrums just won’t stop, well-heeled moms and dads call this ‘kid whisperer’ to come to the rescue
Threats rarely work because the child isn’t motivated to cooperate.” — Dana Rosenbloom
THE moment Dana Rosenbloom picked up her cellphone and heard the anguished voice of her client — an Upper East Side mother — she knew it was an emergency.
She quickly hailed a cab and arrived at the scene of the meltdown. The woman’s 3-year-old was going into hysterics in the middle of his birthday party at a popular gym and music venue for tots.
“About 20 kids and their parents were wondering where the birthday boy was,” says Rosenbloom. “He was with his mom on the floor in the bathroom.”
Upon arrival, Rosenbloom quickly calmed the child down. He was overwhelmed, and she helped his mother to coax him to return to the party, rubbing his feet and promising him that they’d play his favorite song.
“He bounced back enough to actually enjoy himself,” says Rosenbloom.
Such calls are all in a day’s work for Rosenbloom, parenting coach to New York’s elite. The 38-year-old’s contact information is shared in hushed tones among well-heeled families who call upon her to help with everything from tantrums to potty training.
“Dana is our team leader,” says a late 40-something Upper East Side mom who has a child with special needs and wished to remain anonymous. “She found us the best therapists and helped our son grow to his full potential.”
Another 40-something Manhattan mom, who also asked not to be named, gushes about what Rosenbloom has done for her five kids, ages 2 to 13, one of whom also has special needs.
“She’s not so much focused on what special-needs kids
should be doing, but with what they are doing and the growth that they’ve made.” The woman credits Rosenbloom with helping her navigate everyday issues, such as picky eating, a speech delay and sibling relationships.
Rosenbloom’s motto is “Empowered parents, happy families,” and she takes a practical approach to raising kids.
“One of my strategies is to encourage parents and children to press the ‘reset button’ to gain perspective,” says the kiddie whisperer, who charges $325 for an initial 75-minute consultation with parents and $160 for a 45-minute session with a child. Some clients only see her once, while others work with her for years. “I’m also a great proponent of rituals, as they provide security.”
She helped with a 3-year-old’s separation anxiety by suggesting that her mother adhere to a strict routine in order to provide consistency and reassurance. She also believes that even the youngest of babies should have a photograph of their parents in a prominent place at day care. Other tips include using positive reinforcement rather than punitive measures. “Threats rarely work because the child isn’t motivated to cooperate,” says Rosenbloom, who has a master’s degree from the prestigious Bank Street Graduate School of Education in Morningside Heights.
“Parents make statements like: ‘I’m going to take away your toy if you don’t clean up,’ when it’s more enticing to say: ‘Once you’ve cleaned up, we’re going to do X, Y or Z with the toy.’ ”
She doesn’t have any children herself, but she honed her skills with kids working as a part-time nanny when she was studying, and later as a full-time educator in schools and early intervention programs.
Brit Foster Rothstein, 39, of New Rochelle, NY, swears by Rosenbloom. She worked with her when she was pregnant with her second child, her daughter Tess, now 3 years old, and worried that her first kid, her son Rhys, now 7, might have issues with the new arrival.
“Dana told us to make the first hospital visit all about him, and we had all his favorite books there to make him feel special,” says Rothstein, who runs a tutoring program. “He was so excited, but still focused on Tess.” In total, she has had around 30 sessions in person and via computer with Rosenbloom.
“Dana has helped us come up with a very practical game plan for the future,” she says. “She really gets results.”