Upcoming Workshops and Events
Navigating Sibling Squabbles
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Time: 9:30-11:00am
Facilitator: Leah Kragh
Cost: $38
This is an adults-only event.
Tired of the daily battles between your kids? You’re not alone.
Join Leah Kragh, pediatric occupational therapist and family support specialist, for a down-to-earth, practical workshop designed to help you better understand and ease sibling struggles in your home.
You’ll walk away with real-world tools to:
✔️ Navigate everyday sibling conflicts with confidence
✔️ Encourage cooperation and empathy between your kids
✔️ Support each child’s unique needs—without losing your cool
Whether you're a parent, grandparent, or caregiver, this workshop will give you fresh insight and simple strategies to create a more peaceful, connected home.
Let’s turn rivalry into relationship—together.
Leah Kragh (she/her) is a licensed holistic pediatric occupational therapist working in Fairfield and New Haven counties. In her many years as a therapist, she has collaborated with hundreds of children and families with varying needs and abilities to reach their goals related to fine motor skills, coordination, strength, visual perception, emotional and sensory regulation etc. The foundation of her practice is built on using play as a conduit for skill-building and for connecting with children. In recent years her work as an occupational therapist has transitioned in focus. She is trained in the "Hand in Hand Parenting" approach, which is a connection-based caregiving philosophy. Coupling her knowledge as an occupational therapist with this training, Leah specializes in supporting parents and caregivers through education on overall childhood development, the roots of behavior, and the science of sensory and emotional regulation. Her ultimate mission is to nurture skills, understanding and the overall well-being of children, parents and the entire caregiving team.
“Working with Leah has been a gift to our family. Leah has much wisdom to share, and she does so with empathy and compassion. She was great at listening to our routines and communication patterns and would ask really helpful questions with empathy, never judgment. Our conversations really helped shine light on what was causing concerning behaviors. Leah then gave practical advice on how to switch things up just a little in order to resolve these behaviors. I am so happy that we were able to resolve these behaviors through small parenting changes. ”
Back to You: Postpartum Strength Workshop
Date: Thursday, October 16th
Time: 6:30-7:45pm
Facilitator: Dr. Kathy Papayani-Szabo, DPT
Cost: $45
You’ve made it through pregnancy and birth—but your body is still asking for care. Many new moms experience back and shoulder pain from the physical demands of pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and caring for a baby.
In this 75-minute workshop, Dr. Kathy Papayani-Szabo, DPT, will guide you through safe, targeted exercises to support your back and core as you return to movement. You’ll leave feeling more aligned, supported, and confident in your body—with practical tools you can continue to use long after the workshop ends.
In this workshop you’ll:
✔️ Learn gentle, effective exercises for postpartum back and core strength
✔️Understand how to protect your body during daily movements and baby care
✔️Explore ways to relieve tension and discomfort in your back and shoulders
✔️Leave with a simple 3-day exercise plan to continue at home
Dr. Kathy Papayani-Szabo, DPT, is the founder of Body in Balance Physical Therapy and Wellness. With a passion for helping people move with strength and confidence, Kathy combines her professional expertise with her love of staying active—whether running, hiking, or chasing after her kids. She is dedicated to providing personalized, supportive care that empowers people to feel their best in their bodies.
Starting Solids Workshop
Date: Sunday, October 19th
Time: 10:30-11:30am
Facilitator: Julia Marvil
Cost: $30
Coffee/tea will be provided. Babies are welcome.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the idea of introducing solid foods to your baby? Many parents struggle with questions like “When should I start?” or “What foods are safe for my baby?” It’s easy to feel uncertain about which approach is best for your family.
That’s where our Starting Solids Workshop comes in! This class will give you expert guidance and practical tips to make the transition to solids stress-free and fun. You’ll learn about the best first foods, signs your baby is ready, and safe feeding techniques. Plus, we’ll provide guidance on navigating food allergies and creating balanced meals, setting your baby up for healthy eating habits from day one!
Join us and take the guesswork out of starting solids, so you can feel confident in nourishing your little one.
What You'll Learn:
Signs of Readiness: How to recognize when your baby is ready for solids.
Items to Get: Items you will and won’t need to buy when starting solids.
First Foods: What foods to start with and how to prepare them.
Feeding Techniques: Tips on spoon-feeding and baby-led weaning.
Safety Tips: How to prevent choking and ensure a positive eating experience.
Allergens: When and how to introduce common allergens safely.
Nutrition Basics: Understanding the nutritional needs of your growing baby.
Why Attend?
Expert Guidance: Benefit from Julia Marvil’s expertise and personalized advice.
Interactive Learning: Hands-on demonstrations and Q&A sessions.
Community Support: Connect with other caregivers and share experiences.
+ Every participant will receive BEABA spoons and be entered to win a BABYCOOK® Baby Food Maker!
Julia Marvil, OTD, OTR/L, CLC, is s a pediatric occupational therapist, lactation counselor, and feeding specialist. She specializes in tethered oral tissues, sensory processing disorder, oral reflex and motor development, and pediatric feeding disorders. She started her business, TOTs Therapy, in 2023, to serve children from birth through adolescence with feeding disorders. Throughout her experience across a variety of practice settings and geographical locations, she has seen how difficult it can be to find practitioners that look at the whole picture when it comes to pediatric feeding. Her goal is to provide a holistic approach to therapy in order to improve underlying dysfunction and overall quality of life for all members of the family. https://www.totstherapy.com/#home
Managing Big Feelings
Date: Monday, October 27, 2025
Time: 7:00-8:00pm
Facilitator: Michelle Fanciullo, Psy.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Owner of Thriving Little Minds, Madison, CT
Cost: $30
This is an adults-only event.
Raising young children means navigating a lot of big feelings—tears, tantrums, and everything in between. This supportive, interactive workshop is designed to help parents of toddlers through school-aged children better understand and respond to their child’s emotions in ways that strengthen connection, guide behavior, and nurture lifelong emotional well-being.
Together, we’ll explore:
✔️ Behavior management strategies that work with your child’s emotional needs
✔️ Gentle parenting—what it really means (and how to make it work for your family)
✔️ Practical tools to support yourself so you can best support your child
✔️A safe, non-judgmental space to share challenges and successes with other parents
You’ll leave with practical skills, new perspectives, and a renewed sense of confidence in guiding your child through life’s emotional ups and downs.
Michelle Fanciullo, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and local mother of two who is passionate about helping children and families build a strong foundation for lifelong emotional health. As the owner and lead clinician of Thriving Little Minds in Madison, CT, she specializes in supporting young children, adolescents, and their parents through a variety of social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. Michelle blends her clinical expertise with real-life parenting experience to create a compassionate, down-to-earth approach that empowers families and fosters resilience.