I love helping parents and educators understand kids a little differently.

Whether I’m speaking to a room full of parents or working with a group of educators, my goal is the same: to help make sense of what’s really going on underneath kids’ behavior and offer practical ways to create more cooperation, connection and calm.

My workshops are warm, engaging and experiential. We don’t just talk about the ideas…we bring them to life through real-life examples, demonstrations and activities that help them really stick.

My approach is grounded in research-informed practices, brain science and child development, while always keeping things practical and relatable to everyday life with kids.

Most importantly, I want people to leave feeling understood and encouraged, with a little more confidence and tools they can actually use.

Parenting Workshops

There’s something pretty powerful about being in a room full of parents and realizing…Oh good, it’s not just me. 😉

I offer workshops for preschools, schools, synagogues, churches, community organizations and parent groups. Presentations are tailored to the ages of the kids and what families are struggling with most.

We might talk about power struggles and cooperation, big emotions, boundaries, strong-willed kids, sibling challenges, raising emotionally healthy kids or simply how to get through the hard moments with a little more confidence and connection.

Have something specific in mind? I’m happy to create a workshop around the needs of your parent community.

Professional Development for Educators

Teachers are managing so much more than academics. Big emotions, challenging behaviors, different temperaments and nervous systems…all while trying to teach a room full of kids.

My professional development workshops help educators better understand what may be happening underneath challenging behavior and how brain development, regulation and developing skills can affect what kids are able to do in the moment.

From there, we look at practical, research-informed ways to build cooperation, set kind AND firm limits and help kids develop the skills they need over time.

Sessions are practical, engaging and tailored to your team. I work with preschools, elementary schools and other programs serving children and families, bringing the focus back to the real-life challenges educators are facing every day.

Whether it’s a one-time training or part of a larger professional development day, we’ll focus on what your team needs most.

What People Are Saying

“Debbie is phenomenal! I own Fit4Mom in Aliso Viejo and she was kind enough to speak to our group. She is passionate about making the parenting journey enjoyable and rewarding! Her suggestions are easily applied. I also love how safe she made all the parents feel – she listened to our concerns with empathy and everyone left the presentation with more tools to use with their children.

I love how many handouts she provided; I was able to share with my husband so that we could be on the same page! I am thankful that Debbie has come into my life and I look forward to future workshops!!”
— Keira Malkus, FIT4MOM Aliso Viejo

Bring Me to Your Community

Looking for a parenting workshop or professional development session for your school or organization?

I’d love to hear what you’re looking for and see if I might be a good fit.