Dana Greenberg

How does your child handle haircuts? Has it changed over time? Maybe they don't love it, but have just gotten used to it? My son, whose hair I keep very short, got his first haircut as a one-year-old—he is now 13. Back when he was little, it was really tough for him (and for me) to get his hair snipped. There were so many things that bothered him about the process: the sitting still, wearing a cape, the fallen hair itching his skin, the sound of the buzzer so close to his ears, etc. I wondered if it would ever get easier. Over the years the progress was slow. At times, I wanted to pull my own hair out, but we kept at it. Every four weeks, he would have his appointment, and, well, it eventually got easier. As he got older, I noticed him getting a little more tolerant. I no longer have to bring a change of clothes—he wears a cape! While I can tell that the fallen hair and the buzzer still make him feel a little uncomfortable, he has learned to deal with it.In our case, consistency was a major factor in him becoming more tolerant. This was not something that was going away—it was part of his life. I'll tell him the day he has an appointment so he can start thinking about it. I also promise him a small reward (something small like a special snack that he doesn't get to have often). This is very motivating for him. But the most important thing you can do is find the right person to give the haircut. You may have to try out a few people or places until you find someone who clicks w

My son has autism, so finding after school and weekend activities for him to do in New York is not always easy. I try to focus on finding things that he can enjoy, which can sometimes be tricky. He is 13 now, and over the years we have tried a variety of activities. Some have worked well; others not at all. There's been a lot of trial and error, but here are five great extracurricular activities for kids with autism in New York that we've tried (and love)! Atlas for Autism       Atlas for Autism is much more than just a school. They have after school options including social groups, tutoring and therapies, and work on goals in a child's IEP or those suggested by the parent. If your child needs peer-to-peer interaction, they can get that here. They also have weekend activities, which include a drop off program, open play, an art program and mini camps available during school breaks. The facility is a massive, so the children are not on top of each other. My son always comes out of Atlas happy—and tired. Kicking the Spectrum This program has been amazing. They offer weekday and weekend classes, and I am still amazed that my son is able to take karate at a dojo. Classes vary in size depending on your child's needs. Our instructor is wonderful—he knows exactly how to talk to him, gives him breaks when they are needed and is extremely patient. I only wish I had discovered this gem a few years ago. Innovative Music My son, like many kids, loves music. He's able to go to Innovative

Dear readers, My thirteen-year-old son has autism, and we live in the greatest city in the world—New York City!  The one thing we do not have is a backyard, so anything I can find to do with him outside is wonderful. I am always looking for fun places to take him where there are things that he will be able to do and enjoy. In Central Park, there are a variety of things that work really well for him. Here are some of my favorites: 1. Central Park Zoo What a perfect area for a child with a short attention span! The exhibits are spacious and spread out so you do not feel crowded. There are plenty of benches if your child, like mine, needs to take breaks. Bathrooms are easily accessible too. There are a variety of animals to see, from the Penguin House to the Sea Lion Show to feeding the animals in the petting zoo. There's certainly something for every child.  2. The Carousel This is one of my son's favorite things to do in the park. He can choose from sitting on one of the funky looking benches or hop up on to a horse of his choice, and of course strap on his seatbelt. The benefit of the carousel being quite large is that the line moves rather quickly.  At $3.00 a ride, it is definitely worth a try. 3. The Sailboats You can rent a remote-controlled sailboat in Central Park...who knew! I wasn't sure how this would go, but we had a lot of fun. It was great to watch my son try and navigate boat #21 around the pond, for him to try to figure out the control panel and move the boat