• Emotional intelligence: The ability to understand and manage feelings. It is the foundation for all other success skills, including self-discipline, self-advocacy, learning, working and forming healthy relationships.

    Emotional Intelligence

  • Mission: To promote the understanding of the inner emotional life of children through collaboration with their families, educators, pediatricians and mental health professionals.

    Mission

  • Year after year, the generosity of our donors and grantors makes it possible for The Hanna Perkins Center to continue its work with children and families.

    Thank you

  • Hanna Perkins School maintains a 6-to-1 student-teacher ratio, assuring an extraordinary level of personalized attention to each child.

    Classroom ratio

  • Parents of children in treatment at the Hadden Clinic are part of the treatment team – working with the therapist and applying new understanding at home and other social settings.

    Clinic

  • For more than 60 years, The Hanna Perkins Center for Child Development has contributed to the healthy emotional development of children and families throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond.

    School Building

  • A positive first-time experience with school will set the stage for future learning and the ability to make friends. With a team-based approach, Hanna Perkins gently guides each child through this transition.

    First time experience

  • The on-site Hershey Foundation Butterfly Garden is a learning garden nurtured by students, and provides 50% of the vegetables used in the Hanna Perkins kitchen.

    Community Garden

Our School

The right start lasts a lifetime.

Preschool, kindergarten and parent/toddler programs that focus emotional intelligence – the ability to understand and manage feelings.

A challenging and engaging academic curriculum individualized for the needs of each child.

A unique team approach – both gentle and effective – applying a wealth of expert resources toward each child's success.

A historically preserved facility offering large spaces, natural light and other amenities.

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For Parents

Dedicated to helping parents understand their child's behavior to be a form of communication.

Offerings for parents and families include:

Reinberger Parent/Child Resource Center, where parents and children can play with their children to encourage mastery of age-appropriate skills.

Hadden Clinic, offering evaluation, treatment and parent guidance for children and adolescents.

Research, articles, a blog and other useful resources.

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For Professionals

Offering 3 types of service to professionals.

1. Continuing education and consultation for early childhood educators, care providers, child life workers, clinicians and others who attend to the needs of children.

2. Accepting referrals from physicians, psychologists, child advocates and others who see children with issues that may affect their overall wellbeing.

3. Analytic training for practitioners interested in child analysis.

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pacifier_freedigitalphotos_David Castillo Dominici

Saying bye-bye to the ‘binkie’

November 8, 2012 By

In Anne Tyler’s novel Digging to America there’s a humorous scene in which a mother plans an elaborate scheme for separating her 3-year-old daughter from her pacifier. She invites all the mothers and young children she knows to a party, the climax of which will be the releasing of a clutch of helium balloons with [...]

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    tired boy_freedigitalphotos–David Castillo Dominici

    When the kids are just too busy

    November 8, 2012 By

    Some time ago, parents sought me out and indicated they very much wanted my assistance with their daughter. But when it came time to schedule an appointment, I had to contend with step-dancing on Mondays, piano lessons on Tuesdays, pottery class on Thursdays with sleepovers on Fridays. Barely eeking out C’s, the girl informed me [...]

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      liz_daunton

      In Memoriam: Elizabeth Daunton

      November 12, 2012 By

      Elizabeth Daunton, without whom Hanna Perkins Center would be a very different place, died Oct. 31 at the age of 94 after a prolonged illness. “She was prepared to die and appreciated that those close to her had the opportunity to say good bye,” notes Barbara Streeter, Educational Director at Hanna Perkins. Daunton, a psychoanalyst, came [...]

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        What We Do

        The Hanna Perkins Center for Child Development is recognized world-wide as a unique and indispensable contributor to the healthy emotional development of children and families throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond.
        Our mission: To promote the understanding of the inner emotional life of children through collaboration with their families, educators, pediatricians, and mental health professionals through service, training, community engagement and research.
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