Helping children feel at home in who they are.
Through stories, play, trauma-informed practice and conversations about identity, Dana Alqinneh helps children, families and educators build a deeper sense of belonging.
Who am I?
Dana Alqinneh is an early years educator, trauma-informed master trainer, author and Head of Pedagogy Innovation and Early Years Thought Leadership at Parent App.
With nearly a decade in early childhood education and nursery leadership in Dubai, Dana's work centres on helping children and educators build genuine belonging into everyday practice.
“My goal is to help every child feel they belong exactly as they are.”
Invite Dana to work with you
Home
A lyrical picture book about belonging, memory, and the places we carry within us.
Where is home? Is it a place? Or is it something we feel?
Home explores the small, sensory things that make us who we are: laughter and stories, a warm slice of kunafa, familiar sounds, culture, and the people who hold us close.
Written by Dana Al-Qinneh and illustrated by Raghad Murad.
Home isn't just a book.
It can become a conversation about identity. A sensory invitation. A classroom experience. A way for children to name what belonging feels like.
How I can support your community.
Stories, trauma-informed practice, play and meaningful conversations for children, families and educators.
Story Readings
Interactive, engaging story sessions using Home to explore belonging, identity, culture and connection with children.
- Ages 2–8
- English & Arabic
- Story-based discussion and reflection
- Sensory and hands-on activities
- Optional culinary experience
Trauma-Informed Training
Whole-school or whole-nursery professional learning grounded in trauma-informed practice, supporting teams to build emotionally safe, responsive environments.
- Starr Commonwealth certification
- Full course delivery
- 50+ trauma-informed resources
- Practical tools for recognising dysregulation
- Designed for whole teams and settings
Parent Workshops
Practical, compassionate workshops helping parents understand behaviour, strengthen connection and support children's identity and sense of belonging.
- Conscious parenting strategies
- Identity-building conversations
- Practical tools for everyday family life
- Interactive and discussion-based
Play-Based Educator Training
Hands-on professional development showing educators how play can support learning, connection, emotional development and meaningful classroom experiences.
- Structured and unstructured play
- Practical classroom strategies
- Learning through play
- Connection and emotional development
For Schools
Bring Home into your classrooms through interactive read-alouds and experiences that make belonging tangible.
For Educators
Practical professional learning in trauma-informed practice, play, regulation and connection.
For Families
Conversations and practical tools for identity, belonging and conscious parenting.
Let's talk about the things that shape childhood.
Dana speaks, moderates and facilitates conversations across early childhood education, trauma-informed practice, play, belonging, identity and culture.
“Dana doesn't just read Home to the children, she brings them inside it. She has this gift for making every child feel the story is personally theirs.”Sehrish Farrukh · Head of FS, Dubai
Coming soon.
Ideas, practical tools and thoughtful resources for parents, educators and anyone who believes childhood deserves more space to be childhood.
Let's create more spaces where children feel they belong.
Get in touch to arrange a school visit, workshop, training session, speaking engagement or book-related event.
Based in the UAE · Working with schools, nurseries, educators and families.