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Who We Are
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PCDA is a non-profit organization whose focus is on child development serving children from birth to 12 years of age, and their families.
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PCDA is excited to announce many new programs for the community. Please visit our website for news, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming trainings and events!
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New!! Sibling Support Group
 Through a generous grant from Northrop Grumman "ECHO" organization, we are pleased to offer a support group for brothers and sisters of children with developmental disabilities. The group will meet once a week for 10 weeks. This will be a chance for children to learn, reflect, and share their experiences, concerns, and hopes with the guidance of a therapist. We will begin with a small group of 7-9 year olds, led by Melinda Martinez, MFTI, and later expand to other ages. The first group will meet Mondays from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm, beginning Feb. 22. The cost is $250 to participate, and need-based scholarships are available. Further description and an application will be on our website soon.
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February Parent Support Group
Please come to PCDA's DIR®/Floortime™ Parent Support Group. This group is a place to discuss ways to use DIR®/Floortime™ with your child, with guest speakers who provide practical tools and tips. DIR®/Floortime™ is an approach to supporting child development for all children. The group meets once a month on the 2nd Tuesday.
Where: PCDA, 620 N. Lake Ave, Pasadena 91101
When: February 9th 2010, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Topic: Questions and Answers about Eating and Diet
Kristen Van Rooyen, Registered Dietician and member of PCDA Feeding Team
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Tuning In To Music
 For the Child with Special Needs
This hands-on program is for parents, teachers and therapists looking to learn easy music techniques and strategies that really work!! The motivating, calming and emotional qualities of music can support development, such as attention, engagement and communication!! This training is lead by Board Certified Music Therapists.
Date: Saturday, February 6, 2010
Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 noon
Location: Huntington Hospital, Pasadena, CA
Cost: $40 per person
To register or to get more information, contact Barb at (626) 793-7350 x 219
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Inside Musical Fun!
by Daryl Synowiec, MT-BC & Melissa St. John, MT-BC
When it is raining, children often miss out on their favorite outdoor activities. Here is a great way to play inside the house, while still moving your bodies together. Sing the children's song "The More We Get Together."
 Here are the lyrics:
Oh, the more we get together,
Together, together,
Oh, the more we get together,
The happier we'll be.
For your friends are my friends,
And my friends are your friends.
Oh, the more we get together,
The happier we'll be!
To add movement, take hands and move in a circle together while singing the song. You can add a parachute or a blanket to swing kids up and down. Or, adapt the verse to say:
Oh, the more we hide together,
Together, together,
Oh, the more we hide together,
The happier we'll be!
Hide underneath the blanket together and sing this playful song!
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Letters Needed
 Letters written by parents, and sent to our State legislators, can make a big difference in how policy is decided for the State. Right now letters are needed from parents who can explain how programs using a DIR® approach have helped their child. All of the programs and services at PCDA use a DIR® framework. D-"Developmental" refers to the functional developmental levels from shared attention and regulation, to engagement and trust, circles of interaction, initiative and reciprocity, continuous flow of interaction with shared problem solving, creativity, and logical thinking; I-"Individual-Difference" refers to the child's unique processing profile; and R-"Relationship-Based" looks at the child's relationships and how they can support enhanced development. Please consider writing a letter, which we will forward to Sacramento for you.
Find a sample letter here:
http://www.pasadenachilddevelopment.org/news.html
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Class Action Law Suit
The law firm of Gibson Dunn and Crutcher, along with Public Counsel has filed a Class Action law suit, representing a group of children, against Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center. This Class Action law suit was brought because services were terminated for many children, which the suit claims were done in an illegal manner. This law suit has brought a great deal of attention to the actions of ELARC, and to the DIR® approach.
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Please see our website for the most updated news, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming trainings and events!
Sincerely,
Pasadena Child Development Associates, Inc.
PasadenaChildDevelopment.org
620 N. Lake Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
626-793-7350
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January 2010 PCDA Newsletter 