Pasadena Child Development Associates, Inc.

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Pasadena Child Development Associates, Inc.

Philosophy

 

The PCDA Philosophy is based on three core beliefs:

  1. That social-emotional development is the core area for inspiring and organizing growth of the child.
  2. Parents/primary caregivers and family are the most important relationships for a child.
  3. Each child is a "whole" child, with strengths and challenges, and many unique capacities, skills and interests.

Based on these beliefs, PCDA offers services that:

Include families in all aspects of care. Work across disciplines and in a collaborative way to gain a more complete understanding of the child, and the most effective intervention possible. Use a play-based, relationship approach to promote social-emotional development.

The work at PCDA is strongly influenced by the DIR approach as described by Dr. Stanley Greenspan and Serena Wieder.  The Individual Difference Relationship-based approach, which includes "FloortimeTM," is a philosophy that emphasizes the centrality of emotion (affect) to all development.  Functional emotional development, building from one stage to the next, provides the foundation for other learning, including language, cognitive, social, play and motor skills.  The DIR approach provides a framework for understanding behavior, and appreciates each child's unique sensory profile, motor planning, auditory and visual processing, interests, and relationships.  PCDA has been on the forefront of introducing new services to the community based upon this philosophical approach to comprehensive care for children with special needs and their families.  For more information on DIR/FloortimeTM, visit: Floortime.org.