Summer 2019 Newsletter

SUMMER 2019 VOLUME 23 ISSUE 2

The PCCD Your Child - Your Family - Our Mission 32 Osgood Street Andover, MA 01810

439 S. Union Street, Building 1 Suite 110 Lawrence, MA 01843

GIVING THANKS What do you want for your special celebration? When asked this question, most people would love to give heartfelt, convenient, and inspirational ideas. Instead of asking for a gift, may we suggest becoming a PCCD Celebration Champion?!

Join past Champions in raising funds for The Professional Center for Child Development, and at the same time show your support and appreciation! Our recent Champions all started with an goal in mind and idea to make it possible. They then found a platform to raise the funds. Facebook was the choice for Nichole Andrade, Rhonda Boudreau and Colleen Lavorato as they encouraged family and friends to make donations in lieu of gifts for their birthdays.

Other social media platforms and email are other good tools.

For any special event, It is easy and fun to get your family and friends involved and invested in your support of PCCD. Craft a statement telling them about your personal experiences and why you want them to give. It is always a good idea to promote your fundraising page using social media.

Be A PCCD Celebration Champion!

EXAMPLE: Instead of a gift this year for my special event or occasion, please consider making a donation to The Professional Center for Child Development. My child was in the Early Intervention Program and attended Toddler groups. This was a life changing experience for my family as it helped him catch up with other 3 year olds. My goal is $600.

Please join me in supporting The PCCD!

The next time your birthday or special celebration comes around, please think of us. The donations made in your honor will be spent in a meaningful way to promote the important work done at The PCCD. Spark the spirit of giving and make your day feel extraordinary!

Thank you! We have a lot to celebrate.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

3 Early Intervention & RCP 4 Toddler Groups 5 Preschool 6 Day School www.theprofessionalcenter.org Andover 978.475.3806 Lawrence 978.688.5070

Partnering with Your Family

In April, it was announced that PCCD has been selected to receive the Cummings Foundation Sustaining Grant. Over the next 10 years, PCCD will have access to funds to grow and develop new programs and opportunities for the children in our community.

For the first year of the grant, we’ll be using these funds to support the transformation of our Preschool program. Please check out page 5 for additional information regarding the expansion.

In May, we hosted our Passport to Possibilities Gala at the Andover Country Club. We would like to thank everyone who sponsored, attended or supported the event.

With the end of the school year around the corner, I want to wish all of our “graduates” luck in their next adventures. I would like to recognize, Amayah, who is graduating from our Developmental Day School on Friday June 14th. Check out the end of year awards our Day School students received on Page 6.

Have a great summer!

Executive Director - Chris Hunt | chunt@thepccd.org

Regional Consultation Program (RCP) Director - RACHEL DANIELS, MS, OTR/L, ATP rdaniels@thepccd.org

EQUIPMENT LOAN PROGRAM Children develop skills at different rates, according to their own schedule. If a child needs some extra help to learn to sit, stand, walk and/or safely take a bath, they may benefit from equipment to help them participate in these activities. Custom equipment may be available from the child’s insurance but that can take up to 6 months to arrive, a long time in a little one’s life, and the child may not need the equipment in 6 months’ time.

That is why PCCD has equipment to loan to children.

If you feel your child may benefit from specialized equipment, talk with his/her PCCD Early Intervention provider or teacher.

If a child has complex medical needs and is enrolled in the Northeast Regional Consultation Program (NRCP), funding from the NRCP may allow them to borrow adapted toys and/or communication supports. The NRCP offers communication enhancement assessments, in conjunction with Early Intervention providers, for children and their families.

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Early Intervention (EI) Director - CHERYL BRUK, MS, CCC-SLP, CEIS | cbruk@thepccd.org

Food Group, Encouraging a Positive Experience with Food In the last newsletter, we discussed toddler eating habits, and how typical toddlers are notorious for being “picky eaters”. “MY TODDLER EATS ANYTHING I PUT IN FRONT OF THEM” … Said by almost no parent, ever!

We want to tell you more about The PCCD Food Group, which runs Tuesday mornings at our Lawrence location.

Children in Food Group may struggle even more than typical toddlers. They truly only eat a couple of foods, and when they stop eating a food in a “Food Jag”, they never go back to that food. Some of these children have had medical issues; others have allergies or food intolerances or sensory issues so that their experience with food is not always pleasurable. As adults, we can tell ourselves that this food is safe, but toddlers are not known for taking our word for it.

Our Food Group is based on Kay Toomey’s SOS (Sequential-Oral-Sensory) Approach. Several of The PCCD OT’s and one of our SLP’s have completed the SOS training, which uses positive language to encourage exploration of foods.

Kay Toomey has delineated 25 steps moving from the child tolerating the food in the room, to actually consuming it.

Group staff models a variety of ways to interact with food, and talk about the sensory properties of the food. Increasing the child’s comfort level and understanding of what they will need to do with the food once it is in their mouths, makes it more likely that they will try it Ten foods and a drink are offered and planned to have a sensory bridge from one to the next. There is a similarity… maybe the same color, or shape that helps lead to the next food. Some of our children will eat a food, but only in one manner, like a piece of toast cut only into triangles.

We may challenge them simply by changing the shape into a circle!

Families are asked to commit to the 12 week session, one of which is held in the fall, winter and spring. The program is most successful if the child separates from caregivers, follows routine and can sit for about an hour.

We don’t force the children to sit for the entire time. If they need to move, we let them stand, but do encourage them to stay by the table.

While at group, in addition to the lead therapist, there are several other therapists giving children the support they need. Parents meet with a nutritionist for support and education. Sometimes, just knowing you aren’t the only one struggling with your child’s eating, makes it easier.

Sharing ideas with each other, and brainstorming may be one of the best parts of the group.

If you think your child may be appropriate for this type of group, you can speak with your EI Service Coordinator about scheduling a consultation for the group.

BethAnne Magnuson, OTR/L CEIS (EI Team leader)

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Toddler Groups Coordinator - AIMEE PHLEGER, BS, SPED, CEIS | aphleger@thepccd.org

PLAYGROUND FUN It is that time of year when the weather is warming up and children are ready to go outside to play. At PCCD our Toddler and Parent Groups try to spend time outside on our playground almost every day, weather permitting.

The benefits of playing on a playground are valuable to a child’s overall development.

A Playground can encourage children to get moving. The equipment on the playground encourage children to be physically active. Exploring equipment and open space found on a playground will allow children to develop their gross and fine motor, cognitive, and sensory skills. It also helps social and emotional development.

Swings, slides and climbing structures (like the PCCD Fire truck) encourage children to develop and practice balance, strength and coordination. Playtime on the playground also helps develop a child’s problem-solving skills. When a child is negotiating a climbing structure or tunnel, they are using their cognitive skills to figure out next steps or a problem.

When our PCCD toddlers play in the sand box with friends, they are learning about sharing and turn taking, a necessity when children are beginning to develop social skills. The children are also developing fine motor skills while digging, filling and pouring sand.

Developing a healthy sensory system is also a benefit of playground activities. The swing allows children to stimulate all their senses, as it teaches a child about their body in space. When swinging the brain is learning about speed and direction. This helps with developing a child’s visual perceptual system. When a child is holding onto the chains, they use their fine motor skills to grip. The activity panels on The PCCD playground inspire children to look, touch and hear different musical sounds. This play is also developing a child’s sensory system.

For more fun find a playground in your home town!

PLAYGROUNDS IN THE AREA ANDOVER • Ballardvale Playground, 164 Andover Street • Andover Center Playground (across the parking lot from Doherty Middle School, 50 Bartlet Street) • Childrens Playground/Penguin Park, 72 Burnham Road LAWRENCE • Campagnone Common Park and Playground, 200 Common Street METHUEN • Veterans Memorial Park, 123 Milk Street NORTH ANDOVER • Drummond Playground, Johnson Street

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Preschool & Pediatric Therapy

SUMMER ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS Enrichment activities for preschoolers promote healthy child development. At this young age children become explorers and discoverers of learning. Research has shown that the more a child is exposed to learning and discovery, the more they are set up for success in later years.

Some enrichment ideas for your Preschooler: • Language Development: Read, Read, Read!! This is a great way to introduce your child to preliteracy skills. There are many skills that can be addressed by reading a book: vocabulary building, expressive language & following directions.

For example, when reading the book; “ How I Became a Pirate”. Enrichment activities could include:

1). Make a paper plate pirate face mask, or a simple pirate hook, (use a red plastic cup,

turn upside down and make a hook out of aluminum foil and squeeze that into the bottom

of the cup).

2). Talk about the vocabulary and phrases that a pirate would say: “Arr”, “Ahoy” or “Batten

down the hatches”.

3). Describe the pictures in this book for expressive language development.

• Fine Motor Skills: Hide small objects in play dough and have your child pull and stretch the playdough to find the hidden objects. Write out their name on a card and with a Q-tip have your child dot out each letter.

• Gross Motor Skills: Develop an obstacle course where the child climbs, runs, crawls through/

around and over different structures.

As part of the Preschool expansion in the fall, specialist (Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational and Physical therapists) will be facilitating enrichment groups for the entire class. Each specialist will visit us once a week, organizing and overseeing activities with exploration and discovery in mind.

For more information about the Preschool, contact Marianne Racioppi (mracioppi@thepccd.org) or call 978-475-3806 ext. 206

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Developmental Day school Assistant Director - LISA STARKWEATHER, BSN, RN | lstarkweather@thepccd.org

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2019 DAY SCHOOL AWARD WINNERS! Amayah - Excellence in Science Exploration

Eva

- Excellence in Physical Fitness

Avery

- Excellence in Cooking

George

- Excellence in Environmental Sciences

Chloe

- Excellence in Sign Language

Natalie

- Excellence in Music - Excellence in Sensory Exploration

Daniel

- Excellence in Math

Rishabh

Drew

- Excellence in Technology & Switches

Sophia J. - Excellence in Art

Dustin

- Excellence in Communication

Sophia M. - Excellence in Library Science

Best Wishes Graduate Amayah

PCCD Day School Program Highlights • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 6

Low student-teacher ratio Nurses in classrooms Individualized instruction Curriculum aligned with MA Common Core Standards Augmentative & alternative communication Certified assistive technology professionals Feeding specialists Vision accommodations Integrated therapies Social work Opportunities for on-site inclusion On-site equipment, Orthotics, & assistive technology clinics

CONNECTING WITH OUR COMMUNITY

Governor Charlie Baker visited the PCCD as a Community Guest Reader.

Mrs. Lauren Baker, First Lady of Massachusetts read “The Pout-Pout Fish” to a Toddler Group.

Families enjoying the 2019 PCCD Touch-A -Truck.

UPCOMING EVENTS For more information visit us on: www.theprofessionalcenter.org Don’t forget to follow us on!

Donuts with Dad July 20th RSVP Required (Rain date July 27th)

Trot for Special Tots Road Race October 6, 2019 7

Celebrating Your Child’s Success

Grandparents and Special Friends Week at PCCD is always a wonderful time for children, families and staff. We invite grandparents and other special people to experience The PCCD Preschool and Toddler Groups. Each classroom had the opportunity to host guests and plan activities. Some of our special friends enjoyed circle time, music group, playground fun, a craft activity and much more.

Throughout the week we were happy to host 101 guests at The Professional Center for Child Development.

One little boy was so excited when his grandmother walked in, he smiled and said “Grammie, what are you doing at my school?”

PCCD BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OUR MISSION Eliminate Barriers to Growth and Development for Children ages birth to 10.

Our Mission is to provide educational and therapeutic services for children of all abilities and their families, working with each child to develop to his or her full potential. We strive to eliminate barriers to growth and development for children with disabilities and families coping with health issues and challenges.

The Professional Center for Child Development places children on a path leading to achievement by providing support services so that children of all abilities may remain in a secure environment, teaching parents and caregivers to be successful advocates for children, working to transition children into settings beyond our classrooms and educating public organizations on how to provide continued community-based support for children with and without special needs.

OFFICERS BRIAN LATINA Chairman NEAL BESWICK Vice Chairman JOHN DECOURCY Treasurer MARK PASCARELLA Clerk MEMBERS SEAN CHENG JOSE CRUZ JULIE PALMACCIO