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This Best Practices in Early Intervention share site will not be maintained after June 30, 2025, due to the 'retirement' of MNCoE.
Effective Early Interventionists use both
Effective Early Interventionists use both
Relational and Participatory Helpgiving Practices
Relational and Participatory Helpgiving Practices
Relational Practices refer to the FEELINGS that providers use to build relationship, including empathy, non-judgment and belief in the caregiver's capacity. Participatory Practices refer to the ACTION both providers and caregivers take to practice new skills, make decisions and resolve problems.
"The two components of effective helpgiving strategies, relational and participatory helpgiving, both must be present in order to achieve positive outcomes for help receivers. Use of only relational helpgiving behaviors (e.g., compassion, empathy, openness) will not promote and enhance the help receiver’s capacity."
(Dunst & Espe-Sherwindt, 2016; Dunst & Trivette, 2009; Trivette & Dunst, 2014)
Choosing Relationship
Choosing Relationship
over Control
over Control
In the The Early Childhood Coaching Handbook, Drs. Rush and Shelden describe "choosing relationship over control" (2nd Edition, p 24). In order for providers to embrace this, we must place strong emphasis on acknowledging and understanding another person's perspective, especially if it is different from our own point of view.
In the The Early Childhood Coaching Handbook, Drs. Rush and Shelden describe "choosing relationship over control" (2nd Edition, p 24). In order for providers to embrace this, we must place strong emphasis on acknowledging and understanding another person's perspective, especially if it is different from our own point of view.
Food for Thought:
Food for Thought:
What does it mean to you to put "relationship over control" with caregivers? Consider a situation where a caregiver's priority is different from your own:
What does it mean to you to put "relationship over control" with caregivers? Consider a situation where a caregiver's priority is different from your own:
How might you react?
How might you react?
What would "choosing relationship over control" look like in your visits?
What would "choosing relationship over control" look like in your visits?
What might happen if you choose control instead?
What might happen if you choose control instead?
Relational and Participatory Helpgiving Practice Examples
Relational and Participatory Helpgiving Practice Examples
Framework for Reflective Questioning R&S.pdfRelational_Participatory Helpgiving Practices.pdf
Reflect on your current practice:
Reflect on your current practice:
How do you intentionally use relational practices and participatory practices with every family?
Which families are easiest to use relational practices with? Which are the hardest? What do you think about the differences?
Which families are easiest to use participatory practices with? Which are the hardest? What ideas do you have to increase consistency?
What would help you be more prepared to use both relational and participatory helpgiving practices?
What might you do differently going forward?
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