What is Early Intervention?

• Early intervention are services and supports that are available to babies and young children with developmental delays and disabilities and their families.

What model do you use and how does it work?

• The coaching model is the model I use as an early interventionist. Coaching interactions are used by practitioners during early intervention visits to help parents develop their abilities to interact with their children in ways that support their child’s development. Coaching is used during natural family routines as a way to help families identify strategies, practice them during visits, reflect on their interactions with their children, problem solve challenges, and receive supportive feedback, tips, and strategies. 

• The most important thing when working with young children is the ability to practice strategies often. I like the coaching model as it has children work on their goals with their parent and familiar adults in their natural setting where they are typically working on daily tasks. Families get the chance to demonstrate what is working well and learn new strategies each visit. During these early year, babies and young children learn best through daily interactions with their caregivers in their natural environments (home, daycare, preschool, church, outside, and on outings). By working with caregivers in the setting they typically are in during daily routines, we can work on strategies that work! 

What does an evaluation for a child look like from birth to age five?

• At this age, the best way to learn about where a small child is in development is to talk to their parents and caregivers. There is no way to have a child preform all the tasks for an evaluation as children this age are learning all throughout their day. By listening to concerns from caregivers, asking questions about what a child is doing during their day, and going over milestones, an evaluator can put the pieces together to create a report about a child's development, concerns, and next steps for the child. A child should be seen during at least part of an evaluation, however caregivers should be asked many questions in a variety of areas of development. An evaluator can take a look at any areas of concern.