Early Intervention Strategies for Success

Sharing What Works in Supporting Infants & Toddlers and the Families in Early Intervention

Early Intervention Strategies for Success, Tips, Insight and Support for EI Practitioners

 

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  • New Year’s Resolutions for Early Interventionists(current)

Everywhere you turn right now, you hear or see an ad related to New Year’s resolutions. Did you know that 45% of people make resolutions but only 8% say that they2014 are successful? In case you’ve made some resolutions for 2014, I thought I would help you get started on them by sharing some strategies you can use at work to help you reach your goals! According to StatisticBrain.com, these are some of the top New Year’s resolutions for 2014:

Lose Weight

Here’s a quick and easy way to shed 5-10 lbs…leave that toy bag at the office! If you are a service coordinator, now is a great time to clean out your briefcase or bag too. Getting rid of old copies of forms and those extra 17 pens at the bottom will surely lighten your load!

Getting Organized

Schedule time to declutter by cleaning out your desk , shredding or storing old files, cleaning out your mobile office (aka your car), and cleaning out old contact info from your phone (ugh, I know, but so necessary). Visit the 10 Tips for Organizing and Prioritizing series here on the blog for more ideas and look for tracking charts for important dates and timelines on our Tools of the Trade page.

Staying Fit and Healthy

For every visit you have this week, make a commitment to get up off the living room floor (PDF, New Window) and do something different with each family. Sure, that could be playing in a different room, but try asking about what else they like to do. Maybe it’s playing a rambunctious game of hide and seek under the dining room table (been there, done that!), going with the family to a restaurant where they need help, blowing bubbles in the kitchen sink (so much fun), helping to carry and sort laundry, or taking a walk around the neighborhood. All of these activities could be great contexts to address development, depending on a child’s goals. Moving around with children and families is much more likely to reflect what they do when you are not there so join in with their activities – rather than creating one by plopping on the floor after you walk in the door.

Learn Something Exciting

I love this one because it’s always on my resolutions list! This is a commitment you make to yourself and your career. Read journal articles or a new book, watch a webinar on a topic of interest, or take an online module or course. There are lots of free resources on our VA Early Intervention Professional Development Center website. Check out your state’s resources, google the topic you want to learn about, and make keeping your professional skills current a priority!

Help Others in their Dreams

This is resolution #8 on the list from StatisticBrain. I was surprised to see it there, honestly, but isn’t it wonderful how well it applies to the work we do? Helping families achieve their dreams for their children should be the first item in the job description for every early intervention service provider, regardless of discipline. We do this by asking families about their dreams, developing meaningful IFSPs, and intentionally partnering with them on each visit. Every parent has dreams for his or her child…ask what they are then help the family work towards them. I know you’ll be successful with this one!

What are your professional resolutions for the new year?

4 comments on “New Year’s Resolutions for Early Interventionists

  • Brenda Laws says:

    Making resolutions are not really my thing to do but I see 2014 as a year to Stress Less. Just those words improved my blood pressure and can help me enjoy life even better; even the small things. AHHHH!

    Reply
    • Brenda, I really like your resolution to stress less! I think we could all use more of that at work! What do you see yourself doing differently this year to lower your stress level??

      Since I know you are a system manager, do you have a suggestion for how supervisors can help lower stress levels of staff?

      Reply
  • Amy Cocorikis says:

    What a wonderful and energizing article – can’t wait to share it!

    Reply

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