parent-professional partnership Archives - Page 6 of 17 - Early Intervention Strategies for Success

After earning a masters degree in education at the University of Kansas, I moved to North Carolina and accepted my first professional position as an Infant-Toddler Specialist providing home based services to infants and toddlers with identified developmental differences or those at risk for future delays. This opportunity put me directly in the trenches with …

In your busy day, there’s often very little time to stop and really think about what you’re doing. Instead, you just “do” what needs to be done. In Virginia, and in many states, early interventionists (EIs) are working very hard to adopt coaching practices as a means of interacting with families. When you do stop …

“Emma runs away every chance she gets. Open a door and she bolts. Try to walk with her into a store and she screams until she wiggles free. We can’t take her anywhere!”

This is how Emma’s mother describes one of the family’s main concerns. Emma’s behavior is difficult for them to manage, and one of …

I recently spoke with a mother who is a highly educated, early childhood professional and who received early intervention (EI) for her child. She shared this insight with me: she loved when the therapist came to her home and looked forward to the visits because she was so eager to help her child. She also felt equally …

Twenty years ago, I was living in rural Vermont as a single parent of two daughters who had disabilities. The oldest daughter was diagnosed with medical issues….asthma and allergies, trauma, emotional behavioral challenges and developmental delays at age 4 years of age. The youngest daughter at age 8 struggled with depression, learning disability and being …

It’s so easy, almost reflexive, to provide suggestions to a parent who tells us about a struggle with a child. Most of us have tons of ideas packed in our brains and are eager to share them, hoping we’ll have the magic solution to make life easier for the family. We spew suggestions without even …

Have you ever taken a yoga or dance class? If you haven’t, let me tell you about my experiences. In either class, I’ve always found myself in a big room in front of wall-sized mirrors facing an instructor. While soft music played, the teacher would call out the names of poses I was supposed to …

Your tire just went flat. You pull over to the side of the road, in the middle of nowhere, to try to accomplish something you’ve never done before. No, it’s not call AAA…you’re going to change the tire yourself. Thank goodness you have a good signal out here because you use your phone to look …

If you haven’t read it yet, be sure to check out the first blog post in this 2-part series, Milestone or Modern Convenience? – Part I: Overuse of the Sippy Cup and Pacifier, to learn important information about an infant’s need for sucking and the risks involved with overuse of the pacifier and sippy, cup!

Now that …

Although shocking to many, the sippy cup is NOT a developmental milestone. Nor is sucking on a pacifier, for that matter. But why do we (therapists, parents and caregivers) celebrate these acquired “skills” as developmentally appropriate achievements? Why do we allow these “skills” to happen for much longer than they should? Is it just easier …

A Professional Imposter: Reflections From an EI Provider/Mom

EI Research to Practice Brief #5: Which Coaching Strategies Do We Really Use?

Using Baby Steps to Address Challenging Behaviors during Real Routines

6 Key Ideas for Joint Planning with Parents

Riding the Roller Coaster of Life… Raising Two Daughters with Disabilities

Breaking the “Have You Tried…?” Habit

Adult Learning Principle #5 – Feedback is How We Grow

Adult Learning Principle #3: Active Practice and Participation are Key!

Milestone or Modern Convenience? – Part II: What to Do When the Convenience Becomes a Hard to Break Habit

Milestone or Modern Convenience? – Part I: Overuse of the Sippy Cup & Pacifier

It’s Not Goodbye, It’s See You Later!

Supporting Social and Emotional Development: What ALL Early Interventionists Can Do!

Baskin Robbins: How Do I Decide?

Get the Backstory: Validating and Valuing Family Input

EI Awareness Month in VA – The Power of Family Stories

Resource Alert! – Check Out the New Transition Learning Path

The Unspoken Realities of Child Abuse during a Pandemic

Successfully Engaging Caregivers in the Child Outcomes Summary Process Virtually

Call to Action! Service Coordination and Early Intervention – DEC/ITCA Position Statement