{"id":3135,"date":"2017-10-03T16:42:26","date_gmt":"2017-10-03T16:42:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/?p=3135"},"modified":"2021-10-15T20:32:50","modified_gmt":"2021-10-15T20:32:50","slug":"walk-the-walk-of-routines-based-services-through-self-reflection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2017\/10\/03\/walk-the-walk-of-routines-based-services-through-self-reflection\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWalk the Walk\u201d of Routines Based Services through Self-Reflection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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How much do I value families\u2019 everyday routines in being able to positively influence children\u2019s development? So very much. Yet\u2026 how often do I find myself on a home visit either: 1) only talking with a family about their routines, or 2) engaging with the family in only the routine of play? Too often!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Values versus Actions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What we know about early interventionists is that they tend to have values that align with current recommended practices about the importance of providing services that focus on families\u2019 everyday routines<\/a>. However, we also know that even with those values, our services tend to focus heavily on having discussions with families, or when we do participate in routines with them and their children, that routine tends to be play-based.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the saying goes: \u2018It\u2019s easier to talk the talk, than walk the walk.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neither of these things, discussions or a focus on play, are problematic. Yet we know that our services have much greater potential to be useful to families and supportive of their children when they focus on the typical, everyday parts of their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, if we want to be most supportive of families and their children, our actions during home visits<\/a> need to align with our beliefs about the importance of all types of family routines!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get Back to Walking the Walk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many of us may be stuck in the \u2018talk the talk\u2019 portion of this \u2013 we know and value families\u2019 routines. We may talk and brainstorm with families about many routines each time we see them. But how often are these routines themselves the focus of our visits?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now may be the time to say to ourselves: \u201cIt\u2019s time to get back to walking the walk!\u201d That may mean doing some active observation of a particular family routine<\/a> and providing strength-based feedback, or it may mean being part of the routine with the family<\/a> (such as going on a walk to the park together). If we want to get back to \u2018walking the walk\u2019 of routines based services, one way to do this is to take a moment to evaluate your visits with families. Pause. Reflect. Be generous with yourself and notice your strengths. Be willing to notice the routines you struggle to be part of with families. Take the time to think about the barriers that either you or the family may face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are likely very knowledgeable about recommended practices<\/a> in early intervention. Therefore, one of the most powerful ways to shape who you are as a continually developing professional is to simply reflect on what you do. Self-reflection can be a great step in the right direction for us as professionals by using it to first identify where we are now, and then set goals about where we\u2019d like to be heading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Resource for Self-Reflection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This resource, Self-Reflection Worksheet on Home Visiting<\/a>, can help you to do some self-reflection. Open up the link and take a moment to yourself, or discuss the questions with a trusted colleague. What do you notice when you reflect on the services you provide? For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n