Early Intervention
Birth - 3 Years
What is Early Intervention?
Early Intervention refers to the range of support and services provided to eligible babies and children under the age of 3 years who have developmental delays or disabilities.
These services are aimed at promoting healthy development in young children, as well as supporting the family in providing care and assistance to the child.
Early Intervention services are provided to eligible infants and toddlers at no cost to families.
Developmental Milestones
Developmental milestones are specific skills and behaviors most children are expected to achieve by a certain age. These milestones are related to various aspects of child development, such as how children play, learn, speak, act, and move between birth and age 5.
It's important to keep in mind that every child develops at their own pace. However, it's always a good idea to be watchful for any potential developmental delays.
Identifying these delays early on can help in getting preschool special education services, which can greatly benefit a child’s overall well-being.
What are Developmental Delays?
Developmental Delay is a term used when children have not reached the developmental milestones expected for their chronological age in one or more of the following areas: cognitive development, physical development (including vision and hearing), communication development, social and emotional development, and adaptive development.
How to Help Identify Developmental Delays
The checklist presented below can serve as a useful guide for families and support their decision-making. While this checklist is not all-encompassing, it provides some common indicators of developmental delays in children, which can help families determine when further evaluations or screenings may be necessary. Additionally, the CDC offers a useful tool that parents can use to monitor their child’s development. Learn the Signs. Act Early.
It's important to know that signs of delay can vary. Some signs may appear in infancy, while others may only become apparent once a child reaches school age.
Recognizing the Signs
of Developmental Delays in Children Under the Age of 3 Years
Please find some of the signs of developmental delays listed below:
Social-Emotional
Child has difficulty:
Looking at your face (2 months)
Expressing emotions such as laughing (6 mos)
Playing Games such a “Pat-a-cake” (1 year)
Pointing to show interest (18 mos)
Looking at a person who is laughing (2 year)
Language/Communication
Child has difficulty:
Making noises other than crying (2 months)
Babbling (6 months)
Using words such as “mama, dada” (1 year)
Following one-step directions not accompanied by gestures. i.e. Puts toy away when you say “Put the toy away.” (18 months)
Physical
(including Vision and Hearing)
Child has difficulty:
Holding up their head when on tummy (2 months)
Rolling Over (6 months)
Drinking from a cup (1 year)
Feeding self with fingers (18 months)
Running (2 years)
Cognitive
(Thinking, Learning, Problem-Solving)
Child has difficulty:
Tracking objects with their eyes (2 months)
Reaching for a toy or object (6 months)
Putting objects in containers (1 year)
Playing with toys i.e. Shaking a rattle to make a sound (18 months)
Exploring how things work i.e. taking the lid off a container (2 years)
Adaptive
(Self-help, Eating, Dressing, Adjusting to New Situations)
Infant has difficulty:
Sucking with smooth, coordinated movements
Supporting their own bottle
Toddler Has Difficulty:
Unwrapping food
Holding cup with two hands
Avoiding potential dangers
It is important to keep track of children's progress in all areas of development and take action early if concerns arise.
Acting Early Makes a Difference In Early Intervention
Why Intervene Early?
Early intervention services can help children meet important developmental milestones. Studies have shown that starting developmental services as early as possible can lead to improved outcomes. This is especially important in the first few years of a child's life, as their brain is rapidly developing and their experiences and interactions greatly impact their behavior, learning ability, and overall health.
Parents and caregivers, if you notice that your child is not meeting a milestone or if you have any concerns about their development, The Journey Intended is here to help. We offer different services, such as physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy.
Pediatric Therapy Services to Support Your Child's Development
Our team consists of licensed Physical Therapists (PTs) who personalize each treatment plan based on the child's Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or Individualized Education Program (IEP). We use our expertise in movement to incorporate fun developmental play activities to achieve these goals! Additionally, we work closely with families and offer various forms of support to promote health and wellness.
Pediatric Physical Therapy (PT)
Pediatric Physical Therapy aims to facilitate motor development and function in children, improve their strength and endurance, promote independence, and promote their independence so that they can participate in daily activities. This can lead to better learning opportunities and improve their overall health and well-being.
Goals and Benefits:
Our goals include, but are not limited to improving balance, coordination, movement, strength, and endurance in young children. We use targeted exercises and movements that focus on specific muscles to enhance their overall physical abilities designed to help them engage in daily activities with ease.
Speech-Language Pathology (Pediatric) (SLP)
Speech Therapy, also known as Speech-Language Pathology, aims to enhance children's communication skills by developing their speech, language, and cognitive-communication abilities. Cognitive-communication includes attention, memory, and problem-solving skills that are necessary to process information in our brains and communicate effectively with others. Speech therapy also focuses on oral motor treatments such as chewing, swallowing, and feeding.
Goals and Benefits:
Our goals include, but are not limited to, improving healthy communication, fluency, and swallowing abilities in young children.
Pediatric Occupational Therapy (OT)
Pediatric Occupational Therapy aims to improve children's foundational skills and promote their independence so that they can participate in daily activities that are valuable to them. Occupational therapy can help young children who have physical, sensory, or cognitive needs. By receiving this therapy, children can have better learning opportunities and improve their overall health and well-being.
Goals and Benefits:
Our goals include, but are not limited to improving young children's ability to perform daily tasks with ease and achieve greater independence.
