Early Childhood Intervention: Building Blocks For Success

January 18, 2023 Children
Birth to age three is a key time of growth. The base is being set for all other learning for the rest of a person’s life. For some children, this learning is harder from the very start because of being born premature or with birth defects or other health problems. These children are sent to early childhood intervention (ECI) right away. For other families, it is not until their child begins to fall behind that they are referred for therapy.
What is early childhood intervention and why is it so important?
Early childhood intervention is a family centered therapy program that helps young children with a developmental delay or disability be the best they can be. All of the therapies are done in the child’s home or daycare.
All 50 states in the U.S. have early intervention services available free for any child who qualifies with a developmental delay or disability. The qualifications vary from state to state.
Children with These Issues May Qualify:
  • ✓ speech therapy
  • ✓ feeding therapy
  • ✓ physical therapy
  • ✓ occupational therapy
  • ✓ nursing
  • ✓ nutrition
  • ✓ family counseling
  • ✓ social work
  • ✓ developmental and behavioral intervention
Children with These Issues May Qualify:
  • ✓ motor and speech delays
  • ✓ prematurity
  • ✓ birth defects
  • ✓ chromosomal abnormalities
  • ✓ autism
  • ✓ sensory disorders
  • ✓ feeding and swallowing disorders
Developmental Milestones
As your infant grows, they will learn new skills called developmental milestones. Most children will reach each milestone at a set age. Here are some examples:
  • ✓ 3 MONTHS - Lifting and holding their head up while on their tummy
  • ✓ 6 MONTHS - Using consonant sounds in babbling
  • ✓ 12 MONTHS - Pulling to stand and walking along furniture
  • ✓ 15 MONTHS - Walking without help

The developmental milestones are in the areas of gross motor, fine motor, communication, self-help, cognitive, social and emotional. Some children reach these easily while others have trouble in one or more areas.

When you take your child to well child check-ups, staff will ask you questions about what your child is doing at home. These questions help your doctor know if your child is reaching their developmental milestones. If they do not reach or begins to fall behind on these milestones, early intervention is often suggested. You can also call or email the local early intervention agency and ask that your child be assessed for services; WIC can also refer you.

Early childhood intervention has been shown to:
  • ✓ Increase parenting skills
  • ✓ Help the parent-child bond
  • ✓ Improve the child’s developmental skills, social skills and learning readiness
  • ✓ Decrease the risk of child abuse
Helpful Advice
Don’t be afraid to get help. For many parents, having early intervention services in their home changed their child’s life and helped their entire family.

“You are never prepared for all of the needs of a special needs child. I loved having all of the advice from all the different specialized therapists. Parenting is sink or swim and they were my lifeguards right beside me.” McKenzie, mom of child who needed Services

Having a child with developmental delays and other special needs can be hard for families. Therapists can help guide both parents and children through the challenges they face.

“Your child’s success in life depends on what you do as a parent, and with early intervention, they were there to show us how to help our son,” Caitlyn, mom of child who needed Services

Early childhood intervention gives families the building blocks to show parents how to help their children succeed.