early intervention
What is Early Intervention?
Early intervention supports children, 0-8 years, to learn and grow in both age and developmentally appropriate ways. This includes supporting children’s social, emotional, language, physical and cognitive development through a range of supports and programs.
How does Early Intervention Work?
A range of programs can be utilised in early intervention with individualised plans developed, in consultation with parents/carers, after an intake and assessment has occurred.
Sessions will run once a week for up to 1 hour and can be provided in the home, in an early childhood or school setting or in the clinic.
In Early Intervention children can learn:
- Pretend play skills
- To play with others
- To get along with others
- To express feelings responsibly
Early Intervention Services Offered
Play Skills
What is Pretend Play?
Pretend play is also called imaginative play or make-believe play. It requires a child to imagine something for example:
– Being a superhero
– Playing mummies and daddies
– Playing trucks
– Having tea party with dolls and teddies
– Dressing up
Why is Pretend Play important?
Pretend play supports development of:
– Language
– Story telling
– Thinking outside the box
– The ability to play with others
– The ability to regulate emotions
– Creativity
Developing the ability to play may support children to:
– learn more effectively
– get along better with their classmates
– manage their behavior more appropriately.
Programs Include:
- Learn to play
Learn to play increases the spontaneous pretend play abilities of children. By increasing children’s play skills it is hoped their language, cognitive and social skills will also be enhanced. For more information see: https://www.learntoplayevents.com/
Emotion Regulation
What is Emotion Regulation?
Emotion Regulation is being able to recognize, manage and respond to emotions in developmentally appropriate ways.
Why is Emotion Regulation important?
Developmentally appropriate emotion regulation supports:
– Children to feel calmer and happier
– Children’s overall wellbeing
– Conflict resolution skills
– Academic performance
– Development of coping strategies
– The ability to develop friendships.
Programs May Include:
- Zones of Regulation
A program to teach children, aged 4 +, to identify their feelings, understand how their behaviour impacts those around them, and learn tools they can use to manage their feelings.
For more information see: http://www.zonesofregulation.com/learn-more-about-the-zones.html
- How Does My Engine Run (Alert Program)
A program to teach children to recognize when their bodies are running too fast, too slow or just right and appropriate strategies to support them to be just right.
For more information see: https://www.alertprogram.com/new-to-alert-program/
Social Skills
Programs May Include:
- The Incredible Flexible You
- Secret Agent Society
More information see https://www.sst-institute.net/sas-families
