At times I find interesting articles that I want to share or discuss with my followers. This is one of them. This particular article is written by a television actress. Ok, I know your first thought might be what does a TV star know about education? Well in this particular situation this actress also is intelligent. She has a doctorate in neuroscience. But that is not even the point, because she is also a mother. We all know how each and every mother is smart in each of our own ways, and has a strong belief system in something.
![toddler]()
Well this particular mom has a very strong opinion about a few things that I see many struggle over. For example, if a toddler or preschooler presents with a “delay” do we automatically set up services for that child or do we wait and see what will happen? As an Early Intervention Specialist I was often asked this questions by parents and educators. It is a tricky situation. Yes, many children will end up doing just fine with out any interventions; they just need time and exposure. However we do not have a crystal ball to know for sure that the child will catch up on their own. Research has proven that early interventions help immensely to prevent further issues in their learning. So, to me, the practical answer is that it can’t hurt to get services and therapy now so we do not have to kick ourselves later for not giving this particular child a head start.
![Early Intervention]()
I do see her point about her own children, and how they have developed the way they were supposed to, at the pace they were supposed to. However, I think that people have to see what “services” looks like at such a young age. Toddlers and preschool age children mostly receive therapy through play. Most kids love the experience! My former director of the Early Intervention always would joke that every child in the world could benefit from Early Intervention Services even if they do not have a delay. Why is that? Well it’s because children who receive services get one-on-one undivided attention by an adult who teaches them something they do not know yet with play activities. What child in the world would not like to have a person who devotes one full hour a week to just meeting that child’s needs? Usually the therapist has a huge bag of toys that the child gets to play with in the process. Who would not love that?
I often hear from people that they don’t want their children to be labeled, stigmatized or put into the system so young. Each state is different on which departments care for each age of children’s learning. For example, in MA the department of public health oversees the development of young children. But every state has federal HIPPA laws. A child’s participation in a program before they are school aged should be confidential. If your state has the Department of Education run programs for children under the age of 3 and for over the age of 3, then perhaps there may be a trail that the child was serviced at some point. But Early Intervention is developed for the very reason to not have to have a child enter into the system with a label.
So, if you are a teacher or a parent contemplating on whether services are right for a small child, please keep in mind that “services” is not an ugly scary word.
![Mayim Bialik]()
I invite you to read this enlightening article written by actress Mayim Bialik, the former actress who stared as “Blossom” and currently is on “The Big Bang Theory”. She has other interesting ideas on sharing, being polite, and excelling. I have to say I agree with her antics about sharing.
http://www.today.com/moms/why-i-dont-force-my-kids-say-please-or-walk-1C7398514
This article struck me because I was reading it at the same time period that I was developing my November Teleseminar Series on Early Childhood Development. If you would like to learn more about that training series, you can do so by clicking here.
Please share your thoughts, and experiences with the article or real life situations.
Well this particular mom has a very strong opinion about a few things that I see many struggle over. For example, if a toddler or preschooler presents with a “delay” do we automatically set up services for that child or do we wait and see what will happen? As an Early Intervention Specialist I was often asked this questions by parents and educators. It is a tricky situation. Yes, many children will end up doing just fine with out any interventions; they just need time and exposure. However we do not have a crystal ball to know for sure that the child will catch up on their own. Research has proven that early interventions help immensely to prevent further issues in their learning. So, to me, the practical answer is that it can’t hurt to get services and therapy now so we do not have to kick ourselves later for not giving this particular child a head start.
I do see her point about her own children, and how they have developed the way they were supposed to, at the pace they were supposed to. However, I think that people have to see what “services” looks like at such a young age. Toddlers and preschool age children mostly receive therapy through play. Most kids love the experience! My former director of the Early Intervention always would joke that every child in the world could benefit from Early Intervention Services even if they do not have a delay. Why is that? Well it’s because children who receive services get one-on-one undivided attention by an adult who teaches them something they do not know yet with play activities. What child in the world would not like to have a person who devotes one full hour a week to just meeting that child’s needs? Usually the therapist has a huge bag of toys that the child gets to play with in the process. Who would not love that?
I often hear from people that they don’t want their children to be labeled, stigmatized or put into the system so young. Each state is different on which departments care for each age of children’s learning. For example, in MA the department of public health oversees the development of young children. But every state has federal HIPPA laws. A child’s participation in a program before they are school aged should be confidential. If your state has the Department of Education run programs for children under the age of 3 and for over the age of 3, then perhaps there may be a trail that the child was serviced at some point. But Early Intervention is developed for the very reason to not have to have a child enter into the system with a label.
So, if you are a teacher or a parent contemplating on whether services are right for a small child, please keep in mind that “services” is not an ugly scary word.
I invite you to read this enlightening article written by actress Mayim Bialik, the former actress who stared as “Blossom” and currently is on “The Big Bang Theory”. She has other interesting ideas on sharing, being polite, and excelling. I have to say I agree with her antics about sharing.
http://www.today.com/moms/why-i-dont-force-my-kids-say-please-or-walk-1C7398514
This article struck me because I was reading it at the same time period that I was developing my November Teleseminar Series on Early Childhood Development. If you would like to learn more about that training series, you can do so by clicking here.
Please share your thoughts, and experiences with the article or real life situations.