E ARLY INTERVENTION
AND
C HILD D EVELOPMENT
Mindy DeGeer
ECSE Teacher
Minnewaska Area Schools

L EARNING O BJECTIVES
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Increase your understanding of early intervention
Review developmental milestones
Learn about “red flags” in development
Prepare you to communicate with caregivers

E ARLY I NTERVENTION
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System of services that helps babies and toddlers
with developmental delays or disabilities. Early intervention focuses on helping eligible babies and toddlers learn the basic and brand-new skills that typically develop during the first three years of life, such as:
physical (reaching, rolling, crawling, and walking);
cognitive (thinking, learning, solving problems);
communication (talking, listening, understanding);
social/emotional (playing, feeling secure and happy); and
self-help (eating, dressing).

EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES
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Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
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Often is the service coordinator
Assistive technology (devices a child might need)
Audiology or hearing services
Counseling and training for a family
Medical services
Nursing services
Nutrition services
Occupational therapy
Physical therapy
Psychological services
Speech and language services

T YPICAL D EVELOPMENT ; BY 3 MONTHS
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Motor Skills
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 lift head when held at your shoulder lift head and chest when lying on his stomach turn head from side to side when lying on his stomach follow a moving object or person with his eyes
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 grasp rattle when given to her wiggle and kick with arms and legs

T YPICAL D EVELOPMENT ; 3 MONTHS
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Sensory and Thinking Skills
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 turn head toward bright colors and lights turn toward the sound of a human voice recognize bottle or breast respond to your shaking a rattle or bell

T YPICAL D EVELOPMENT ; 3 MONTHS
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Language and Social Skills
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 make cooing, gurgling sounds smile when smiled at communicate hunger, fear, discomfort (through crying or facial expression) usually quiet down at the sound of a soothing voice or when held

T YPICAL D EVELOPMENT ; 6 MONTHS
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Motor Skills hold head steady when sitting with your help reach for and grasp objects play with his toes help hold the bottle during feeding explore by mouthing and banging objects move toys from one hand to another pull up to a sitting position on her own if you grasp her hands sit with only a little support roll over bounce when held in a standing position

T YPICAL D EVELOPMENT ; BY 6 MONTHS
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Sensory and Thinking Skills
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 open his mouth for the spoon imitate familiar actions you perform

T YPICAL D EVELOPMENT ; BY 6 MONTHS
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Language and Social Skills
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 babble, making almost sing-song sounds know familiar faces laugh and squeal with delight scream if annoyed smile at herself in a mirror

T YPICAL DEVELOPMENT ; BY 12 MONTHS
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Motor Skills drink from a cup with help feed herself finger food like raisins grasp small objects by using her thumb and index or forefinger use his first finger to poke or point put small blocks in and take them out of a container knock two blocks together sit well without support crawl on hands and knees pull himself to stand or take steps holding onto furniture stand alone momentarily walk with one hand held

T YPICAL DEVELOPMENT ; BY 12 MONTHS
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Sensory and Thinking Skills
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 copy sounds and actions you make respond to music with body motion try to accomplish simple goals (seeing and then crawling to a toy) look for an object she watched fall out of sight
(such as a spoon that falls under the table)

T YPICAL DEVELOPMENT ; 12 MONTHS
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Language and Social Skills
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 babble, but it sometimes “sounds like” talking say his first word recognize family members’ names try to “talk” with you respond to another’s distress by showing distress or crying show affection to familiar adults show apprehension about strangers raise her arms when she wants to be picked up
 understand simple commands

T YPICAL D EVELOPMENT AGES 1-2 YRS .
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Motor Skills
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 walks alone pulls toys behind when walking begins to run squats to floor and returns to stand throw a ball forward
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 removes simple clothing can pick up small objects with finger tips build a 6 block tower washes and dries hands independently

T YPICAL D EVELOPMENT AGES 1-2 YRS .
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Sensory and thinking skills
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 finds hidden objects sorts by shape and color plays make-believe complete 5 piece knob puzzle initate social games and maintain interaction
 show pride in accomplishments

T YPICAL D EVELOPMENT AGES 1-2 YRS .
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Language and Social Skills
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 imitates behavior of others aware of herself as separate from others enthusiastic about company of other children parallel play points to 3 body parts
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 understands 50 words follow 1-2 step commands
2 word phrases- “up daddy”, “go bye-bye” uses words to express needs

R ED F LAGS AT 1 YEAR
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Does not crawl or drags one side while crawling.
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Says no single words.
No or little eye contact
Sensory issues
Does not learn to use gestures, such as waving or head shaking

R ED F LAGS AT 18-24 MONTHS
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Does not walk by 18 months or walks exclusively on the toes.
Does not speak at least 15 words
Does not seem to know the function of common household objects like telephones and eating utensils.
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Does not imitate actions or words or follow simple instructions.
Cannot push a wheeled toy

T YPICAL D EVELOPMENT ; 3-4 YRS .
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Motor Skills
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 climbs well walks up and down stairs, alternating feet kicks ball runs easily pedals tricycle
 bends over without falling

T YPICAL D EVELOPMENT ; 3-4 YRS .
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Sensory and Thinking Skills matches an object in hand to picture in book sorts objects by shape and color completes 3 - 4 piece interlocking puzzles understands concept of “two” can work toys with buttons, levers, and moving parts plays make-believe with dolls, animals, and people copies a circle with pencil or crayon turns book pages one at a time builds towers of more than 6 blocks screws and unscrews jar lids or turns door handle

T YPICAL D EVELOPMENT ; 3-4 YRS .
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Language and Social Skills imitates adults and playmates show affection for familiar playmates can take turns in games understands “mine” and “his / hers”
Follows instructions with 2 or 3 steps
Can name most familiar things
Understands words like “in,” “on,” and “under”
Says first name, age, and sex
Names a friend
Says words like “I,” “me,” “we,” and “you” and some plurals
(cars, dogs, cats)
Talks well enough for strangers to understand most of the time
Carries on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences

R ED F LAGS AT 3 YEARS
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Falls frequently or has difficulty using stairs.
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Difficulty manipulating small objects
Is unable to communicate in short phrases or understand simple instructions.
No interested in “pretend” play
Separation anxieties.

R ED F LAGS AT 4 YEARS
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Does not respond to people outside the family.
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Unable to communicate appropriately.
Shows no interest in interactive games or fantasy play.
Resists dressing, sleeping, or using the toilet.
No self-control when angry or upset

R ED F LAGS AT ANY AGE
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Slipping backwards in any area is of major concern.
Loss of language skills and/or social skills at any age is a significant red flag.
Children who are no longer able to communicate or interact socially at levels they once could.

RED FLAGS:
C AUSE FOR A CTION , N OT A LARM
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Developmental milestones.
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Each child develops in his/her own particular manner.
Signs can be related to physical development or motor skills, vision and hearing, emotional reactions, behavioral and other issues

B EHAVIOR P ROBLEMS
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“ A rule of thumb for social and behavior problems is that a child’s social and emotional development correlates with language development.”
Raymond Tervo, MD, (Tervo, R. (2009), “Red
Flags and Rules of Thumb: Sorting Out
Developmental Delay”. A Pediatric Perspective,
Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, Vol 18,
No. 2. Aggressi

A GGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS
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May demonstrate developmental sequence as a younger typical child
May have reduced language during play
More isolated play
Less associative and cooperative play
Lack of problem solving skills during play
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Lack of curiosity in play
Lack of social rules through peer confrontation

I F THERE IS A CONCERN …
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For any child age 0-5 years connect with Help Me
Grow on their website: www.helpmegrowmn.org, call 1-866-693-
GROW, or contact your local school district:
Minnewaska Area Schools Early Intervention
Starbuck Early Childhood Center
320-239-1403

W ORKING EFFECTIVELY AND BUILDING
PARTNERSHIPS WITH CAREGIVERS
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Begin discussion by expressing concern for the child.
Let parents know that your goal is to help the child and you want to work together.
Ask parent have s/he noticed similar situations

R EFERENCES
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National Dissemination Center for Children with
Disabilities
Center for Disease Control
Raymond Tervo, MD, (Tervo, R. (2009), “Red
Flags and Rules of Thumb: Sorting Out
Developmental Delay”. A Pediatric Perspective,
Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, Vol 18,
No. 2.