Infancy and Early Childhood
Counseling Schedule:
Infancy
VISIT
2 DAYS to
4 WEEKS
INTRODUCE
•
•
•
•
2 and 4
MONTHS
•
•
•
•
•
6 and 9
MONTHS
•
•
•
•
What Babies Do
Parental Frustration
Parent Mental Health
Parent Support
Child Care
Family
Safe Environment
Parenting Style
Bonding and Attachment
Establishing Routines
Discipline = Teaching
Firearms
Modeling Behavior
Infancy1-7
• Early caregiver relationships set the stage for future
relationships
• Securely attached young children have an easier time
developing positive, supportive relationships
• Emerging evidence shows that securely attached
young children are found to have more8-15:
•
•
•
•
Balanced self-concept
Advanced memory processes
Sophisticated grasp of emotion
Positive understanding of friendship
Infancy Counseling
Be on the lookout for families
who are socially isolated or
experiencing family discord.
Who helps you with
your baby?
If there is a gun in
the home, how is it
stored?
Is this what you
expected?
How much time do
you have off from
work?
Being a new parent
can be exhausting.
How are you doing?
Infancy Brochures
Welcome to the World of Parenting!
Visit: 2 Days to 4 Weeks
 Helps parents understand the
normal development of
newborns
 Provides information about
coping skills for parents
 Discusses changes in the ways
parents may now relate as a
couple
How to Use this Tool
• Whenever appropriate, include both parents
in the conversation
• Discuss infant crying and ways to handle it:
• Crying is normal
• Crying upsets parents
• Sometimes, parents just need to let the baby
cry
Helpful Hint!
Support new parents with
positive statements:
I love the way your baby looks at you,
soothes to your voice. You’re doing a
great job!
Parenting Your Infant
Visit: 2 and 4 Months
 Helps parents understand normal
development of 4- to 9-month-old
infants
 Stresses importance of building
family connections
 Discusses 3 problems:
• Colic
• Trouble sleeping
• Clinging to parents
How to Use this Tool
• Reiterate messages about crying and parental
frustration
• Emphasize to parents the importance of
having time together without their baby
Helpful Hint!
Support new parents with
positive statements:
Your infant is alert, growing well, and
has a beautiful smile!
How Do Infants Learn?
Visit: 6 and 9 months
 Offers practical suggestions to
parents based on a newborn’s
brain development
• Encourages activities like reading or
singing to promote brain growth
 Helps parents understand that
exploration is a natural
developmental need
How to Use this Tool
• Ask parents about their social connections.
Refer to sections “Others Who Care for Your
Baby” and “Taking Care of Yourself”
• Utilize the “Social Connections” worksheet
from the Clinical Guide
• Talk about child care arrangements
Helpful Hint!
Notice infant’s new behaviors
and parent-child interaction:
Wow, your baby is really interested in
my stethoscope! I like the way she lets
me examine her, but she is always
looking over at you for assurance.
Your Child is on the Move:
Reduce the Risk of Gun Injury
Visit: 6 and 9 months
 Correlates childhood injuries/
deaths due to firearms and
presence of handguns in the home
 Emphasizes that a child’s curiosity
about guns overwhelms any
lessons learned about gun safety
 Provides information needed to
make informed decisions
How to Use this Tool
• Discuss handguns in the context of other
household hazards
• Since some parents may not be in agreement
concerning the presence of handguns in the
home, encourage them to look at the
brochure together to make an informed
decision
Helpful Hints!
• In areas of country with high rates of gun ownership, some
practices offer reduced price or free gun locks
• Be aware of the potential lethality of domestic violence in homes
with handguns
Counseling Schedule:
Early Childhood
VISIT
12 and 15
MONTHS
•
INTRODUCE
Child Development and
Behavior
18 MONTHS
and 2 YEARS
•
•
•
Child’s Assets
Guided Participation
Media
3 and 4 YEARS
•
•
•
•
Peer Playing
Safety in Others’ Homes
Talking About Emotions
Promoting Independence
Early Childhood16-20
 Communication skills allow young children to
sustain bouts of play
 How young children learn to react is greatly
influenced by:
• Parental relationship
• Parental behavior
• Home environment
Early Childhood Counseling
Encourage alternatives to TV,
such as outdoor activity or
reading.
“Does your child
have opportunities
to play with other
children this age?”
“Teach your child by
providing positive
reinforcement for
desired behaviors.”
Normal toddler behavior may be
especially difficult for families
with little social support.
“She really pays
attention when we
talk; does she
understand when
you speak to her?”
“What do you think your
child does best? What does
he enjoy doing?”
Early Childhood Brochures
Teaching Good Behavior:
Tips on How to Discipline
Visit: 12 and 15 Months
 Describes the basics of a behavioral
approach to parenting toddlers
• Positive reinforcement for desired
behaviors
• Limit setting
 Advises parents about effective
alternatives to corporal punishment
How to Use this Tool
• Start conversations about toddler behavior with
gentle inquiries
• “Your child is growing and developing well.
Have tantrums started? How do you handle
them?”
• “What is your child doing new since last visit?
What do you want to change?”
• Endorse the core message: a simple approach
for teaching toddlers how to behave well
Helpful Hint!
Be on the lookout for children with difficult
temperaments, families who are socially
isolated, and families experiencing discord
Playing is How Toddlers Learn
Visit: 18 Months and 2 Years
Helps parents understand normal
toddler behavior and advises them
how to
• Provide a stimulating environment
during this period of major brain
development
• Understand the natural curiosity and
exploration of toddlers
How to Use this Tool
• Discuss normal toddler play behavior
• Provide parents with guidance on the types
of toys that stimulate imagination
• Help parents identify places where they can
meet other toddlers and their parents
Helpful Hints!
• Check in with parents about how
their family relationships are faring
• Support toddler’s parents with
positive statements:
What a delightful child you have!
He is really curious about the
world. This is great to see!
Pulling the Plug on TV Violence
Visit: 18 Months and 2 Years
 Provides information about the
influence of TV violence on
children
 Offers tips for parents
• Set limits on TV time
• Know what children are watching
• Watch programs with children
• Do not put TV in a child’s room
How to Use this Tool
• Identify alternatives to TV, such as toys that
use imagination or outdoor play when possible
• Recognize that alternatives can be
challenging, as TV often provides free in-home
child care for families who cannot afford
organized activities or who live in unsafe areas
Helpful Hint!
Ask the child:
What’s your favorite TV show?
The child’s response often indicates the kind of TV programs being
watched, which provides a topic to open discussion with parents
Young Children Learn A Lot When They
Play
Visit: 18 Months and 2 Years
 Introduces the importance of
peer playing
 Includes tips on how to make
play opportunities successful
 Assists parents in solving
common difficulties, such as
aggression and rejection
How to Use this Tool
• Ask if child has opportunities to play with
other children of the same age
• Use parent’s answer to discuss how the child
plays or how to find other children
• Help parents problem solve any play or
playmate issues
Helpful Hint!
Try to notice something about what
children are wearing, the toys they
bring, or their behavior:
I see you really like trucks.
Do you and your friends play
with trucks a lot?
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Acknowledgments
Howard Spivak, MD
Robert Sege, MD, PhD
Elizabeth Hatmaker-Flanigan, MS
Bonnie Kozial
Vincent Licenziato
Kimberly Bardy, MPH
This project was supported by Grant No. 2001-JN-FX-0011 awarded by the Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily
represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.