As summer vacation is beginning, my family and I embarked on an 11 day trip to the Southwest region of the United States. We learned how people lived over time.
I am reminded how it took a village to raise a child back then. I feel this saying holds true in today’s day and age.
Parents of young children want to see them grow and reach all milestones at the appropriate ages. Sometimes parents may need to rely on others such as grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings, friends, neighbors, and/or a village to assist in the upbringing of their children. Sometimes children will be delayed in reaching those milestones. Reasons for delays may be due to medical reasons, lack of developing language skills, social emotional skills and/or gross and fine motor skills.
If parents suspect their child has a disability, it is important that they contact Early Development Network to start the process. We know that a major key to success is early education and early intervention. By seeking early education and early interventions, a parent can help their children be successful.
We know that young children learn primarily through repeated opportunities to practice within their everyday environments, with people they know and materials with which they are familiar. They do not learn from “lessons” or sessions once or twice a week (McWilliam, 2010).
This past school year I had the opportunity to work with teams or “villages” consisting of parents, speech language pathologists, occupational therapist, physical therapist, and service coordinators. These “villages” worked together with a common goal or outcome in mind. Each member strived to improve a child’s development.
Over the next few years, Planning Region Team 10 is striving to focus on improving outcomes for children. One way in doing so is to train providers on an interview style that will further look into families routines and the level of communication, independence, and social interaction between families and the child with developmental needs. By doing this type of interview it allows early intervention teams to help assist children and their family.
So when looking at the whole child, it truly does take a village to raise a child.
To request information or to refer a child in the Planning Region 10 service area, please contact an EDN Services Coordinator at (308) 865-7131 or (800)-689-7131.
If you live outside the PRT 10 service area, please call the Nebraska Statewide Early Development Network Child Find number at: 1-888-806-6287 or visit http://edn.ne.gov/cms/