Mental health articles

low birth weight, convulsions, jaundice and meningitis, lack of oxygen at birth and genetic disorders such as Down’s syndrome. Early intervention programmes are important for these babies.
The brain needs activity, exercise and excitement to grow well. A child who is slower in learning to use her body and mind needs extra help. Early intervention programmes work with a baby or child and family to prevent or minimise developmental delays. The aims of early intervention are:
• to improve the development of the child;
• to help the child to function as independently as possible;
• to decrease the effects of handicap as much as possible;

• to give information to the parents about the child’s disability and teach them skills to manage the disability;
• to help parents to accept the child’s disability and improve family functioning.
These are a few principles for an early intervention programme:
• determine what developmental stage the child is at, by observing what the child can and cannot do;
• decide what are the next steps forward so that the child can learn new target skills in the same order as a normal child;
• divide each skill into small steps;
• choose activities that parents can do to teach the child the skill;
• encourage parents to provide practice through repetition of the play and stimulation activities every day;
Some general guidelines for parents that are vital for making
the stimulation programme work are:
• use praise abundantly;
• talk a lot to the child about what you are doing;
• guide the child’s movements with your hands, gradually decreasing support as the child is able
to complete the activity on his own;
• use a mirror to increase the child’s awareness of his body;
• teach by encouraging imitation;
• make learning fun by trying new things;
• involve other children, as they can be the best teachers.
Early intervention can be carried out by parents in the child’s home, using locally available toys and aids, during the child’s daily activities. The younger the child is when the stimulation programme is started, the greater are the chances of the child achieving her developmental
milestones. There are several excellent early intervention programmes readily available.

Tags: baby, intervention