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Early Intervention Activities

"Early intervention" is a term that often refers to providing services to young children who suffer from a handicapping condition. For children with developmental disabilities, early intervention can be crucially important. There are a number of activities that can help to facilitate early intervention, and many provide a fun and engaging experience to children with special needs.

  1. Music Therapy

    • Music can be an extremely effective early intervention tool when used properly. Choose well-known songs that are easy for children to learn and organize a sing-along. While it may take practice before a child is able to sing the words to a song, most can often pick up an approximation of the melody rather quickly. Repetition of music therapy on a daily or semi-daily basis can help increase a child's ability to memorize words and patterns. This can help build strong communication skills.

    Reading Comprehension

    • One of the biggest issues for children with developmental disabilities is learning how to read and write. As a result, the earlier reading comprehension is taught, and the more time that is spent on the subject, the better the chances that the child will eventually learn to read and write without difficulty. Devote a large chunk of time each day to reading to the child, starting with short, easy to understand stories. Probe the child with simple questions after reading, such as "how did the story make your feel?"

    Engaging Questions

    • One of the most important things a parent or educator can do to assist in early intervention for a child with a developmental disability is to keep the child engaged. It is common for children with special needs to have short attention spans or experience difficulty focusing. It is essential to engage the child with questions and attention on a regular basis. Asking questions is a great way to engage children, as they usually know they are expected to answer. Start with easy "yes/no" questions, and eventually move towards questions that demand more complex answers.

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