Fredericksburg Parent

26 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • May 2021 WRITTEN BY EMILY FREEHLING Parents are their children's fi rst teachers. It's a role that requires a lot of on-the-job training, but when a child is experi- encing developmental delays, demands on parents can some- mes feel diffi cult and stressful. Parents in the Fredericksburg region need to know that they don't have to face these challenges alone. The Parent Educa on—Infant Development program is an early interven on program for children from birth to 36 months. The program, run through the Rappahannock Area Community Ser- vices Board, serves families in Staff ord, Spotsylvania, Caroline and King George coun es and the city of Fredericksburg. WHY EARLY INTERVENTION? During the fi rst three years of a child's life, the brain is making more than a million neural connec ons every second. It's hard to overstate how important this period is for laying a founda on for future growth. For children who experience developmental delays, this me period is an important opportunity, when inter- ven ons can yield results that help children gain the skills and func onality that will help them as they get older. WHAT IS PARENT EDUCATION-INFANT DEVELOPMENT? Many people know us as "Early Interven on." We are a team of 24 providers, including speech language pathologists, physical therapists, occupa onal therapists, early childhood educa on specialists, and service coordinators. We work directly with parents and chil- dren in their homes, and now via secure Zoom mee ngs amid the pandemic. We work with parents to develop a plan of therapy, with ac vi es designed to help children make the most progress they can during these crucial fi rst three years and minimize developmental delays. Early Intervention Empowers Parents to be Their Child's Best Coach HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD COULD BENEFIT FROM EARLY INTERVENTION? While we receive referrals from hospitals and pediatricians, it's important for parents to know that they can call us directly. At a me when brain development is so rapid, the sooner you contact us, the sooner we can get started and start helping a child build skills. Have you no ced that your child is not doing things that other children his or her age are doing? That may or may not mean there is a delay, but it never hurts to call. Our assessments are free. The pandemic has meant that many parents and children are not visi ng playgrounds, classes and other se ngs where they would normally see other children as o en. We encourage parents to begin to educate themselves about developmental mile- stones by using resources such as the CDC's "Milestone Tracker" app to observe whether a child is achieving appropriate milestones. It's im- portant to look at the milestone ages but also to look at the quality of the skills being displayed. They may be walking—but are they walking without falling, in a straight line, and using the correct part of the foot? They may say 50 words, but are they using those words to communi- cate and get their needs met? Parents can reach us at 540-372-3561. If in doubt, we encourage you to call. ...it's important for parents to know that they can call us directly.

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