”“When a child reaches a milestone, it’s so exciting, but when there’s a delay, and you’re waiting on the edge of your seat for them to say their first word or take their first step. And when it finally happens… it’s a huge celebration!”

Michele Carroll M.Ed, Special InstructorGoldstar Therapist

Would my child benefit from having an early intervention special instructor?

What skills do early intervention special instructors address?

What are the signs that my child may need special instruction?

An Early Intervention Special Instructor (SI) is a therapist who focuses on supporting and understanding the social, emotional and cognitive development of your child as a whole. Special Instructors SI therapists can teach you how to create a learning environment that is most conducive to your child’s development. For example, when a child has a language delay, her learning environment needs to include language. Similarly, when a child has a social delay, her learning environment needs to include social games and interactive play.

Understanding how your child processes, copes, and thrives in their environment is not an easy task, especially when there are developmental challenges and limitations. It can also be difficult to identify exactly which areas your child is having trouble with.

A child may need special instruction if they are having difficulty with the following:

  • Learning new skills in the home or childcare setting
  • Adapting to changes in routine
  • Applying learned skills to their natural environment
  • Communicating effectively with caregivers and peers
  • Developing age appropriate play skills
  • Developing self control and self-regulation
  • Developing trusting relationships 
  • Using challenging behaviors in place of age appropriate communication.

How will special instruction benefit my child?

Early Intervention Special Instructors work with children on speech and communication disorders, sensory processing, social anxiety, cognitive delays, and behavioral concerns. You will partner with the special instructor by informing them on what your child’s daily routine looks like, so that he or she can provide you and your child with specific tools that can be incorporated into regular daily life. For example, the special instructor may demonstrate how your child’s favorite toy or activity might help them in developing a particular skill. Your child’s special instructor would be both yours and their primary support, offering the most individualized care and attention.

Our special instructors are trained in the principles of infant-toddler mental health and can address the social-emotional needs of a child through their relationships with the people in their environment. A child’s primary relationships in their early years of life create the foundation for future learning. Building a strong and trusting relationship allows the child the safety to explore and learn from their environment.

Goldstar is an eager partner with state and county-wide initiatives to improve social-emotional outcomes in young children. Goldstar has enrolled several special instructors in the evidence based program Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-Up (ABC) at the University of Delaware. Goldstar also has several therapists who have earned the Infant Toddler Mental Health graduate certificate from local universities.

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Our experienced and qualified special instructors work with you and your child to develop vital skills in any of these areas:

Cognition:

How your child organizes information, understands ideas, and develops problem solving skills.

Social Emotional:

How your child develops a close relationship with caregivers, manages their emotions, and develops the ability to learn from their environment.

Behavior:

How your child responds to his or her environment and acts towards others.

Communication:

How your child speaks, listens, and understands others.

Social Interaction:

The way that your child interacts with other people.

Play:

How your child uses toys and and engages with peers.

Our experienced and qualified special instructors work with you and your child to develop vital skills in any of these areas:

Cognition:

How your child organizes information, understands ideas, and develops problem solving skills.

Social Emotional:

How your child develops a close relationship with caregivers, manages their emotions, and develops the ability to learn from their environment.

Communication:

How your child speaks, listens, and understands others.

Social Interaction:

The way that your child interacts with other people.

Behavior:

How your child responds to his or her environment and acts towards others.

Play:

How your child uses toys and and engages with peers.