Every day at ELG we can see the positive effects that an early intervention program has on all aspects of our children’s lives, from communication and behavior, to peer relationships and play skills. We asked the program leader of our youngest group, Alice Wen, for her opinion and experiences in this regard.
“Before the age of six, there is a ‘golden age’ in which a child can create new pathways. After that time, there is already an established platform for the child; this platform makes it difficult to manipulate and mold into new methods of learning. Think about learning a new language: children can pick up words, sounds and pronunciation far faster than adults can. In the same way, methods of learning itself can be taught with less difficultly at these younger ages, where the brain is far more elastic.
We at ELG employ Early Intervention techniques to help build a rich, balanced platform for children to grow from. We make sure that the skills a child needs to develop are instilled in them as early as possible, so that they can start to make progress quickly. Early successes lead to future attainment, and a more positive, rewarding learning environment. “
It is vital that parents are aware of their child’s progress. If you think that your child is developmentally behind, it is important to check a developmental milestones chart and if you are still concerned, go to a doctor or specialist. Special needs can manifest in a number of ways, including physically and emotionally, so be aware of all aspects of your child’s life. Do not lose out on valuable learning time. The earlier you start intervention, the sooner your child can be learning at a faster rate, reducing their educational delay.
Research continuously shows that Early Intervention has a big effect on final adult outcomes. If you want the best chance for your child, take them to see a professional as soon as possible. Even a few months can make a big difference. It is due to the importance of early action that we have decided to launch our new toddler program, for children aged 0-3.
Alice has seen this process in action. “We had a child with ASD and when she came to us her social interaction was very poor. Through a variety of Early Intervention techniques, her social skills improved. You could see the small changes in her social interactions; her eye contact with her peers and the adults around her improved, she even began to smile in social interactions. The quality of her movements improved greatly and this gave her a better skills platform to build from.”