Even with a crisis in the world, children are still growing and developing. Early Childhood Intervention Week is an opportunity to highlight the work that the Parkland Early Childhood Intervention Program does, and this year it also is an opportunity to focus on how they have had to quickly change in order to meet the needs of families while also working remotely and maintaining social distancing.
Michelle Yaschuk with Parkland ECIP said that the week is about celebrating early childhood interventionists and the wide range of professionals which work with families to support the developmental needs of children.
Parkland ECIP works with children ages 0-6 years old that are either experiencing or at risk of developmental delays. Through assessments, activities and community resources, they help children and their families as they grow and develop.
Through the COVID-19 crisis, those assessments are being handled remotely, with parents sending videos of their children, and discussions happening over the phone, through video conference, text and online resources. Yashcuk said through the crisis they are being creative, adapting traditional home visits to virtual visits.
鈥淲e are responding to new challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are responding with resilience, and we鈥檙e making families a priority despite barriers to services. We recognize that families with young children need support, and early childhood interventionists have adapted and they鈥檙e supporting families remotely.鈥�
One of the challenges facing families is that many other supports are not available, whether that means support in childcare or other resources. Yaschuk said that this has highlighted the need to keep support available to families as they are dealing with more difficulties through the crisis.
鈥淥ur emphasis is maintaining connections, offering a calm presence, and offering support based on the current needs of the family. Keeping the dynamics of the parent-child relationship central.鈥�
She said that both families and ECIP are finding ways to work from home through the pandemic.
鈥淲e鈥檙e finding that virtual home visits are a promising opportunity to ensure that families receive vital supports in this challenging time.鈥�
It has been a learning experience, and Yaschuk said that ECIP and families have learned together through the crisis. For many families, it鈥檚 their first time using FaceTime or other technology, for example, but that as they learn on the fly it鈥檚 becoming easier, and they鈥檙e better able to give advice to make the virtual visits more effective.
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen success in providing services to families virtually.鈥�
Celebrations for the week have had to change as well, and this year they will be sending out packages for families to help them have fun but also learn as well. It will include things like crayons, toys, matching cards, glow sticks and ages and stages guides.
The goal is to give kids a variety of fun activities that are still helpful in their development.
鈥淛ust a host of different fun activities for young children.鈥�
The packages also include things for parents, in order to help them practice self-care, with things like candles and bath bombs to encourage parents to take time for themselves. Yaschuk said that鈥檚 especially important now, because many parents are dealing with the stress of the pandemic overall and the changes that has brought with it.
鈥淲e鈥檙e constantly encouraging that with our families, ensuring they鈥檙e looking after themselves and taking a break, whatever that may look like. I know breaks aren鈥檛 looking the same as they did for families as they did in the past, but even if they can just get some alone time in their yard or their home, it鈥檚 very valuable.鈥�
Families can still reach out to Parkland ECIP by calling 306-786-6988 or visiting and they will help them navigate the needs of their family.
