Natural Learning Opportunities The KEY to Meaningful Intervention with Families!

What is a Natural Learning Opportunity? Definition any opportunity to learn or practice a new skill/ability

The Focus of Early Intervention is NOW… …on NLOs and how children learn where they are, doing what they do …on functional and meaningful activities for each unique family …on COACHING parents/care givers to identify and use NLOs to help their children develop and meet their goals

What are some examples of typical activities for infants/toddlers and their families? What might a child learn during these activities?

Gathering Info about NLOs Intake/First Visit Explain the parent’s role and provider’s role in early intervention Prepare the parent for the level of detail we will explore Start to gather specifics about family life

Gathering Info about NLOs IFSP Page 2 – GET SPECIFIC! Think bigger than the daily schedule! Get info you can USE! Narrative – INTEPRET the tests in terms of what the child can and cannot do in his daily life Outcomes – Develop goals WITH parents, not FOR them.

Gathering Info about NLOs Home Visits Have an flexible agenda Follow the child’s lead FOCUS on the time & experiences during the rest of the week ASK lots of questions! Plan to join different activities, play in different places, do different things each visit Give a NEW strategy at every visit

You don’t know if you don’t ask… What are his favorite things to do? What goes well? What is difficult? Are there times when he and/or you get frustrated? What would you like to be able to do? What would you like for him to be able to do? What would make your life easier? How does he do during…? What does playtime look like? How much time do you and your child spend playing together?

Knowing the SPECIFICS supports better progress, more intervention, and positive family interactions!

Making NLOs Work When a concern is identified by the parent, find out: Situation specifics Join the family during the activity Ask the parent to take you through each step of the activity process Child and Parent Specifics What does the child typically do? What would the parent like for the child to do? What does the parent typically do? Strategy Specifics Brainstorm with the parent WHAT could be changed and HOW Plan for how to try the strategy Plan for what to do if the strategy doesn’t work

Making NLOs Work Once you have all of the specifics, SEIZE THE TEACHABLE MOMENT!

HOW do we teach? Consider adult learning and the parent’s learning style Have a 2-way brainstorming session for ideas & strategies Use activities and materials already present in the home FIRST

HOW do we teach? Observation – family interactions, play, communication, environment Discussion – what family already does, strategies to try and why Coaching - guide parent through gentle suggestions by preparing, coaching, and reflecting Demonstration/Modeling – when NECESSARY TO HELP THE FAMILY LEARN, show how to do a strategy then have the family member try it

HOW do we teach? Plan to follow-up on how strategy worked (or didn’t) at next visit Leave written strategies for later reference Record how you explored NLOs on your HV plan, in the child’s chart, etc.

What does a HV focusing on Natural Learning Opportunities look like?

What’s It Look Like? What are some of the similarities of these two home visits? What are some of the differences? What are some benefits to the child and family reflected in the approach used in Scenario #2?

Too often we give children answers to remember rather than problems to solve. Roger Lewin

Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but moments. Rose Kennedy