The role of parents in early motor intervention

Abstract

-In this article we discuss the results of a motor intervention study that we conducted with young children with Down syndrome and other disabilities (Mahoney, Robinson & Fewell, 2001). Results from this study indicated that neither of the two major treatment models that are commonly used with young children with motor impairments was effective at enhancing children's rate of motor development or quality of movement. These findings add to an increasing body of literature indicating that early motor intervention procedures are not adequately meeting the goals envisioned for this endeavour. We argue that there are at least two interrelated reasons why this may be occurring. The first is that parents, who are the people with the greatest opportunities to promote children's motor learning, are not being asked to become active participants in their children's motor intervention. The second is that contemporary models of motor intervention have been focusing on motor learning activities that are incompatible with contemporary theories and research on early motor learning. Keywords: motor intervention, physical therapy, early interventionThe clinical procedures that are dominating contemporary early motor intervention services for young children with Down syndrome and other disabilities have not been effective at addressing this problem. We maintain that there are at least two interrelated reasons why this may be occurring. The first is that parents, who are the people with the greatest opportunities to promote children's motor learning, are not being asked to become active participants in their children's motor intervention. The second is that contemporary models of motor intervention have been focusing on motor activities that are incompatible with contemporary theories and research on early motor learning. The purpose of this paper is to present research findings and theoretical arguments that support these positions. The effectiveness of contemporary motor intervention servicesIn a recent article (Mahoney, Robinson & Fewell, 2001) we reported the results from a 12 month investigation of the effects of motor intervention on young children with motor delays. Our primary purpose was to understand the impact of the two most commonly used motor intervention methods as they were implemented in typical practice as opposed to controlled experimental conditions. We followed a group of 50 one year old children (M CA = 14.1 months). Each of these children were currently receiving motor intervention services from community based early intervention or therapy programs that identified their treatment models as being based upon either the Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) (Bobath & Bobath, 1964, 1984Butler & Darrah, 2001) or Developmental Skills (Folio & Fewell, 2002 intervention models. For each treatment model our sample included both children with Down syndrome (n=27) and children with cerebral palsy (n=23).To assess the impact of intervention on children's rate of motor development, we administered the Peabody Gros...

GAME (Goals - Activity - Motor Enrichment): protocol of a single blind randomised controlled trial of motor training, parent education and environmental enrichment for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy

“…Parent education is known to be an important component of early intervention that is grounded in family centred practice [ 33 ]. Since most of the infant’s active practice opportunities are provided in the child’ daily routines, parent education is vital [ 34 ]. In GAME intervention, parents are coached to identify their child’s voluntary attempts to move and self-regulate, plus understand the usual trajectory of emergent motor skills and how to stimulate progress.…”

Feasibility of Improving the Motor Development of Toddlers With Congenital Heart Defects Using a Home-Based Intervention

“…Despite evidence regarding the incidence of neurodevelopmental delays in children after surgical correction of complex CHDs, little research has examined intervention programs to address these delays. Studies of interventions in other pediatric populations with developmental delays, such as children affected by preterm birth, cerebral palsy, or Down syndrome, have shown positive results [8,24,25]. Parent involvement is reported to be a key factor in the success of these programs [1,29].…”

Os distúrbios fonoarticulatórios na síndrome de Down e a intervenção precoce

“…Por isso, todo o tipo de estimulação é a chave para a vida mais saudável e rica em experiências 4 . Além disso, existe uma evidência de que crianças com SD mostram diferenças no processamento da informação em seu desenvolvimento [19][20][21] . A estimulação precoce objetiva o desenvolvimento de estruturas cerebrais, que responderão pelas atividades psicomotoras cada vez mais complexas de forma gradativa.…”