The limitations of the past two years have given providers new tools to help families and young children

 

It’s been 22 months since the world shut down to control the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. In that amount of time in a young child’s life, rapid brain growth is taking place, and the child is already learning to move her body, speak simple sentences, mimic behaviors and sounds and follow simple instructions.

The Parent Education – Infant Development (PE-ID) program is an early intervention program for children from birth to 36 months. The program, run through the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board, serves families in Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline and King George counties, and the city of Fredericksburg.

Because childhood development happens so rapidly at this age, the PE-ID team knew when the pandemic hit that they would need to act quickly to ensure parents and children did not lose precious time with PE-ID’s trained providers, including speech language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, early childhood education specialists, and service coordinators.

These providers are passionate about helping young children and empowering parents to be their child’s best teacher and advocate. Over nearly two years of adapting to pandemic limitations, here are four lessons the PE-ID team has learned.

 

 

There are fewer barriers than ever before to getting the services your child needs

Things turned on a dime in March 2020 when schools, offices and the rest of the world shut down and stay-home orders made it impossible for PE-ID providers to visit families’ homes to work with parents and children. But the early intervention team knew it was crucial to keep delivering services, and to keep coaching parents on how to foster their children’s healthy development.

They set up secure Zoom meetings that enabled families to keep up with their services amid the lockdowns. Over months of serving families over Zoom, providers learned that this virtual tool could deliver high-quality services and empower parents to become their child’s best coach—even though nothing will ever replace the power of an in-person visit.

Today, 90% of PE-ID’s services are once again delivered in-person in families’ homes. But the added virtual option means that children no longer need to miss out on services because a family member is sick.

Zoom also allows parents who are at work during the visit while the other parent is home to tune in on their lunch break and be a part of an experience they would have otherwise missed.

“Even though our services are traditionally offered in a home, we are living in different times now,” said Service Coordinator Beth Shultz. “Some people still aren’t comfortable with in-home visits, and we are able to adapt to ensure families can continue to meet the needs of their child, but also feel that they are protecting the health of their family.”

 

 

The sooner you call, the sooner PE-ID can help your child

A child’s brain at birth is full of malleable white matter that can pick up language and social skills like a sponge. By the time a child is 5 or 6 years old, the body begins to prune brain cells that haven’t been used. This is why intervention in the 0-3 age group is so important, says Developmental Specialist Anne Longenecker.

“You want to make sure that brain is stimulated,” she said. “It’s a muscle, and you want to get it stronger.”

Many parents come to PE-ID through a referral from their pediatrician, and the pandemic shutdowns caused some delay in referrals, especially as families stayed away from doctor’s offices early on. But any parent who is wondering about whether their child is meeting developmental milestones can call PE-ID at 540-372-3561 to set up an assessment. Parents can use tools such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s milestone tracker app to learn about how young children typically develop.

 

 

It really does take a village

While Zoom calls kept families connected to PE-ID and other services over the past two years, nothing can replace the experience of in-person socialization. PE-ID providers are excited to be back in homes, where they can point out household items that can be helpful in therapy, and observe interactions with siblings and the home environment that help paint a more complete picture of a child’s development.

At the same time, parents should keep in mind that everyday experiences like visiting a playground or the library can play a huge role in supporting the social and mental health of both children and parents. These types of experiences were taken away during the pandemic, and as families are comfortable, returning to things like this can help children to grow their social skills while helping parents to build important support networks with other adults.

 

 

Parents are heroes

Shultz said she hears from many parents who feel guilty that they have not been able to provide enough stimulating activities for their children during the pandemic. She urges parents to remember that children are resilient and that the presence of a caring, competent adult in their lives is the single-most-important factor that will help them to bounce back from any pandemic-induced delays.

Longenecker said it’s important for parents to realize that they have played a key role in helping their children continue to progress during the shutdowns. She said PE-ID providers saw this with the parents of young children they worked with over Zoom.

“Parents are always their children’s first teachers and best teachers,” she said. “We are there in supporting roles, but they are teaching their children.”

To learn more, call 540-372-3561 or visit Rappahannockareacsb.org.