4 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Child’s Early Intervention
During your child’s early intervention sessions, does the therapist take the lead and work directly with your child?
This may seem like the right approach at first, especially if the therapist appears to prefer it this way. But do you ever feel like you want to be more involved?
After each session is over, you might wonder, How am I supposed to help my child on my own?
So, which is better?
The therapist working directly with your child
OR
The therapist coaching you on how to help your own child
The answer is that the more you are involved in your child’s early language intervention (i.e., speech therapy), the better!1 In fact, studies show that parents’ involvement has a powerful effect on their children’s communication development.2
Let’s take a closer look at a recent study that explores parents’ perspectives – what they found helpful and what they found challenging – about getting involved in their children’s early intervention2.
Parents’ Perspectives on Early Intervention
Researchers interviewed 28 parents in the United States.2 Each parent had at least one young child who was currently receiving early intervention services (including speech-language services), or who had received these services within the past year.2 The study asked parents to reflect on their experiences and involvement during their child’s early intervention.2
What parents found helpful
- Having opportunities to discuss information with the therapist and problem-solve difficulties related to their child’s progress2
- Receiving guidance from the therapist about how to use strategies or techniques to support their child2
- Being supported to use strategies or techniques independently at home2
What parents found challenging
- Needing more direction and communication from the therapist about using strategies or techniques2
- Feeling confident supporting their child on their own2
- Feeling overwhelmed by being involved in the early intervention2
Overall, the parents in this study felt positive about their experiences in their child’s respective early intervention, but there were also some challenges.2
Different Types of Involvement
There are different ways you could be involved in your child’s intervention, which range from LESS active to MORE active engagement. For example:
LESS active engagement includes…
- Watching the therapist use strategies that support your child’s communication skills
- Listening to the therapist explain what they are doing with your child
MORE active engagement includes…
- You practicing the strategies with your child and with the therapist’s guidance
- Discussing your use of the strategies during the practice with the therapist
- Problem-solving for the coming week
While watching and listening to the therapist are helpful, research consistently shows that it is the MORE ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT that is most beneficial when parents are learning to support their children’s long-term development.1
The results of the study show that parents had few opportunities for more active engagement,2 even though these are the types of involvement that make the biggest difference. For the families in this study, this means that their experiences during early intervention may not have been as helpful as they could have been.
Making the Most of Your Child’s Intervention
The researchers focus on several things that therapists could do to improve early intervention sessions,2 it’s important to note: you have the power to make the most of your learning experiences too.
Here are four ways you can make the most of your child’s intervention:
1. KEEP COMMUNICATING YOUR EXPECTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS ABOUT THE INTERVENTION
The intervention improves when parents and therapists engage in back-and-forth conversations that make sure everyone is on the same page.
Almost every parent in this study discussed how it was helpful to talk through problems and information about their child regularly.2 If you’re feeling unsure about a strategy or need to clarify something, talk it through with your interventionist. Tell them what you think is working and what you feel is not. Ask why they are doing what they are doing. Tell them how you feel.
Remember, research consistently shows that children are better supported when parents work together with the therapist.1
2. TRY STEPPING A LITTLE OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
Many of the parents in this study appreciated being given a choice about whether they wanted to get MORE ACTIVELY involved (particularly when it came to trying out strategies with their child).2
However, the parents also found that it was challenging to stay engaged when the therapist took the lead and worked directly with the child.2 Nearly half of the parents mentioned that they wanted to be more actively engaged.2
As one parent put it:
“I wasn’t really involved… I’m just on the sidelines to be there for [my child] and watch.”
(Decker et al., 2025, p. 318)
If you start feeling on the “sidelines” like the parent above, talk it through with the therapist so you can get more involved in your child’s session. It may feel a little uncomfortable to broach these topics at first, particularly if your therapist is used to parents staying on the sidelines. It may take a few constructive conversations to find what works best for your child, the therapist, and you!
3. PRACTICE AT HOME BETWEEN SESSIONS
Most parents in this study found practicing at home to be particularly helpful.2 However, very few parents in this study expressed confidence in their ability to support their own child. Many talked about how it could be challenging to follow all of the therapist’s recommendations on their own.2
If you are feeling unsure any of the interventionist’s recommendations for the coming week, talk it through with them! It can seem overwhelming to think of practicing at home in every situation possible. Instead, think about specific routines or activities where you will use these new strategies, and how your child will respond.
4. SHARE YOUR STRESS (YOU’RE NOT ALONE!)
And, speaking of “overwhelming”, 36% of the parents in this study found being involved in their child’s intervention “overwhelming” for various reasons.2 This is a good reminder that if you have feelings of stress, it is natural and you are not alone.
Rather than avoiding your stress, the best thing to do in these situations is to figure out why you are feeling this way. What is the part of your child’s intervention that feels the most overwhelming? Perhaps you didn’t have much time to practice this week, or your child was sick, or you are finding a strategy hard to use. These are all understandable reasons. Talking them through with your therapist can help you stay engaged and problem-solve different challenges.
To Sum Up
It’s all about collaboration between your child, the therapist, and you! The research shows that you are a key part of supporting your child throughout their early intervention. The more actively involved you are, the better the intervention will be for you and your child.
Building this partnership with your child’s therapist can take time. Likely, you will feel more and more comfortable as the intervention continues. But, no matter what, it all starts with open conversations about your perspectives.
Similar articles by tag:
Early Childhood Settings | Parent Coaching | Early Language Intervention | Parent Involvement | Engagement