Examination of Ministry of National Education’s Infant and Toddler Program Regarding Early Intervention Principles

• Main Authors: Neslihan Avcı, Müge Kunt
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education 2016-12-01
• Series: International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education
• Subjects: early intervention; principles of early intervention; needs of all children
• Online Access: https://www.int-jecse.net/index.php/ijecse/article/view/117

The earlyyears of life provide opportunities not to be missed for optimum development as a critical period in which the development is very rapid. Therefore, regarding the broad meaning of early intervention, revealing all the circumstances which can hinder developmental progress and making appropriate and supportive attempts must be among the priorities of birth to threeprograms. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine the Ministry of National Education’s (MoNE)) Infant and Toddler Program, which was prepared as a part of the project of empowering preschool education, in terms of basic principles of early intervention and understanding about meeting needs of all children. In this regard, the following were materials of the study: Infant and Toddler Program Guidelines, Infant and Toddler Program Activity Book, Educator’s Guidelines for Parent Education and Parenting Guidelines, and Health, Care and Nutrition of 0-36-Month-Old Children Booklet. The study materials were first examined in terms of working with the family and empowering family environment, partnership, individualization, developmentally appropriate practice and universal design principles, and then learning process and adaptations were addressed in terms of whether they were meeting needs of all children. It can be stated that the rogram is generally compatible with the principles of early intervention, and is also sensitive to meeting the needs of all children.