Features of successful intervention

Evidence suggests the following for most effective interventions (1, 2):

Parent-focused interventions:

• Parents are the experts on their baby: they are best placed to provide intervention at the right time, with the right activity and at the right dosage.
• Parents can provide an environment where the infant feels safe to take a risk and attempt a new skill.
• Consider therapists as the teacher to provide the guidance for parents to coach the infant

Interventions which occur in an 'enriched environment'. Features of an enriched environment include:

• Infant feels safe to explore
• The 'just right challenge': just enough challenge to extend skills but still perceived as achievable (see next module for more detail).
• Infant is motivated by task and initiates activity
• Infant is exposed to variety and stimulation of sensory, motor and cognitive functions in the environment