Child Programs
in Middle Tennessee
Early Intervention Programs for Children with Developmental Delays
We provide free, in-home, educational assistance to children from birth to 5 years of age who are experiencing developmental delays or are at risk for delays. Early intervention services have been shown to be an integral part in a child’s development and success for the future.
In-home early intervention services are available for children and their families in the Montgomery County, Stewart County, and the Ft. Campbell area.
Benefits of Early Intervention Services for your child in Middle Tennessee
Research shows that the Early Intervention programs help children improve in these ways:
- Increased vocabulary
- Stronger ability to communicate with adults and other children – preparing them for social appropriateness in their home and public places
- Increased IQ levels
- Less likely to need special education services in the coming years
Special Needs that may Qualify a Child
This is a voluntary education program through the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, or DIDD, and there are no income requirements nor charges for services for families that qualify for Part C services through Tennessee’s Early Intervention System. Special needs that may qualify your child include:
- Premature Birth
- Developmental Delays
- Speech Delays
- Genetic Factors
- Other Conditions that might limit a child’s development
Parent & Developmental Therapist Roles
As a parent, you are naturally your child’s most important teacher. Our highly trained Developmental Therapist can assist you in that role by creating a strategic educational plan to help you reach the goals of your Individualized Family Service Plan in Middle Tennessee. This plan is unique to you and built around your family’s concerns, normal environment, and routines.
Our Developmental Therapist will:
- Work with you and your child in your home or local community programs your child is currently enrolled in.
- Empower and encourage you by offering ideas you can implement into everyday life that will assist in your child’s development.
- Integrate play-based opportunities to learn into everyday routines such as mealtime, playtime, bath time, and bedtime.
- Celebrate your child’s successes and push them to strive to meet their full potential.
Developmental Milestones to Watch For
Below are age-based milestones that you can use as a guideline to check if your child is on track in their development. If you have concerns that your child is not meeting the developmental milestones, contact Jan Dunn at jdunn@progressivedirections.com or call (931) 358-0117.
At 3 months of age
most babies:
- Lift their head when held at your shoulder
- Grasp a rattle when given to her
- React to peek-a-boo games
- Smile spontaneously
At 6 months of age
most babies
- Follow a moving object with their eyes
- Turn toward the source of a sound
- Reach for and pick up objects
- Sit with support
- Imitate speech sounds
- Roll over in both directions
At 12 months of age
most babies
- Use 2-3 words consistently
- Pull to a standing position
- Stand briefly without support
- Crawl
- Play peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake
- Put objects into a container
At 18 months of age
most children
- Use at least 6-10 words consistently
- Follow simple directions (“Bring me the ball”)
- Pull off shoes, socks and mittens
- Feed themselves with their fingers
- Walk without help
- Point, make sounds, or try to use words to ask for things
At 2 years of age
most children
- Use at least 50 words consistently
- Recognize familiar pictures
- Feed themselves with a spoon
- Walk up stairs
- Identify hair, eyes, ears, and nose by pointing
- Build a tower of four blocks