Recommended Practices in Early Childhood Intervention: A Guidebook for Professionals

The importance of intervening at an early age to prevent or mitigate developmental problems is now unquestioned and a right for all children, particularly the most vulnerable. Research, particularly in the field of neuroscience, has shown that early experiences play a significant role in brain development and that parents and other caregivers, as well as the characteristics of the family and social environment in which children are inserted, have a direct influence on child development, with effects on the central nervous system. In fact, there is evidence that children with a history of prenatal, perinatal or postnatal complications present cerebral sequelae, with direct repercussions on their development.

Early intervention aims to provide support and resources to families of children between 0 and 6 years of age, with developmental delay, disability, or serious risk of developmental delay due to biological and/or environmental conditions, actively involving informal and formal social support networks, which in turn will directly and indirectly influence the functioning of the child and the family.

ANIP – Associação Nacional de Intervenção Precoce – with the collaboration of Universities and other Organizations within the scope of the Im2 Project – Intervir Mais, Intervir Melhor – makes available a reference tool to guide the practices of professionals called “Práticas Recomendadas em Intervenção Precoce na Infância: Um Guia para Profissionais” that can be ordered to formacao@anip.net (https://www.anip.pt/anip/publicacoes/).  This Guide is translated into English and is available at https://www.eurlyaid.eu/eciguidebook/.