Language development is a key aspect of any child’s growth, and many parents worry that they could be the cause of their child’s speech delay. More often than not, that isn’t the case, though.  Did you know that regular speech and verbal activities can help your child develop their speaking ability and avoid language development delays? To put your mind at ease, we’ll show you five fun-filled, engaging language development activities for your 2-3 year old that you can implement in your daily routine to help them learn and grow.  What Is a Language Development Delay? First, let’s establish what...

EI Spotlight “Ashley has been with About Play since June 2022. Ashley goes above and beyond to provide quality service to her families. Ashley always has a fun and bright personality and the willingness to learn. Thank you, Ashley for all that you do!  We appreciate all that you bring to About Play and our upstate team!!!!” -Reg Dir Mitoya Child Spotlight “Larichas been nominated for About Play’s child spotlight for October. Larichas made great progress since coming to About Play. Laricloves to talk and show off his ring stacker to EI Annah. Laricis currently working on furthering his communication....

Important Fine Motor Milestones Your Child Should Be Meeting as They Grow If you’re a parent, you know how important it is for your child to hit their milestones, and you want them to hit them on time. While some milestones are easy to identify, such as rolling over or sitting up, fine motor skills milestones may be more challenging to spot in a growing child – especially infants.  Hitting fine motor milestones on time is crucial to your child’s future coordination and movement, but you need to know what you’re looking for. We’ll explain important fine motor milestones your...

EI Spotlight “Caitlin has been with About Play since February 2022 and has been such an asset to the team! She is dedicated to the families she serves and ensures that quality services are provided. Caitlin goes above and beyond to find helpful resources and services for her families. Caitlin consistently finds fun activities for her children to participate in and ensures that they are working on meeting their goals. Thank you for all that you do Caitlin! We appreciate all that you bring to About Play and our upstate team!!!!” -Reg Dir Beth Child Spotlight “Mariah has recently shown...

Infant massage is an important service for any early interventionist. If you’re considering moving into the field, having your infant massage certification can help you stand out as a candidate. Here’s what you need to know about your CEIM/CIMI certification and how to get it.  What Is Infant Massage? As adults, massages are relaxing experiences that soothe our muscles and transport us to a state of relaxation. An infant massage is similar – it’s the process of rubbing an infant’s muscles and stroking the body in a manner specifically designed to keep babies relaxed and healthy.  Infant massage dates back...

Some of the most common developmental delays parents feel they could have contributed to are speech and language delays. If you find yourself thinking, “Did I cause my child’s speech delay?” know that you are not alone.  In reality, there are many causes of developmental problems in young children. To put your mind at ease, we’ll dive into what causes speech delays in toddlers and what you can do to help.  Did I Cause My Child’s Speech Delay? When a child is having language problems, parents can jump to the conclusion that it’s their fault or that they could have...

Premature babies or infants who have spent a lot of time in the NICU can be at risk for several developmental delays. Communication, cognitive, and motor skills can all be affected, so taking action as early as possible is essential. We know this process can be overwhelming, but early interventionists are here for you, and we want to help your child thrive. We’ll tell you about early intervention for premature babies and their amazing benefits.  Early Intervention Services for Premature Babies Early intervention services are designed to help families and young children with a developmental delay (or those who may...

In South Carolina, statewide early intervention services are available for babies and toddlers with developmental delays (or health conditions associated with developmental delays). This interagency early intervention system is called BabyNet.  Do you want to know when to refer a child to BabyNet? We’re here to help.  What is BabyNet? BabyNet is South Carolina’s interagency early intervention system. It assists infants and toddlers under three years old with developmental conditions or delays.  BabyNet will evaluate a child’s developmental progress at no cost to the family. If the child qualifies for early intervention, BabyNet will provide all the necessary services, resources,...

EI Spotlight “Raven has been with About Play since March of 2022 and has been a blessing to our families  She goes above and beyond to make sure that her children are provided with quality service, even making family notebooks with activities as an extension of her family training.   Raven provides creative activities and tools for her families to aid in children reaching their outcomes.  Her families are always excited to see her come each week.  Thank you , Raven for all that you do for the families and team members of About Play.  You are an About Play asset!!” -Reg Dir Felecia Child Spotlight...

During a child’s first stages of life, an immense amount of development takes place. When it comes to developmental timelines, each child will have a unique journey. One baby might start babbling at six months, while another might not start this stage until nine months.  While these differences are completely normal, ongoing developmental delays are more concerning. The good news is that there are many ways to help combat these situations. If you’re wondering how to help a child with a developmental delay, you’re in the right place.  How to Help a Child With a Developmental Delay If you think...

EI Spotlight “Caroline has been with About Play since August 2019 and has been such an asset to the team! She is dedicated to the families she serves and ensures that quality services are provided. Caroline goes above and beyond to find helpful resources and information for her families. Caroline consistently finds fun activities for her children to participate in and ensures that they are working on meeting their goals. Thank you for all that you do Caroline! We appreciate all that you bring to About Play and our community!!” -Reg Dir Jennifer Child Spotlight “Elias has improved tremendously with...

For adults, receiving a massage can be one of the most soothing and rejuvenating experiences out there. Did you know that babies can benefits from massages as well? Not only are baby massages relaxing, but they also offer a sense of comfort, safety, and more. Read on to discover the best time to start baby massage and what advantages it offers your child.  What is Baby Massage? A baby massage is just that – performing a massage on a baby, whether it be on the face, neck, abdomen, back, or belly. Many infants thrive with skin-to-skin contact, and massages are...

BabyNet is South Carolina’s interagency early intervention system for children under 3 years old who may have developmental conditions or delays. They evaluate a child’s developmental progress at no cost to the family. If a child qualifies for early intervention, BabyNet provides the children and their families with the services, resources, and information they need to give the child the best possible care. While BabyNet is a great service, it can be overwhelming for anyone who is trying to get into the system for the first time. This blog is meant to provide you with all of the information you...

An Early Intervention Specialist (EI) helps kids with developmental delays and disabilities learn, grow, and build fulfilling lives. EIs usually use games as a way to help the child master their speech, behavior issues, and other disabilities. They also work with the families to ensure they are getting everything they need. (Check out our blog What Does a Day in the Life of an Early Intervention Specialist Look LIke? for more info about an EI’s day-to-day.) EIs in South Carolina are often assigned to children through BabyNet, the state’s early intervention service. But what exactly does it take for someone...

EI Spotlight “Lauren has been with About Play for about 10 months and has been such an asset to our team. She does such an awesome job ensuring each visit with her kiddos are creative and fun! Lauren is passionate about what she does and the services she provides to her kiddos and families! Thank you Lauren, we appreciate all that you bring to About Play and our community!!’ -Reg Dir MiToya Child Spotlight “Espn is a super cool kid that has shown a lot of progress since he started in March of 2021. He is now able to communicate...

Early childhood is an important time for any child. They are growing, learning new things, and developing new skills. But not all children develop skills at the same time or at the same level. Sometimes they need help and that’s where early intervention can come in. While there are many types of early intervention, speech is a common one that many parents worry about.  If you suspect your child is struggling with their speech, early intervention services may be just what your child needs. How To Know If Your Child Needs Early Intervention For Speech It can be difficult knowing...

BabyNet is the interagency early intervention system in South Carolina. It’s meant for infants and toddlers under the age of three who have developmental delays or a health condition where developmental delays are one of the symptoms. The eligibility requirements for BabyNet are pretty simple but it’s important to know what they are before you apply.  BabyNet Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for BabyNet, your child needs to be under 36 months of age and have a history that indicates they are at risk for a developmental disability or are already showing signs of a developmental disability. To determine eligibility,...

EI Spotlight “We are glad to have Parker as part of our About Play team. She is dedicated in providing quality services to our children and their families. Parker shows passion while working with children and creates her own activities to ensure they are developing and meeting their goals. Thank you Parker, we appreciate all that you bring to About Play and our community!” -Reg Dir Beth Child Spotlight “Zeke was unable to communicate when I first started with him. However, now he is able to express his wants and needs verbally, name colors, objects, and use two-word phrases. Zeke...

BabyNet is South Carolina’s interagency early intervention system for children under 3 years old who may have developmental conditions or delays. They evaluate a child’s developmental progress at no cost to the family. If a child qualifies for early intervention, BabyNet provides the children and their families with the services, resources, and information they need to give the child the best possible care. While BabyNet is a great service, it can be overwhelming for anyone who is trying to get into the system for the first time. This blog is meant to provide you with all of the information you...

The term Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) may bring many things to mind, but what exactly is an IFSP? When a child is 0-3 years old and found eligible for early intervention services, a team of professionals and parents meet together to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan. The IFSP is both the process of making the plan and the actual document. This written plan describes what the child’s current situation is, what services will be provided to the child and their family, who will provide the services, and where the services will be provided. But how do you start...

EI Spotlight “Bethany has been a great asset to our team since she joined About Play 6 months ago. She has gone above and beyond to provide quality services to the families she serves and creates beneficial visits for each of her children. Bethany’s families appreciate her effort and are happy to see her each week. Thank you, Bethany, for continuously striving to achieve the best services possible for your children and families, they and About Play appreciates you! Thank you for all your hard work and for all that you do!” -Reg Dir Jennifer Child Spotlight “Vermont was unable...

The second half of your child’s first year can be just as important as the first. There are certain milestones you’ll want to look out for to see how they are developing. Remember that every child develops differently – it’s not uncommon for a child to miss one or two of these milestones, and most will pick them up in the next month or two. But, if you’re worried that your child isn’t meeting these developmental milestones, an early intervention evaluation can help, even if it’s simply to give you peace of mind that they are developing as they should....

Teaching is a necessary and very rewarding career, but it can lead to burnout very easily, especially when you don’t have all the resources you need. If you’re looking for a career change and still want to work with children or use the knowledge you picked up as a teacher, there are a few career change ideas that just might suit you. 01. Jobs In Your Area of Expertise One of the easiest ways to transition from teaching into a new career is to look for jobs that are in your area of expertise.  If you were a math teacher,...

EI Spotlight “Bethany has been a great asset to our team since she joined About Play 6 months ago. She has gone above and beyond to provide quality services to the families she serves and creates beneficial visits for each of her children. Bethany’s families appreciate her effort and are happy to see her each week. Thank you, Bethany, for continuously striving to achieve the best services possible for your children and families, they and About Play appreciates you! Thank you for all your hard work and for all that you do!” -Reg Dir Jennifer Child Spotlight “Vermont was unable...

Multiple research studies have proven that early intervention is crucial for children with autism. While children don’t “outgrow” autism spectrum disorder, early and aggressive intervention can improve their quality of life, allowing them to gain the essential skills they need to reach their fullest potential.  According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, “The early signs of ASD can cause a cascading effect on brain development. Without early detection and intervention, these indicators can lead to significant social, language, and cognitive deficits, as well as challenging behaviors.”  But before you seek early intervention, you need to understand how to recognize the early...

You need only look within one family to see how varied children are when it comes to meeting developmental milestones. One sibling might begin walking at nine months while her younger brother might not take his first steps until after his first birthday. A baby boy might be chatting up a storm at twelve months, while his older sister might only have had a few words until she was closer to two years of age. These differences are typical and expected.  However, if a child has ongoing developmental delays or multiple delays in different areas, it might signal that they...

EI Spotlight “McKenzie has been with About Play since July 2021 and has been a great addition to our team. McKenzie has developed more as an EI since she started with About Play and is able to work more independently. She has a smile on her face whenever she talks to you, and she is passionate about the services provided for her families. McKenzie puts a lot of effort into providing resources/information without hesitation for her families. Thank you for everything that you do!’ -EIS Williams Child Spotlight “Amir is three years old and has been with About Play since...

Sensory play supports everything from cognitive growth, to gross and fine motor skills, to language development and social skills – all while allowing your child to have some fun!  The best part? Sensory boxes are easy to make and can be filled with a variety of things that not only stimulate your children’s senses, but that are easy to find around the house. Let’s discuss more about why they’re important and how you can make one on your own. Why Is Sensory Play Important? When children get a chance to feel different textures and do things like scoop, sift, mix, and...

Many people don’t consider early intervention unless they have a concern that their child hasn’t started talking or walking yet. However, early intervention services encompass so much more than helping children reach just those milestones.  From cognitive development, to fine and gross motor skills, to nutrition, and even hearing or vision support, the services provided by an early intervention specialist help with a number of areas that are important to your child’s growth.  If you’re a parent new to the idea of early intervention, the more you know about what these services include, the more you can take advantage of...

EI Spotlight “Mika has been with About Play for 8 months. Mika does a great job of making sure her families needs are met and that they’re happy with the services provided. Mika always has a positive attitude and radiates joy. Thank you, Mika for all your hard work!” -EIS Monica Child Spotlight “Bryson has been getting EI services with About Play since 2019! Bryson is one of the sweetest boys you will ever meet. Bryson’s imagination is out of this world,  and he loves pretend play! Bryson is always waiting on me at the door and is ready to...