Learning:
- This last week I had my final home visit. Sister Swenson was there to observe me, which was slightly intimidating. But, the truck tubes I made for Cole are awesome!! He loved playing with them. He made noises into the tubes and was mimicking the noises we made. We also looked at each other from opposite ends of the tube. He rolled balls and trucks through the tubes and saw them come out the other end. There is a red, yellow, blue, and green tube. On each tube are his name, numbers, and cutouts of cars and trains. I'm so proud of them! I should have planned to review the future development and resource plan with mom in a different way. I was thinking I could go over every single thing. But with Cole playing with the tubes, it was awkward to try to go over each page and to play with him, as well. And it was a challenge to transition back and forth, too. So, I eventually just stopped and played with Cole and the tubes. I also emailed the mom a copy of both plans. I hope she likes them! I suggested things to purchase and also ways to implement activities in the home that promote Cole's development. It's been a fun semester getting to know Cole and his mom and learning what makes Cole smile.
Quote:
Learning:
- Last week, I learned more about the Future Development Plan and the Future Resource Plan that I will be working on for Cole and his family. His mother doesn't have any concerns or specific areas of interest so I will be basing my plans off of Cole's current development and what his expected development will be in the coming months. So, I will base the plans and suggestions I give on his current levels of performance and what the next step of development will be. We had a good home visit. I brought some tubes and a container for Cole to play with and explore. He spent a decent amount of time putting toys in or through the tubes and then dumping them out.
Quote:
- I took notes but didn't write any quotes down. :(
Learning:
- I was evaluated by Celeste during my home visit. I learned that I need to involve the mother more and explain to her throughout the session how what we are doing is helping Cole's development. I also learned that the family can get me some materials (PVC pipe) for the activity I am going to make and send home for Cole!
Quote:
Learning:
- This last week, I spent my visit playing more with Cole. After learning from Sister Swenson that we need to relax and have fun with our babies and families, I decided to follow Cole's lead more and focus on enjoying the visit.
- I followed Cole's lead where he wanted to play. This means that I didn't do the exact activities that I had planned. But, I think this was the best visit we have had so far! I can tell when Cole gets bored or tired of an activity. I then present him with another option or I follow him wherever he goes.
Quote:
- We didn't have class, so I don't have a quote. But I did learn from Cole's mom that a BOB stroller is great and I should consider buying one.
Learning:
- I learned this week that I need to have more fun with my child and parent. Sister Swenson said that we are thinking of our interventions too clinically. What would we do if we went home and were to play with a nephew? How would we act? We should be more playful with our children.
- I learned that I should plan activities but still follow the child's lead. It can be awkward being in someone else's home and working with their child (who they know best). But, we need to be bold in our play with the children. Some examples of activities I could do with my baby are play peek-a-boo, roll a truck back and forth, and play hide and seek with his toys. We also are going to work on some sign language at our next appointment.
Quote:
- "Play at your appointment!" -Me.
Learning:
- Last week we had our second home visit! I feel like I don't know what I am doing and it is awkward. Our boy did awesome at his goal! I've been thinking of ways to expand his goal so we have more to work on. He made so much progress in one session. Our goal was for him to bring mom a toy with a verbal prompt and gestural cue. And he did this several times! He just got tired of the activity after a while so we moved to a different location and time ran out soon, anyway. We worked on him bringing a toy over and handing it to someone without a gestural cue (and only with a verbal prompt) and he did it once or twice. It was great!
Quote:
- I can't think of a quote. A quote from my head that sums up the week is: "Babies learn fast."
Learning:
- This week I had my first home visit! I completed the ASQ with the mother and father. Baby was there, too. I'm excited to work with him and this family! There's a lot coming in the next week. I need to write my first intervention plan and decide what we are going to do to help this baby in his development. I think I may administer another test...but I'm not positive. I'm a little overwhelmed with all we have to do in this short time. This first plan is just to find out the baselines or present levels of performance with the child. I need to form goals for the baby (a short and long term) before our next home visit to assess baselines. Also, I'm not sure how much I can say about my baby and family because this is online. So I won't say anything more specific.
Quote:
- "Have baby face mom." -Sister Swenson
Learning:
- We didn't have class this week for 340. But, I contacted my family about scheduling a home visit this week! They haven't responded yet. I was able to make a copy of the assessment that will be given and have an environmental checklist ready for the visit, as well. And - I wrote an intervention plan on a case study from the text! It was fun to think of strategies to use with really little ones to help them meet their goal.
Quote:
- "Do you guys know all that you're supposed to be doing?" -Sister Swenson
Learning:
- The smallest things are signs of developmental growth in infants. When babies gaze at something, when their eyes follow something, when they make facial expressions, and when they whine - they are showing developmental growth and ability to express themselves. We write our first plans based on the children and case studies in the textbook within the next week. It'll be fun to come up with ways to help pretend infants meet developmental goals or milestones because we have to think small! Those little things, such as responding with a facial expression, show development and could be something we implement in activities to meet their goals.
Quote:
- "Maybe you go back next week - and he's rolling all over the place." -Sister Swenson
Learning:
- This week, I learned about what our visits with our families should look like. Rather than a checklist type of meeting, it should be a meeting in which we discuss with the parents what they want their child to be able to do. From there, we discuss the strategies they've tried, what's been successful, and what's not been successful. I also learned what child I will have this semester!!! I'm pretty excited!
Quote:
- "What do you want your child to be able to do?" -Sister Swenson
What I currently know about home visits and working with infants/Questions I have:
- A home visit is made for the purpose of getting to know the family and the child. Home visits are also made to help the professional and the parent communicate with each other about the child and his/her progress. During home visits, the professional helps the parent implement techniques that will best help the child. The professional lets the parent take the lead and steps in when the opportunity is prime for instruction and guidance. At a home visit, the professional can see the child in action at home and with his family. Parents must know that professionals are there to help the family learn. Professionals must know that the family knows the child best and that we are there to help the family learn how to help their child. Professionals help families assess current routines and the satisfaction of their home life. Professionals help improve the family's home life where they see a need for improvement.
