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Child
Life and Developmental Services - Video Interaction Program
The
Video Interaction Project is a collaboration between Child Life
and Developmental Services and the Department of Pediatrics
of New York University School of Medicine/Bellevue Hospital
Center. The goal of VIP is to support positive parent-child
interaction and language development in families at risk because
of poverty and low maternal education. VIP
between a parent and child (newborn to 3 years) and a child
development specialist uses one-on-one sessions at each well-child
visit. During each session, the parent and child are videotaped
interacting together; review of the tape by the parent and
child development specialist leads to a discussion of verbal,
cognitive and socio-emotional issues. In addition, easy-to-read
English and Spanish pamphlets addressing parenting and child
development are provided at each visit, as is an inexpensive
toy selected for its capability to encourage appropriate development
for the child’s age. Sessions follow an age-specific
curriculum, but are designed to be flexible and responsive
to the goals, beliefs, and needs of the family.
The
relationship between the parent and child development specialist
is central to each visit. Our emphasis is on discovering together
what works best for each particular family. We do this by
observing the infant together, drawing out and encouraging
the parents’ perceptions.
“It’s
really all about teamwork, mom and me working together as
partners. I feel that this program allows continuity, giving
us the opportunity to establish a trusting relationship with
the families.”
This
and subsequent quotes are from the child development specialists
as they reflect on their experiences in the project.
“We
ask open-ended questions and try to allow the mothers to tell
us their own story, letting us know what they have noticed
about the baby so far, and how they are feeling.”
Each
visit we give to the families toys or learning materials that
we believe will increase the chances of fun interactions at
each age level and will promote language development.
“When
I give them the toy that’s the time I say, look at what
a wonderful toy this is. I show the parents different ways
to play with the toys, and talk about what children learn
and how much they learn from play, especially play together
with their parents.”
At
each visit a pamphlet is given to the parent to take home.
Each one has a section on typical language development milestones,
suggestions for encouraging language, with a very strong emphasis
on talking to the baby, observing and responding to baby’s
cues, and playing interactive games to encourage communication.
Each parent is helped to adapt the play suggestions to her
or his own and the infant’s temperamental style and
personality.
“The
pamphlets have information for each stage of development.
I don’t just hand them the pamphlet, I read it to them,
discuss it and relate it to their child and their situation.”
At
each visit we also videotape five to 10 minutes of the parent
and baby. We then look at the tape with the parent at the
same time as making a copy for them to take home. We discuss
the tape, and emphasize the positives in their interactions,
things that support the baby’s language development.
At the end of the project parents have a visual history of
themselves playing with their baby.
“The
videotape is wonderful. When we watch it together, I can point
out all the wonderful things she is doing. I always try to
link what she’s doing now with her goals for him. I
point out to the mother the things she’s already doing
that will help him learn to communicate, and the things he’s
doing in response.”
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