Specialized Skills Training
What is Specialized Skills Training (SST)?
Like a sponge, a young child’s brain constantly absorbs new information and experiences from every interaction and environment. For children with delays and disabilities, this process can be enhanced with the help of Specialized Skills Training (SST).
SST focuses on cognitive, behavioral, and social skills. These are the abilities children need to thrive in school and life. SST also gives parents the knowledge and skills to help their child implement these skills into their daily activities.
SST is provided by qualified Early Childhood Intervention Specialists (EIS) trained and experienced in infant and toddler development. A child can receive both SST and therapy services. Working together, the EIS and developmental therapist can help children:
- Develop positive social-emotional skills, like making and keeping friends.
- Learn new developmental skills and know how to use them.
- Learn to meet personal needs, like walking, talking, eating, and dressing.
What Happens During a Specialized Skills Training Visit?
SST visits usually occur at home or during a normal activity in the community, like shopping or visiting friends. By scheduling SST visits during normal activities, the EIS can help your child acquire skills used in everyday life. Here are a few examples of activities that might happen during an SST visit:
Core Development
- The EIS shows parents how to use a baby’s toys to teach them to roll over, sit up, and eventually walk.
Learn and Use Words
- The EIS shows parents how to set up the child’s play area to encourage them to use words to ask for their favorite toys.
- The EIS shows parents how to use pictures of food to empower the child to make choices during snack time.
Behavior Management
- The EIS provides parents with suggestions on helping the child know when it is time to stop one activity and move on to the next.
- The EIS meets the family at the grocery store and teaches ways to help the child stay calm during the shopping trip.
What Role Do Parents Have in SST?
A key factor for healthy brain development is a positive relationship between parents/caregivers and the child. Brighton fosters a family-centered approach by involving the family in every aspect of intervention and therapy. As a parent, you are your child’s primary influence and best teacher. You can use this influence to practice the skills learned from the SST team each day.
