Examination of Ministry of National Education’s Infant and Toddler Program Regarding Early Intervention Principles
Abstract
The earlyyears of life provide opportunities not to be missed for optimum development as a
critical period in which the development is very rapid. Therefore, regarding the broad meaning of
early intervention, revealing all the circumstances which can hinder developmental progress and
making appropriate and supportive attempts must be among the priorities of birth to threeprograms. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine the Ministry of National Education’s
(MoNE)) Infant and Toddler Program, which was prepared as a part of the project of empowering
preschool education, in terms of basic principles of early intervention and understanding about
meeting needs of all children. In this regard, the following were materials of the study: Infant and
Toddler Program Guidelines, Infant and Toddler Program Activity Book, Educator’s Guidelines for
Parent Education and Parenting Guidelines, and Health, Care and Nutrition of 0-36-Month-Old
Children Booklet. The study materials were first examined in terms of working with the family and
empowering family environment, partnership, individualization, developmentally appropriate
practice and universal design principles, and then learning process and adaptations were addressed in terms of whether they were meeting needs of all children. It can be stated that the
program is generally compatible with the principles of early intervention, and is also sensitive to
meeting the needs of all children.