Together from the Beginning

Children’s development in the first months is very intense and it impacts the construction of the foundations of their brain for life. Children learn new skills by communicating and playing with their families in their homes. Each new skill that the child learns is the basis for the next one, and reaching milestones in development is expected in certain periods; for example, the child starts to walk between 11 and 18 months. It is important to regularly monitor whether the child's skills are not delayed.

1. Vision and hearing: The first months are critical for vision and hearing. Problems in these areas can slow down development, so it is important to detect and correct them early.
2. Skill development: Children develop skills through play and communication. Monitor their development regularly, especially in the first and second years.
3. About 10-15% of children have developmental difficulties. Developmental difficulties can be overcome if they are detected in time and parents, supported and guided by an early childhood intervention specialist, work with their child together from the beginning.

Young children learn best by playing with their family. Interactions and experiences are key to their learning. The more families play and engage in enjoyable activities in a calm and predictable environment, the more skills children develop.

That is why the "Together from the Beginning" programme provides support to parents in their home - in the natural environment of the young child.  Early childhood intervention specialists from the “Together from the Beginning” programme visit the family regularly, provide information about the child’s condition and support parents to understand their child's behavior and needs. Together with the parents, an individual plan is developed from the beginning, which is consistent with everyday life and the needs of the child and the family.

Families with children with developmental difficulties can also join group meetings where they can get acquainted with other families going through similar situations.

The programme is for parents of young children from 0 to 5 years old who have developmental difficulties.

Some difficulties may be due to disabilities, but in order to receive support, children do not need to be diagnosed.

Early childhood intervention specialists will support families with children with disabilities and neurological disorders (including autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, other syndromes, etc.), as well as with general developmental difficulties in early childhood and with the accumulation of multiple risk factors for the child's development (e.g. prematurity, poverty, absence of parent(s), illness of a parent, etc.)

The "Together from the Beginning" programme aims to create a solid systematic basis for supporting parents and caregivers for children from 0 to 5 years of age, so that the difficulties of each child can be detected early and the family can receive additional support for raising the child.

The goal is for the child to have better development, to become independent and to adapt more successfully in the educational system.