MINI-REVIEW: Contribution of early intervention models to child motor development

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Early intervention (EI) is a specific service for children in early childhood (up to two years old), in which the main objective is to promote the emergence of skills or abilities. AIM: To identify the scientific production about EI programs and their contribution to child motor development. METHOD: A mini-review of the literature in the PubMed, Scielo and Lilacs databases during November-December 2019, using the descriptors “early intervention” and “motor development”. Randomized clinical trials (RCT), quasi-experimental studies and case series were included. Descriptive analyses were applied. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were selected. Some interventions were found to be effective: “Tummy time” (adoption of the prone position for a certain time) and the use of a treadmill for children with Down syndrome. Other results’ studies reinforced the importance of parents acting in their children’s environment and those strategies considering the insertion of the family in the intervention are able to modulate the risks to children motor development, even biological risks. The insertion of the family in early interventions was verified, highlighting the models of parental intervention and home visits. CONCLUSION: Most EI models with positive effects on motor development are focused only on the execution of some determined technique, without considering the different aspects of the child development. However, family participation is undeniable even in these models. Strategies that show positive contribution to motor development seek to assist the family in the task of promoting environmental enrichment.