So maybe your pediatrician has talked to you about getting early intervention services for your child, or you've let your doubts about your child's development lead you into making a few phone calls about it. You're worried about your child, but you're also worried that getting help will mean there really is something wrong. These five reasons to skip EI may be nagging at you, tempting you to just go on and hope for the best. Don't listen. They're bad reasons. Here's why.
1. I don't want to label my child.
The "label" your child gets to qualify for early intervention doesn't go on his "permanent record" -- many kids go from EI right into regular education preschools and kindergartens. The idea is to label now so that there's no need to label later. Because those labels that come later stick a lot harder.2. My family thinks it's a bad idea.
Mothers and fathers and in-laws and siblings are always full of advice, but as a parent, the buck stops with you. You spend more time observing your child than anyone, and if you have concerns, they need to be respected -- if not by others, then absolutely by yourself. Follow your gut.
