Research Article

Relationship Focused Intervention (RFI): Enhancing the Role of Parents in Children’s Developmental Intervention

Volume: 1 Number: 1 March 1, 2009
  • Gerald Mahoney
TR EN

Relationship Focused Intervention (RFI): Enhancing the Role of Parents in Children’s Developmental Intervention

Abstract

This article describes Relationship Focused Intervention (RFI) which attempts to promote the development of young children with developmental delays and disabilities by encouraging parents to engage in highly responsive interactions during daily routines with their children. This approach to intervention is based upon the Parenting Model of child development and was derived from research on parent-child interaction. Evidence is presented that RFI can be effective both at helping parents to learn how to interact more responsively with their children as well as at promoting children's development and social emotional function. The argument is made, that although there is no research comparing the effectiveness of RFI to interventions derived from the Educational model of child development which places less emphasis on parent involvement and stresses direct instructional activities, still the effectiveness of all interventions appears to be related to the degree to which parents are involved in and become more responsive with their children. As such RFI may not simple be an alternative model for early intervention, but may reflect a paradigm shift pointing to the effectiveness of parent involvement and responsive interaction as key elements of early intervention practice.

Keywords

References

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  6. Crockenberg, S., & Litman, C. (1990). Autonomy as competence in two -year-olds: Maternal correlates of child compliance, defiance and self-assertion. Developmental Psychology, 26, 961-971.
  7. Fewell, R.R., Casal, S.G., Glick, M.P., Wheeden, C.A., & Spiker, D. (1996) Maternal education and maternal responsiveness as predictors of play competence in low birth weight, premature infants: A preliminary report. Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 17(2), 100-104.
  8. Fewell, R. & Wheeden, C. A. (1998). A pilot study of intervention with adolescent mothers and their children: A preliminary examination of child outcomes. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 17(4), 18-25.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

-

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Gerald Mahoney This is me

Publication Date

March 1, 2009

Submission Date

May 6, 2014

Acceptance Date

-

Published in Issue

Year 2009 Volume: 1 Number: 1

APA
Mahoney, G. (2009). Relationship Focused Intervention (RFI): Enhancing the Role of Parents in Children’s Developmental Intervention. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education, 1(1), 79-94. https://doi.org/10.20489/intjecse.107978
AMA
1.Mahoney G. Relationship Focused Intervention (RFI): Enhancing the Role of Parents in Children’s Developmental Intervention. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education. 2009;1(1):79-94. doi:10.20489/intjecse.107978
Chicago
Mahoney, Gerald. 2009. “Relationship Focused Intervention (RFI): Enhancing the Role of Parents in Children’s Developmental Intervention”. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education 1 (1): 79-94. https://doi.org/10.20489/intjecse.107978.
EndNote
Mahoney G (March 1, 2009) Relationship Focused Intervention (RFI): Enhancing the Role of Parents in Children’s Developmental Intervention. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education 1 1 79–94.
IEEE
[1]G. Mahoney, “Relationship Focused Intervention (RFI): Enhancing the Role of Parents in Children’s Developmental Intervention”, International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 79–94, Mar. 2009, doi: 10.20489/intjecse.107978.
ISNAD
Mahoney, Gerald. “Relationship Focused Intervention (RFI): Enhancing the Role of Parents in Children’s Developmental Intervention”. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education 1/1 (March 1, 2009): 79-94. https://doi.org/10.20489/intjecse.107978.
JAMA
1.Mahoney G. Relationship Focused Intervention (RFI): Enhancing the Role of Parents in Children’s Developmental Intervention. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education. 2009;1:79–94.
MLA
Mahoney, Gerald. “Relationship Focused Intervention (RFI): Enhancing the Role of Parents in Children’s Developmental Intervention”. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education, vol. 1, no. 1, Mar. 2009, pp. 79-94, doi:10.20489/intjecse.107978.
Vancouver
1.Gerald Mahoney. Relationship Focused Intervention (RFI): Enhancing the Role of Parents in Children’s Developmental Intervention. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education. 2009 Mar. 1;1(1):79-94. doi:10.20489/intjecse.107978

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