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Everyone is unique in their personalities, preferences, and talents. Some children experience more challenges than others—kids who would benefit from extra support and attention.
So, how can we help them? After all, kids are our future.
At the YMCA of the Roses, we’re committed to nurturing the potential of every child’s future—providing them with every opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.
Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports (PBIS) is just one way we nurture our kiddos in their early stages of development.
PBIS
Every child needs support as they grow, but not every child needs the same level of support. In some cases, our kiddos experience delays in development that can be helped with PBIS.
Communication delays are just one example of this.
Developing effective communication allows children to interact with other kids and build friendships. It boosts their confidence and allows them to engage meaningfully within their environment.
For children with speech delays, developing communication skills becomes even more important. Often, speech delays lead to behavioral issues in children—created by feelings of frustration and isolation, as these children may find it hard to express their thoughts and connect with others.
PBIS is an evidence-based framework for supporting students’ overall well-being and development. It creates positive and safe learning environments where every child can thrive.
MICHAEL'S STORY
Just one month shy of his second birthday, Michael’s parents enrolled him into our Child Care program. Our teachers noticed him struggle significantly with talking and interacting with his classmates. He could speak a few words, but he often used charades, hand-gestures, and props to communicate instead.
Michael eventually began developing negative behavioral issues—hitting classmates, running away from his teachers, and having meltdowns during lessons.
He was frustrated—stuck in a room where no one could understand him without tremendous effort on his part.
Our staff began doing everything in their power to help—using every strategy they had learned from PBIS—including creating a support plan by working with each of his teachers, parents, and the Childcare Director.
While the plan worked for a short amount of time, Michael’s problem wasn’t actually solved. He reverted back to his frustrated behavior which grew into a safety concern for his classmates.
As our teachers pursued outside support services, they recommended that Michael stay home until the process was complete, and his support was officially in place.
Six weeks later, Michael returned to his classroom with behavioral support professionals and a new support plan. Since his return, he has improved greatly—interacting positively with peers and teachers and enjoying our classroom activities.
Now, a couple months later, Michael’s speech has slowly improved, giving him the confidence he needs to try and test out new skills.
FINDING HIS FUTURE
Identifying and addressing speech delays early on, combined with appropriate therapies and interventions, will significantly support the development of effective communication skills and allow children to thrive in all aspects of their lives.
When people—like our donors, members, and staff—do what they can for kids like Michael, we build confidence, opportunity, and stability.
With your help, we build futures.
