HOW DO THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS PROVIDED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD AFFECT CHILDREN'S LONG-TERM GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN ARAB INSTITUTIONS IN ISRAEL?

Arwa Arabee

Abstract


This study aimed to explore the perceptions of workers in Arab early childhood institutions in Israel regarding the impact of therapeutic programs provided to children from birth to the age of three on their long-term growth and development, and the factors that affect the effectiveness of these programs. The study adopted a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with 30 participants, including nursery directors, educators, counselors, occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists, and emotional therapists. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results showed that early detection, continuity of intervention, collaboration among members of the multidisciplinary team, and effective family partnerships are key factors for the success of therapeutic programs and achieving their long-term impact. The results also indicated that these programs contribute to improving children's linguistic, cognitive, motor, social, and emotional development, and enhance their readiness to integrate into subsequent educational stages. Conversely, challenges emerged in the form of a lack of specialized staff, limited resources, and weak participation from some families. The study concludes that achieving a sustainable impact of therapeutic programs requires the integration of efforts between educational institutions, therapeutic teams, and families, in addition to developing supportive policies for early intervention services in Arab early childhood institutions in Israel.

Keywords


early childhood; early intervention; therapeutic programs; child development; multidisciplinary team; family partnership; long-term development; qualitative research

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v13i7.6850

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