KeySteps@JC - Early Child Intervention

The Child Interactive Intervention will be delivered through a Dialogic Reading Program, which is an individual/group level intervention component for both families and kindergartens. The original Dialogic Reading Program aims to enhance children's literacy and oral language skills by using the specific technique of shared book reading developed by Whitehurst and colleagues (1988). However, this project will expand from the original Dialogic Reading Program template to include alignment with local kindergarten curriculum and themed interactive activities that help build social competence and emotional maturity in children, in addition to cognitive skills.

Family empowerment in this project can be conceptualized across three main pillars: 1) adaptive parenting; 2) adaptive extended family environment; and 3) familial resources. Typically, adaptive parenting is translated into positive parenting programs for primary caregivers, and the rest of the family environment involves extended caregivers. However, families from disadvantaged environments encounter many hurdles that hinder effective parenting and relationship nurturing, and parents' mental wellbeing are also consistently impacted by competing demands.

A new model of Community Hub will be implemented and there will be two hubs established in two respective districts. The Community Hubs act as an alternative venue to implement service delivery of intervention packages, such as activity sessions in the Child Interactive Intervention, Parenting Program, and mentor-mentee experience exchange, which provide families institutional flexibility and extended support while internalizing new practices. There will also be health education, consultation support and developmental assessments. The Hubs will play the roles of promoting and interweaving play-based learning into the lives of families frequently faced with competing demands and a lack of resources, and enable a protracted network for parents.

This intervention package aims at providing a better physical and social kindergarten environment to maximize developmental reach and expedite timely interception and feedback without adding burden to teachers and frontline service professionals.

Health seminars and interactive workshop will be provided to the families. Screen for common child health problems (e.g. dental and visual) will also be conducted. A support hotline and website will be established for the participants.