Effect of Developmental Stimulation Program on the Developmental Measures of Toddlers

Background: The variability in the developmental skills is reduced after the first three years of life; therefore, it is necessary to identify and manage early developmental delays. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of developmental stimulation program on the developmental measures of the toddlers. Method: The present randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 31 toddlers aged 1-3 years residing at Ali Asghar Foster Care Center within 2016-2017. Developmental interventions were carried out based on the modified guidelines of West Virginia Early Learning Standards Framework for eight weeks (three 2-hour sessions a week). The interventions included a range of age- and developmental-specific activities described in the given guidelines. Child development age was measured based on motor dimensions (i.e., gross and fine) and language development (i.e., receptive and expressive) before and after the intervention. The data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 11) using independent t-test and Chi-square test. Results: The mean ages of the participants in the control and intervention groups were 19.9±5.5 and 20±6.02, respectively (P=0.62). The mean ages of receptive language development (P=0.003), expressive language development (

Impact of Developmental Stimulation Program on Language Evolution Age in 1-3 Year-Old Children with Celiac Diseas

Introduction: The fastest period of growth and development occur in people younger than 5 years. This study aimed to determine the effect developmental stimulation program on language evolution criteria in 1-3 year-old children with celiac disease. Materials and Methods: In a clinical trial, 2 groups of 50 children at ages 1-3 with celiac were randomly assigned in intervention and control groups. Developmental stimulation program was implemented for children in intervention group for 2 months, ever week within two-hour sessions. Languageevolution age was evaluated by Bayley Scales of Infant Development (Bayley-III). Data were analyzed using SPSS 11.5 software. Results:Mean age of the sample in current study was 20.6 ± 4.4 months. Prior to intervention, mean age of receptive and expressive language development showed no significant statistical difference in two groups (p = 0672) and (p= 0.166). Immediately after intervention, mean age of expressive language development in intervention group (21.5 ± 3.8) showed no significant increase compared to control group (19.1 ± 4.5). in four-month follow-up, no significant difference was observed in evolution age of expressive language (p = 0.076), but mean age of receptive language evolution immediately after intervention showed significant increase in intervention group (24.2 ± 4.8) compared to control group (19.1 ± 4.3) (p = 0.002) which difference was significant also in four-month follow-up (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This program can be used for promotingreceptive language in children with celiac and other chronic disease

Effects of Motor Development Stimulation on Anthropometric Indices of Infants Aged 1-12 Months in Foster Care Homes

Background: The first three years of life have a pivotal role in growth and development of infants. Extra-uterine environment largely affects brain development of infants during the first year of life.However,no specific programs are available for brain development stimulation in foster homes. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of motor development stimulation package on anthropometric indices of infants staying in foster homes. Method: This experimental study was conducted on 50 infants aged 1-12 months at Ali Asghar foster home of Mashhad, Iran in 2013. Infants were randomly divided into two groups of intervention (n=25) and control (n=25). Motor development stimulation packages were used for intervention group three times a week for eight consecutive weeks (24 sessions, two hours each). Anthropometric indices of infants were evaluated using standard instruments before and after intervention. Data analysis was performed in SPSS V.11.5 using independent T-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: In this study, mean age of infants in intervention and control groups was 6.04±3.48 and 4.3±3.70 months, respectively. In total, 68% of infants were male, and 32% were female. After intervention, Mann-Whitney test results showed no statistically significant difference in height (P=0.47) and head circumference (P=0.11) of infants between the groups. However, independent T-test showed a statistically significant difference in body weight of infants (P=0.007) between the groups after intervention with the stimulation care package. Implications for Practice: According to the results of this study, use of evidence-based motor development stimulation package for eight weeks resulted in increased weight of infants, while it had no effect on height and head circumference. Therefore, it is recommended that complementary studies be conducted in this regard

The physical and psychological outcomes of art therapy in pediatric palliative care: A systematic review

Background: The integration of art therapy in health care is a growing trend in the care of cancer patients. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the physical and mental benefits of art in children with cancer. Materials and Methods: A systematic review of English articles using Google Scholar, MEDLINE via PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the Web of Science was conducted. Relevant keywords for cancer, child, art therapy and their synonyms were used accordingly. All searches were conducted to December 31, 2021.Relevant articles were included studies published in English and involving children aged 0–18 years. Studies evaluated the effects of art therapy in children with cancer. Results: Seventeen studies had inclusion criteria, of which 12 studies were performed by clinical trial and 5 studies were performed by quasi-experimental method. Sixteen studies evaluated one type of art-therapy intervention, while one study used a combination of art-therapy approaches.The results showed that art-based interventions in the physical dimension lead to more physical activity, stability in breathing, and heart rate, and these children reported less pain. In the dimensions of psychology had less anxiety, depression, and anger but at the same time had a better quality of life and more coping-related behaviors. Conclusion: It seems that the use of art therapy in pediatric palliative care with cancer can have good physical and psychological results for the child, but it is suggested to evaluate the effects of these interventions in children at the end of life