All Things Early InterventionChristine Bellew loves teaching children, playing music and having fun. Her goal is to use playful teaching strategies to make doing hard things as fun as possible for parents and children of all abilities.
Christine and her husband Josh have three children that have provided loads of adventures. Their family has opened their home to serve as foster parents to children with special needs which adds to the adventure.
With a Master’s degree in Early Intervention, Christine started her career providing Early Intervention services as a Special Instructor and Service Coordinator.
Most recently Christine has branched out to teaching piano using creative teaching methods to serve children with a variety of learning needs. Music brings her and her students joy when she makes the learning fun and engaging.
Outside of work Christine enjoys watching Parks and Rec, doing puzzles and reorganizing her piano music.
I cried after that session. Stressful situations profoundly affect a parent’s ability to think clearly. As professions, we must be aware of how our helpful information might land on sensitive parents. When parents are overwhelmed, even the most helpful advice can feel like a stinging accusation.
My foster child actively sought this deep pressure. When he was feeling over-excited, overwhelmed, or just needed a reset, he had a request: “Pillow Sandwich!” This was a simple, family-led intervention that provided therapeutic compression.
Instead of forcing him to “sit still,” I shifted the entire experience to meet him where he was. Here is the step-by-step strategy we used to turn a something that caused a violent meltdown into a manageable routine:
I spent so much time putting out fires. The meltdowns. The sensory spirals. The “heavy work” sessions just to get through a grocery run. Because her brother’s needs were so loud, I often found myself exhaling in relief when I looked at Little Pumpkin. She was the “easy” one. She was our go-with-the-flow cuddle bug […]
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This is a four part series diving into the answer to that question using the Division of Early Childhood Position Statement as a reference.
She pointed to the ketchup. Okay, —a bit strange, but whatever brings comfort. Then she pointed to the mayonnaise.
Ketchup. Mayonnaise. On white bread.
This is where my inner dialogue—screamed, No, that’s gross. I draw the line.
Language starts long before the first word is spoken; it begins with awareness, body movement, and imitation. The mirror is so powerful because it provides immediate visual feedback—a principle supported by speech-language research.
Our experiences with the first child—whether navigating the physical milestones of infancy or the digital dangers of adolescence—shape us profoundly. We learn, we adjust, and we seek out tools that help us create loving boundaries for all our children. Let me share my “First Draft” parenting lessons with you, so you can we can enjoy the spillover effect together.
All Things Early Intervention