An Intervention Hierarchy for Promoting Young Children's Peer Interactions in Natural Environments

Abstract

Young children's peer-related social competence has been viewed as a critical developmental competency during early childhood. Nevertheless, a number of young children, particularly young children who have disabilities or who are at risk for disabilities, have peer interaction difficulties. During the last several decades, various intervention strategies for improving young children's peer interactions have been developed, refined, and evaluated in early childhood programs. This article presents a conceptual framework based on an intervention hierarchy for assisting interventionists in deciding how to promote the peer interactions of young children with peer-related social competence difficulties in natural environments. We discuss making developmentally appropriate and inclusive early childhood programs the foundation for improved peer interactions. Several illustrative and empirically validated intervention strategies for these children are presented and recommendations are made regarding flexible employment of the hierarchy to individualize peer interaction interventions.