Task Oriented Movement Training and Therapy for Infants and Toddlers, in keeping with other task oriented, function focused approaches to early intervention (EI), starts with the assumption that infants and toddlers only learn new skills when they actively engage in exploring their environment and try out different options for achieving their goals. 

Why a context/task oriented, function focused approach?

In recent years there has been a shift away from the almost exclusive use of process based approaches to intervention, such as neurodevelopmental therapy (NDT) and sensory integration therapy (SI) towards using task and context oriented approaches, with an emphasis on improving function and participation. 

There are two basic reasons for changing from a process to a task/context  based approach: ,

Firstly  the evidence shows that task based approaches are more effective in bringing about  changes in infant and children’s motor abilities and participation.  

The second reason is that advances in our understanding of motor development, control and learning from the latest neuroscience research  literature provides a host of  new insights into the many factors that contribute to task performance – and how the specifics of motor control are tightly linked to the task and context.  

In other words, you cannot separate perceptual motor control from the context and task demands.  

TOMT&T adopts a constraints led approach to motor learning 

A constraints led approach to motor learning is based on the understanding that an infant or toddler's ability to successfully achieve a desired movement goal resides in the interaction between the task, the individual child  and the social and physical environment (T-I-E).  

Factors within the child, the task or the environment can either constrain or promote the infant or child's ability to successfully complete a task.  Read more 

Case study: Jacob works on trunk stability, balance and ball skills

Jacob (6 years), sits with a very flexed posture. Although he can sit erect when instructed to do so, he has difficulty maintaining trunk extension for more than a few seconds. His lateral balance is also poor when sitting without support, and tends to fall to the side when he lifts one hand to reach forwards or to the side. 

There are three issues here: 

• The ability to stabilize the head in space. Maintaining the trunk erect requires sustained action in the neck and spine extensors. 
• The ability to anticipate and adapt to perturbations that arise as soon as the UEs are moved. 
• The ability to adapt head and trunk alignment to maintain balance when the UE are moved. 

Read more: A piecemeal approach to therapy just does not cut it

TOMT&T training principles 

The TOMT&T approach embraces the principles that are common to all modern evidence based, task focused early intervention approaches. 

1  Active infant engagement is essential for learning

TOMT&T as intervention strategy starts from the premise that infants learn new skills when they actively engage in intentional exploratory behaviors, which may or may not be goal directed. 

An infant’s ability and willingness to actively engage with the environment determines the quality of learning that occurs. 

Therefore it is vitally important to find ways to engage the infant and develop his desire and ability for exploration and interaction. 

2  Infants only learn when they are alert and interested in the task at hand.

A crying, unhappy infant learns nothing other than that the physical therapist is a not a nice person.

3  Independent action is important for learning 

Infants are encouraged to engage independently with the task, in an effortful way, to reach new goals. They are encouraged to to find their own solutions to the movement problem. 

Independent action means that the infant acquires an ever expanding set of solutions to different movement problems and builds up his/her store of action plans. Success breeds success.   

4  Independent achievement of goals 

Allowing infants time and opportunity to successfully achieve their goals increases their sense of I-can-do and self efficacy. The infant starts to expect more of him/herself - as do therapists and caregivers. This is particularly important for infants whose motivation to move is not good. 

Infant's are very aware of their own successes - and will often share their pleasure with social partners. 

Video clip: Will 7 months:  prone to prone kneeling

This clip very nicely illustrates the persistence and exploration of options when working towards a goal - in this case reaching for a cloth flower. 

5 Frequency of practice
Typically developing infants spend a great deal of time working on new skills. The will repeat the same activity or action repeatedly until they get it right. 

Infants with motor difficulties are often less motivated to  move. They need repeated opportunities, in a supportive environment, for working on their motor skills, as well adaptation of tasks to allow them to succeed.  

Task practice needs to be embedded into daily routines to ensure that the infant gains the repeated experience needed for learning and improving perceptual motor skills.

6  Family centered intervention

When families are involved in the selection of goals they are more motivated to put effort into training and practice.

Task based goals, training and practice allows  parents to see the progress their infant is making. 

7 All therapy should be grounded in a positive relationship

A large part of a therapist's job is to create a a social environment that responds in a sensitive manner to the infants goals and intentions. 

The therapist should  value and honor the feelings and needs of the infant in a way that promotes alert and happy engagement in whatever tasks or activities you are busy with. Read more