PIWI (Parents Interacting with Infants) Modules:
PIWI (Parents Interacting with Infants) is a relationship-based model of service delivery that combines developmental and family-centered perspectives in which parent-child interaction is both a focus and a context for understanding children’s development and for intervention. Providing a focus to children from infancy through 3 years, PIWI practices are based on the assumption that caregivers’ sensitivity and responsiveness to their child’s developing dispositions and behavior are dependent on their ability to observe and interpret their child’s development from the child’s perspective.
PIWI’s core premise is that early development occurs within the context of the family and primary attachment relationships; this context therefore provides the most appropriate context for early intervention.
PIWI is primarily a philosophy and a process, supported by specific program materials and procedures. The philosophy and theory underlying PIWI apply across all aspects of early intervention, whereas PIWI’s specific guidelines and practices apply directly to implementing the model within parent-child groups and individual visits. PIWI’s primary purpose is to help develop an optimal environment for children’s development and learning.
While the PIWI approach can be applied to a variety of services for infants, toddlers and families, this training may be especially well-suited to those individuals who support parents with infants or toddlers, provide home visiting and/or run parent-baby playgroups.