Early childhood is one of the most dynamic and rapidly progressing stages of a child's development. Developmental delays or risks of delay encountered during this period can be minimized through early intervention practices. Çiğdem Aytekin's doctoral thesis titled "Development of a Home-Based Early Intervention Program: A Case Study" fills a significant gap in this field by examining the effectiveness of home-based programs through a single case.

The thesis was completed at the Hacettepe University Institute of Health Sciences in 2014. The main objective of the study is to reveal the effects of an activity-based, home-based developmental early intervention program on the development of an 18-month-old child with a developmental delay or risk of delay. The study is a case study conducted using a time-series design. During the data collection process, tools such as the Hacettepe University Child Development Department's Developmental Assessment Inventory for Children 0-36 Months (H.Ü. ÇGB 0-36 Ay ÇGDE) and the Denver II Developmental Screening Test were used.

The findings of the research show that the developed program provided a significant improvement in the developmental level of the child participating in the study. It was demonstrated through graphs that the child, who exhibited inadequacies in motor, language, cognitive, social-emotional, and self-care skills prior to the implementation, achieved significant gains in these areas after the program was applied.

One of the most striking results of the study is the mother's satisfaction with the program. The mother stated that the practices she personally participated in made a positive contribution to her child's development and that she also learned how to behave towards her child. It was also emphasized that the program helped the mother learn to be more patient by reducing her feelings of impatience and inadequacy. These positive feedbacks from the mother support the importance of family involvement in home-based programs. Interviews with the mother indicate that the program strengthened relationships among family members and that the father became more involved in the process upon noticing the developmental progress in his child.

The thesis also supports the observations that early intervention efforts and legal regulations for the 0-3 age group in Turkey are insufficient. This situation is cited as one of the main reasons for the delay experienced in the early diagnosis of the participating child's developmental delay. The research makes important recommendations, such as establishing developmental monitoring and early intervention units within hospitals and ensuring that child development specialists take an active role in these units.

In conclusion, this study scientifically proves that home-based early intervention programs can make significant contributions to children's development, especially in cognitive, motor, language, and social-emotional areas. The active participation of families in the process and the use of the natural environment as a learning setting play a critical role in the success of these programs.

We thank Çiğdem Aytekin for this valuable study. The full thesis can be accessed via www.tez.yok.gov.tr using the code 366067.