CLI at UTHealth

Play and Learning Strategies (PALS) is an innovative preventive intervention program developed by the Children’s Learning Institute at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. PALS is designed to enhance the parent-child bond and foster early language, cognitive, and social development. The program provides structured coaching sessions facilitated by trained specialists who guide parents in employing responsive strategies tailored to their child's needs.

Through a comprehensive curriculum, PALS offers 11 sessions for infants (5-15 months) and 14 sessions for toddlers (18 months to 4 years). Each session utilizes real-life videotaped examples, allowing parents to observe, critique, and practice new skills interactively. With a focus on understanding children's communicative signals and maintaining their interest, parents learn essential strategies that can be seamlessly integrated into daily routines. PALS is utilized in home-visiting programs across Texas and adapted for diverse populations, making it a crucial resource for enhancing early childhood development.