“Natural environments” is the term used in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, Part C (IDEA, 2004) to refer to settings that are typical for infants and toddlers without disabilities or delays. It is used as a contrast to more traditional treatment settings—such as clinical or medical-based programs—and includes families’ homes, early care and education programs, and other community settings where families spend the most time with their children.

Parents are coached about including intervention activities throughout the child’s day, with content individualized to meet the specific needs of the child.

In this intervention model, typical routines such as getting dressed, walking the dog, picking up toys, getting the mail, eating a snack, or going to the store, serve as meaningful and functional opportunities for learning communication, social interaction, and other developmental skills.