Would you and your children like to go on a field trip while sitting on the couch? Now you can! Cozy up on the couch and go on a virtual tour of over forty locations! You can incorporate language skills into these field trips by asking and answering a variety of wh- questions. You can also increase use and understanding of concepts and build vocabulary by finding the location on a map and talking about the animals or people in the various locations.
Home Enrichment #16 - Art Class!
Pick a teacher and hold a painting or coloring class! Use materials you already have (paper, canvas, crayons, paints) and have your “teacher” create the model art piece. Then, the “class” can either imitate the picture independently or follow the teacher’s instructions. Then, take turns being the instructor!
Speech and Language Connections
Following directions: focus heavily on specific, one-to-two step directions as the teacher. Encourage your child to ask for repetitions or clarifications as necessary.
Basic concepts: work on color and shape vocabulary throughout this activity.
Sequencing: targeting this goal works especially well with more complex pictures. As the teacher, give your child two instructions and encourage him or her to determine the appropriate order. As the student, encourage your “teacher” to produce the directions in the same order as the original art piece.
Articulation: practice any target sound your child is currently working on in speech therapy as it comes up throughout the activity.
DIY Mini Pizzas - Home Enrichment, Activity 15!
Here’s a fun and safe way to have kids of all ages help out with making dinner! This activity provides opportunities to work on speech and language skills, exposure to various food types/texture, and lets kids create their own culinary masterpiece! See the original blog post here for ingredients and baking instructions.
Speech and Language Connections
Articulation – listen for words containing your child’s speech sounds. For example, if your child is working on “s” and “z,” have him/her practice these sounds while using ingredients such as “sauce,” “sausage,” and “cheese.”
Expressive language – this activity is great for building new vocabulary! You can also talk about food categories (such as vegetables, meats, fruits) and have your child organize the toppings by category before decorating your pizzas.
Sequencing – have your child explain the steps to topping a pizza as you’re working! For example, “First, spread sauce over the dough. Next, sprinkle cheese on top.” For older children, have them predict and explain what would happen if they completed the steps in the wrong sequence (for example, “What would happen if we baked the dough first, and then put on the toppings?”).
Feeding - Make learning about new foods stress-free. Discuss what each food item looks like, smells like, sounds like, and feels like -- all without any pressure to eat it! Stack up your olive slices and see who can make the tallest tower, take turns making color patterns with bell peppers, or use toppings to make funny faces on your pizza. Food preparation and cooking is a great way to expose a picky eater to a variety of foods, both preferred and new. And best of all, it’s fun for the whole family!
Books for Speech Sound Drill - Enrichment Activity 14!
If your child has specific speech sound goals, reading can be a great way to expose them to those sounds. Below is a list of books organized by speech sound. If your child has goals for “b” or “p”, you could try the Belly Button Book! or Papa Papa. Ask them to fill in the blanks or repeat after you to get them practicing their sounds too. Looking at and listening to books doesn’t feel much like work! If your child is working on language, books are a great opportunity for vocabulary building, answering questions, and recalling story details! Reading can be fun for the whole family.
Enrichment #13 - Mini Golf At Home!
Make up your own mini golf course right at home! Have your kids show their creative side and develop the golf course! The holes could be nice and short (easy for a hole in one) or long and elaborate (going between rooms). This activity is perfect for incorporating language and can be completely customized for your family!
Speech and Language Connections
Articulation - target your child’s speech sounds while setting up the course, before taking a turn, or by placing “roadblocks” (i.e. items or cards that have your child’s speech sounds) all around the course!
Expressive Language - this activity is great for building vocabulary (e.g. labeling household items), using various prepositional concepts (e.g. put it under the table, over the pad of paper), as well as asking and answering questions (e.g. where is the next hole? who hit the ball farther?).
Receptive Language - have your child help you arrange the course and you can work on 1-2 step directions and/or prepositional concepts (e.g. “put the paper towel roll next to the door).
Teaching Phone Numbers to Kids: Home Enrichment, Activity 12
“All children need to learn their phone number. If there’s an emergency, they need to know how to dial 911. If they need to call their parents, they need to know their mom or dad’s phone number. It’s not always easy knowing how to teach phone numbers, but I think this hands-on activity is a great one!” See the original blog here!
Speech and Language Connections
Language and Literacy - Children can follow directions to identify different numbers that you verbally label. Once they have a good understanding of which numbers are which, they can practice saying them while you point! Numbers are arranged differently on a phone than they are on a number strip or math worksheet. Understanding written numbers is an important skill for development of proficiency with math, as well as life skills (like dialing the phone)!.
Social Language - Practicing phone numbers is a great opportunity to discuss life events, emergencies, and why/how we use the telephone. You can practice social scenarios and discuss whether they qualify as emergent or not. You can discuss who will answer the phone depending on who you’ve called and what things are important to say when talking on the phone. Have your child make a list of people they may call and practice the phone numbers associated.
Home Enrichment, Activity 11: April Showers
With dreary weather in this week’s forecast, you may feel stuck inside! Check out this cute paper plate umbrella craft that’s perfect for a rainy day! You can use any arts and crafts supplies you have on hand and it’s a great activity for the whole family. Plus, there are lots of ways to support great speech and language skills while having fun!
Here’s a list of some things you may want: paper plates cut in half (or you can just use construction paper),, markers/crayons/colored pencils, paints and painting tools (if you don’t have paintbrushes, small sponges and cotton balls will work), and other craft supples (yarn, pompoms, craft jewels/beads, stickers, glitter glue, etc.).
Speech and Language Connections
Articulation – Draw or print and glue pictures of words containing your child’s target speech sound(s) on the umbrella. Practice saying each word 3 times before coloring the pictures in!
Expressive language – Practice color and shape vocabulary by having your child describe what their umbrella looks like. Children can also use their language to request what items they want. This activity also provides a great opportunity to talk about springtime vocabulary, such as weather, nature (e.g., birds chirping, flowers blooming, etc.), and more!
Basic Concepts – This activity can be great for working on basic concepts such as top/bottom, big/small, left/right, on/off, etc. If you’re working on locational concepts/prepositions, take turns giving instructions on where to display your finished masterpieces at home (e.g., “Hang my umbrella above the plant” or “Put the umbrella next to the window”).
Playing Charades for Home Enrichment #10
All you need is a pencil, scraps of paper, and your imagination for this fun enrichment game! If your children don’t already know how to play charades, now is a great time to teach them! Divide your family into teams – or you can play one on one – and start jotting down names.
Here are some modification ideas so the whole family can play! (1) Use words and gestures – traditionally, charades is played using only gestures. If your little one is having difficulty, try using both to keep the game interesting for all! (2) Use words only – challenge your older children to use their describing words only. (3) Use teams – if acting out alone is too challenging for your young children, act it out as a team!
Speech and Language Connections
Vocabulary – help build vocabulary networks by playing the game using categories (e.g. animals, places, Disney characters, etc.).
Social language – charades is a great opportunity to learn how body language and facial expression impact the message that is being sent. It’s also great for turn-taking!
Articulation – try to think of names that contain your child’s target speech sounds. Charade guessing is a great way to target generalization of speech sounds in a fun setting!
Literacy – work on sounding out unfamiliar words while playing the game. For children who have a difficult time with decoding unfamiliar words, maybe review all of the name slips prior to starting the game.
Thank You Cards for Home Enrichment #9
No better time than the present to teach and encourage gratitude! Click on the link below to create free, digital cards for anyone in your life that deserves a big “thank you”. This website allows you to pick a cute card cover from a variety of themes, write text, and even add your own pictures! Practicing gratitude is a life-long skill that can start now!
Speech and Language Connections
Grammar – have your child write or dictate his or her own thank you message using complete sentences. Extra points for organizing the passage into a cohesive paragraph!
Articulation – target your child’s speech sounds while picking out the card cover and creating the thank you message.
Social language – determine appropriate thank you card recipients. Have a discussion about reasons why people are deserving of gratitude (think – your local grocery store, trash collectors, caretakers, etc.).
Vocabulary – this activity can work for little ones as well! Use the card cover selection step of creating the thank you cards to practice new vocabulary.
Home Enrichment, Activity 8: Grow Your Own Food!
While most people think food scraps – such as carrot tops, onion ends, celery bottoms, and romaine hearts – belong in the trash can or compost bin, they can be repurposed and enjoyed all over again! Below is a crafty guide to growing your own fruits, veggies, and herbs using materials that you might already have in your kitchen! This is a great springtime activity for all ages with lots of opportunities to work on language skills.
Speech and Language Connections
Expressive language – This is a great time to talk about food names and categories (e.g., Which ones are fruits? Which ones are vegetables?) and learn about parts of the whole – such as stems, leaves, roots, stalks, etc.! Describe the colors, textures, and shapes you see!
Sequencing – Look at the written instructions and pictures to review the steps to planting/repurposing your food items. See if your child can tell you what the next step is as you work! Encourage your child to use complete sentences and include sequence words (such as “first,” “next,” “last”) in their descriptions.
Following directions – Have your child follow single or multistep directions while creating and/or caring for your planted items (e.g., “pour the water into the bowl” or “pour the water into the bowl, then place the carrot in the water”).
Turn taking and teamwork – If siblings/multiple family members are involved, make sure each person gets a turn to help or complete a step. This activity provides a great opportunity to collaborate and work together!
Quarantine Journaling for Home Enrichment, Activity 7
We can say with confidence that everyone has a lot of emotions about being quarantined. Some days we can find the small joys in walking outside, while other days the unknown can be overwhelming. However, we are experiencing history in the making and we should journal about it!
Help your kids pick out (or rummage through the house to find) a fun journal, pencils, crayons, and/or paper! Parents you can journal, too! Not only can journaling open a window into your child’s view of the world, but you can incorporate some language-based activities while you’re at it! You and your child can pick your own kind of journaling style (i.e. drawing, writing, a mix of the two). Have fun!
Speech and Language Connections
Executive function - try to organize any thoughts and ideas into a graphic organizer. Let your child plan what materials to use and what style journal they’d like.
Expressive language - use language to describe pictures, discuss events, and write about life at home. You can incorporate as much or as little detail as you want. What was the weather like? What games or activities did you do today? Incorporate social language by talking about feelings, emotions, and how to manage them! This is new territory for everyone, kids included, so let them be honest and open about their feelings. Journaling can be cathartic for children and adults alike.
Writing - do your best to use good spelling, writing mechanics, and sentences. Have your child re-read their sentences and make any edits that may be needed. Be careful with this one, because you want it to be fun. If you and your family members feel comfortable, you can take turns reading your journals as a group.
Home Enrichment, Activity 6: Food Color Wheels!
Become a kitchen explorer and fill out this fun color wheel! This is the perfect activity for a rainy day at home. Simply print out the color wheel chart, grab something to write with, and start exploring your pantry. Try to fill out each slice of the color wheel with different food groups (e.g. produce, grains, meats, etc.). This activity helps expand both food exposure and language in a fun, hands-on way!
Speech and Language Connections
Articulation – try to target the speech sounds your child is working on in therapy by using the colors or the food items. For example, if your child is working on the /k/ sound, you can practice “color,” “carrot,” “bacon,” “pink,” and more!
Basic concepts – promote color learning by sorting the items on to your counter. Be sure to say each color label as much as possible to promote generalization!
Expressive language – increase expressive vocabulary by practicing food item labels that may not be so common on your child’s plate.
Following directions – have your child help you rearrange the items back in your pantry. You can work on 1-2 step directions or prepositional concepts (e.g. “Put the pasta behind the rice.”).
Calling all Middle Schoolers! Home Enrichment, Activity 5
Need a break from doing homework, don’t have any homework at all, or want to keep your middle schooler away from electronics? Try building an architectural school model! This activity will keep you both occupied and entertained! Additionally, it’s a great way to incorporate language skills. Download the free activity here!
Speech and Language Connections
Executive Functions: Plan and organize your project including all the materials needed and outline the steps to complete it! If you plan to work over multiple days, use a calendar to organize what steps you will complete on what days!
Receptive Language: Follow complex directions including transition words like first/then/last. Use the organizer you created and check off each direction as you follow them!
Expressive Language: Work on comparing/contrasting the rooms, describing how it turned out, or discussing the differences and similarities between the materials being used. Once you are done, you can verbally sequencing the steps you took to recreate your structure!
Home Enrichment, Activity 4: Creative Snacking!
Who says snacks can’t be healthy AND fun? Here are some clever ways to make snack time a hands-on learning activity that is fun for the whole family! Click here for some inspiration, or get creative with what you have on hand! Grab some cut-up fruits, veggies, crackers, nuts, sliced cheese, and spreads (like nut butters, hummus, guacamole) – the options are endless! There are also lots of opportunities to target vocabulary, articulation, following directions, and more!
Speech and Language Connections
Expressive language – this is a great time to learn about and describe different food names, colors, and shapes! You might be using “round, green grapes.” Or, maybe you’re cutting strawberries into “little, red triangles.” Take turns talking about what you’re making! You can play “I spy!” to take turns describing and guessing the food items.
Articulation – many of your ingredients might consist of tricky, multisyllabic words (think: strawberry, banana, blueberry, peanut butter). Practice saying these words, clapping out the syllables (i.e., “ba-na-na!”) as you say them together if needed!
Following directions – read the directions for your snack of choice one step at a time. Have your child repeat your direction, and/or complete the step just as you said it! Alternatively, take turns describing how to create your unique snack (for example, “Put two cucumbers in the middle of your plate!”).
Sequencing – This is also a great time to practice using sequence words (i.e., First, second, next, then, last, etc.) in your directions so you know that each step is in the right order!
Home Enrichment, Activity 3: Rainbow Fish Craft
In need of an easy craft that can keep little fingers busy? Here is an activity that looks complicated but is actually quite easy. If you are looking for ways to practice speech and language, this is it! And best of all, your home will be adorned with bright, colorful crafts when you’re finished! We think bright and colorful is what everyone needs right now! Find the craft here!
Speech and Language Connections
Articulation: have your child practice their speech words three-five times before they can cut each strip, weave each color, and/or glue on each piece of the eye! That’s 45 trials of speech sounds in just one activity!
Following Directions: give your child 1, 2, or 3 step directions while they complete each step of this activity. For example, “weave the red paper and then weave the orange paper”. Wait until they’ve followed the instruction before giving them another step.
Basic Concepts: this activity would be great for incorporating tons of concepts including front/back, in/out, top/bottom, long/short, first/next/last, and all the colors of the rainbow!
Added bonus, this craft is great for addressing fine and gross motor skills!
Home Enrichment, Activity 2: A-Z Animal Scavenger Hunt!
While we may not be able to run to the farm or zoo during this time, pull out those old mini animals and have a little scavenger hunt! Follow the link to find a list of animals you can look for on your scavenger hunt. This link includes coloring sheets with the animals organized alphabetically. This is a great speech and language activity for vocabulary building, answering ‘wh’ questions, and using prepositional phrases! Find it here!
Speech and Language Connections:
Articulation: Keep an ear open for any words containing the speech sound your child is currently working on in therapy. Some examples include: camel, cow, crocodile for targeting “k”. Animal names are a great way to address speech pacing for multi-syllable words, like elephant, flamingo, and hippopotamus.
Vocabulary: Label all the animals on the sheet and then walk around the house and see if your child can identify the animals!
Wh- Questions: You can ask all sorts of questions about the animals! Who do you see? Where is the elephant? What color is the tiger? What is the zebra doing?
Prepositional Phrases: Ask and answer questions about the animal locations. For example, “Look I see the lion! Where is he? Is he under the couch or on the counter?”
SLP Center Update on COVID-19
At Speech Language Pathology Center, we have always prided ourselves on promoting overall health in a clean, safe and meticulous clinical office.
With the concerns around COVID-19 and the new Coronavirus, we want to make sure that you are informed of the precautions that we are taking to minimize any risk to our patients and team. In addition to our standard procedures of cleaning and sanitizing following CDC (Center for Disease Control) guidelines, we are taking further steps to ensure that everyone's health is our top priority.
Our teams work diligently on sanitation and cleanliness in all patient areas and we have cleaning teams in our offices after hours to clean and disinfect the entire office.
We have new protocols in place that are in line with CDC guidelines specifically for Coronavirus (please do not be offended if we do not shake your hand). We have hand sanitizer available in our reception area.
We also ask that patients with any respiratory symptoms call our office to reschedule for when you are healthier.
There are also ways that you can be proactive and helpful when you are not in the office:
Frequently wash your hands for 20 seconds or more with soapy water
Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when you are unable to wash your hands.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Get plenty sleep and manage stress.
Eat well and stay as physically active as possible to ensure a healthy immune system.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Avoid contact with people who are sick and things they may have touched.
As we work together to maintain a healthy environment, we will continue to communicate as necessary.
Warm regards,
The Team at Speech Language Pathology Center
Picture Books for Little People with Big Feelings
Being a small child with big feelings is hard. Picture books about social-emotional issues can encourage empathy, kindness, and help kids think about grief and anger. Check out the link to find 50 books that help teach social-emotional skills!
Adaptive Ski/Snowboard Club in New England!
Would you like to get back into skiing/snowboarding following an injury? There are options for you with transportation, if needed!
“Spaulding Adaptive Sports Ski/Ride Club provides instructors and equipment for both skiers and snowboarders with disabilities. Lessons are designed in collaboration with Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country and led by certified adaptive snow sports instructors to teach all level skiers and riders how to reach their most independent skiing or riding ability.”
Click the link below to find answers to any questions you may have and to register!
Healthy Hand-Washing Habits!
Cough, cold, and flu season is upon us! Get ideas about increasing your little ones’ understanding of germs and the importance of hand-washing by exploring the link below. We particularly enjoy the little puff ball “germs” craft activity that corresponds with a children’s book. Sharing may be caring, but not when it comes to the sniffles!
