Family Tree

Young children often struggle with the concepts of family members, especially when they don't spend a lot of time with certain members. Essential Kids has a wonderful free printable Family Tree this week, which can provide with a lovely opportunity to highlight important family members to young children, which can be especially important leading up to the holiday season.

Download at Essential Kids

You can further your child's understanding of family member names such as Aunty, Uncle, Sister, Grandpa with these free printable Family Member Puppets

Download at DLTK

For your older child, why not print out these wonderful story templates and have them write a story about a family member- I'm sure Grandma would love it.

Download at Enchanted Learning

I hope you all enjoy a bit of family fun,

Lauren

Make Your Own Pizza - Craft

Download your own Pizza Cut Out Activity

This fun activity is a great way to work on prepositions with your child 

e.g. put onions on, put olives on, put salami on...

Bon appetit 

Lauren

DIY Footpath Paint

Kids going stir crazy inside the house? Send them out to decorate the footpath with this great footpath chalk paint from The Idea Room

Image via The Idea Room

Ingredients:

1/4 cup of cold water

1/4 cup of cornstarch

A few drops of food coloring

Plastic bowl

Paint brushes

Instructions:

1. Mix 1/4 cup of cornstarch into 1/4 cup of cold water 

(or equal parts of each if you wish to make more or less).

2. Add a small amount of food coloring to give it a bit of color 

(add too much and the footpath will hold a slight stain)

3. Use cheap, small paint brushes rather than foam brushes. 

4. Have fun, get creative and build on your child's language but having them describe what they are paining or by telling stories about what you or your child are painting.

Keep calm 

and paint on 

love Lauren

Children Learn What They Live

By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.

If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.

If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.

If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.

If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.

If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.

If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.

If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.

If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.

If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.

If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.

If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.

If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.

If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.

If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.

If children live with fairness, they learn justice.

If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.

If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.

If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Copyright © 1972 by Dorothy Law Nolte

20 Fun Toddler Activities & Games

Here are 20 fun toddler activities & games to entertain your little ones on a rainy day, student free day or weekend.  This collection of activities is not only easy to create but you can use them over and over as the kids will love them.  They also give kids the opportunity to enhance problem solving skills whilst unleashing their creativity.

Toddler activity 1: Salt play doh. 

This play doh is easy to make - and you can then bake your toddler's creations and keep them as memories forever. Try it here.

Toddler activity 2: Indoor basketball

This is a fun game for toddlers and boosts their eye/hand coordination. All you have to do is get a bin or bucket and some rolled up balls of newspaper and try and get the 'balls' in the bin.  Try it here.

Toddler activity 3: Leaping Lilly Pads

This easy activity turns your lounge room into a fun frog pond. Place cushions around the room and get your toddler to leap like a frog from one to the other.  Try it here.

Toddler activity 4: Make a foil crown

Let you toddler become a little prince or princess they are with some everyday items. Take some cardboard and tin foil and whatever else you can find to bejewel your creation. Fun to make and then fun to play with.  Try it here.

Toddler activity 5: Cardboard box car

A small cardboard box is all you need to make a fabulous car for a favourite bear or doll. Take a bigger cardboard box and turn it into a car for your toddler!  Try it here.

Toddler activity 6: Balloon bop

All you need is a couple of balloons, then get your toddler to bounce, throw, hit the balloon across the room without it hitting the ground. Fun and great for hand/eye coordination.   Try it here.

Toddler activity 7: Pillow jump

Toddlers love nothing more than jumping on pillows - so why not create a playground full of them?  Try it here.

Toddler activity 8: Treasure Hunt

Distract your child while you hide some 'treasure' around the room for your child to find. Your toddler will love the game of finding it!  Try it here.

Toddler activity 9: Table Tent

A simple table tent will have kids occupied for ages. Create your own campsite indoors and you can pretend to sleep under the stars, sing around a camp fire or just hide out in the 'tent'.  Try it here.

Toddler activity 10: Musical jars

Spark the inner musician in your toddler with by making these easy musical jars.  Try it here.

Toddler activity 11: Cotton tip painting

Pour out some paints and forget about the brushes, instead use cotton tips to create a different type of artwork. Your toddler will have great fun experimenting with art.  Try it here.

Toddler activity 12: Ringing phone

Toddlers love 'talking' on the phone, so with a few ordinary household items make one for your child.  Try it here.

Toddler activity 13: Trail's End

Take a roll of toilet paper and create a trail for your child to follow. Tie a little surprise at the end for your toddler to find.  Try it here.

Toddler activity 14: Binoculars 

Go on safari in your lounge room and create a pair of binoculars for your child. They're fun to make and then your toddler can create a whole imaginary world to use them in.  Try it here.

Toddler activity 15: Colour collage

Watch your child paste and create his own masterpiece with this fun activity. Great to boost imagination. Try it here.

Toddler activity 16: Indoor cubby house 

A few cushions and a sheet will make the perfect cubby house. A fun place to hide out in and then it can be a base for countless roleplay games, from a hospital to a school.   Try it here.

Toddler activity 17: Pretend cooking

All you need are a few bowls, wooden spoons and saucepans and get pretend cooking. Whip up a feast to whet your toddler's imaginary appetite.  Try it here.

Toddler activity 18: Rainy day box

A fresh and fun rainy activity for your toddler is to create a rainy day activity box.  Try it here.

Toddler activity 19: Butterfly paintings 

Amaze your child by teaching them to make their own beautiful butterfly! All you need is a few bits and pieces to get painting. Try it here.

Toddler activity 20: Egg carton treasure box 

This egg carton treasure box makes the hidey-hole for your toddler to store all those little treasures he loves. Try it here.

At Small Talk Speech Pathology we will definitely be making the foil crowns and playing musical jars.  Feel free to let us know about your adventures with any of the above games!

Have FUN everyone!

Vanessa

DIY - Paper Popsicle Memory Game

Here is a great free printable paper popsicle memory game that will get the kids thinking & talking about something that we all love - ice blocks!  Or as Americans say 'popsicles'.

The colours and patterns are just divine and very summery.  You can print the game off and put the popsicles together easily.  I'm sure this one will become a fun favourite of ours at Small Talk Speech Pathology.

Enjoy this new twist on the old classical memory game!
Vanessa

5 Quick, Easy Ginger Recipes For Kids

Ginger is a root vegetable native to India and China - and has been known to boost the immune system naturally.  It also aids digestion and contains anti-inflammatory agents.  

Here are some great kid-friendly ways to incorporate a bit of ginger into your child's daily intake - Recipes for ginger that kids will enjoy

1. Ginger tea: Roughly chop up a few teaspoons of fresh ginger root in 8 ounces of water and boil for five to 10 minutes, depending on how strong your child likes ginger flavor. Sweeten with honey.
2. Smoothie: Blend a banana, tablespoon of almond butter, ice, soy milk, and a teaspoon chopped fresh ginger to create a nutritious yet milkshake-like smoothie.
3. Homemade ginger ale: Toss fresh chopped ginger into the pot when making a simple syrup. Pour a small amount (around 1/8 cup) of ginger simple syrup in a cup, and top with sparkling water.
4. Ginger garlic sauce: Whisk a few teaspoons of chopped garlic and ginger with soy sauce, orange juice, and honey to taste. In the last few minutes of cooking, add the sauce to stir-fried chicken, beef, or tofu. Cook until fragrant and heated through.
5. Chai tea latte: Make ginger tea, then steep with a chai tea bag for a few minutes. Finish with cow, rice, or soy milk and honey.   

Enjoy!
 Vanessa