love, L & V
By Small Talk Speech Pathology
Thursday, 6 September 2012
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
HOW CLEARLY SHOULD CHILDREN SPEAK?
Here is rough guide from Speech-language-therapy for how intelligible kids are when conversing with unfamiliar listeners, or "strangers"
Child aged 1 year = 25% intelligible to strangers
Child aged 2 years = 50% intelligible to strangers
Child aged 3 years = 75% intelligible to strangers
Child aged 4 years = 100% intelligible to strangers
Ref: Flipsen (2006), Coplan & Gleason (1988), Pascoe (2005)
Remember to contact a speech pathologist if you have any concerns regarding your child's communication development!
Love,
V & L
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
KIDOODLES: A FINE-MOTOR-BOOSTING STICKER PAINT CREATION
Courtesy of Lilsugar
Finger painting is tons of fun for lil ones, so take things to the next level with the help of a few puffy stickers. Along with honing fine motor skills, finger painting introduces your tot to color and what happens when they mix together. Adding puffy stickers kicks your tyke's fine motor skills up a notch as they are a bit easier to grasp onto than regular flat stickers. Once the paint has dried, add another step to the project by carefully peeling away those puffy stickers, creating a really fun finished product. Tailor the project to fit the season with different-shaped stickers, such as leaf shapes for Fall, flowers for Spring or Summer, or snowflakes for Winter.
Keep reading for the directions.
What You'll Need:
- Finger paint
- White drawing paper
- Puffy stickers
- Smock or wet wipes
- Tape
Directions:
- Offer your child a sheet of white drawing paper and an assortment of puffy stickers. Using drawing paper or white construction paper will help keep the paper from tearing later. Invite your tot to peel away the backing from the stickers and then place on the paper. Older kids can create an arrangement of stickers to make an organized picture, while little ones can peel and stick in a random design.
- Once your child is happy with the sticker arrangement, get ready for mess by tossing on a smock or having wet wipes handy. Before beginning to paint, tape the edges of your tot's paper to the work table to keep it from moving around while finger painting.
- Dollop a small amount of various colors of finger paint around the white paper and invite your tot to paint around and over the puffy stickers. He can use his fingertips to create moving lines of blended colors.
- Continue finger painting until the entire paper is covered. Allow the paint to dry and then carefully peel away the puffy stickers, which also builds fine motor skills. Find the perfect spot to display the finished artwork for the whole family to see.
Happy finger painting!
Vanessa & Lauren
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
FREE printable games for kids
Head to Family fun go for some fantastic free printable word games, memory games, mazes, matching games and puzzles.
Fill them in stories
Word searches
Memory games
Mazes
Puzzles
Let the games begin!
Love,
Vanessa & Lauren
Thursday, 23 August 2012
Chemical free cleaning recipes for your home
Here are some wonderful chemical free cleaning recipes courtesy of Supercharged Food
This can be used on most surfaces and for so many areas of
the home. To give the cleaner a beautiful scent when cleaning just add 10 drops
of essential oil, which will make the house smell amazing.
Ingredients:
·
1 tablespoon soap (plant based is
good)
·
1 litre hot water
·
¼ cup white distilled vinegar
·
1 lemon squeezed
·
10 drops of essential oil for
fragrance
Mix
together and pour into a cleaner trigger spray bottle shake carefully until
mixed. Then use as a spray and wipe down surfaces.
·
1/4 cup soap flakes
·
2 cups hot water
·
1/4 cup glycerin
·
1/2 tsp. lavender or lemon essential
oil
Mix
soap flakes and water in a medium bowl or glass jug and stir until the soap is
dissolved and let cool
Stir in glycerin and essential oil
As it cools it will form a loose gel
Stir then pour into a bottle or squeezie container
Stir in glycerin and essential oil
As it cools it will form a loose gel
Stir then pour into a bottle or squeezie container
·
¼ cup of Olive Oil
·
¼ cup of lemon juice
The
best way to polish an item is to use an equal mixture of olive oil and lemon
juice and apply with a soft cloth to furniture. Mayonnaise is also highly
effective.
·
1/2 cup liquid plant or animal fat
based soap
·
1/2 cup warm water
·
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
·
4 drops tea tree oil
·
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
Mix
together soap, water, lemon, tea tree and vinegar
Pour into squeeze bottle.
Use 1 TBS per wash
2 TBS baking soda can also be sprinkled over dirty dishes to absorb odors
Pour into squeeze bottle.
Use 1 TBS per wash
2 TBS baking soda can also be sprinkled over dirty dishes to absorb odors
·
1/4 cup baking soda
·
2 tsp. vinegar
·
6 drops essential oil
Combine
all ingredients to make a paste
Apply inside microwave with a soft cloth
Rinse well and air dry for 15 mins
Apply inside microwave with a soft cloth
Rinse well and air dry for 15 mins
·
2 Cups Water
·
1/4 Cup White Vinegar
·
1/4 tsp. Tea Tree Oil
·
1/4 tsp. Lavender Oil
Combine
and store in a spray bottle
Shake and use when needed
Shake and use when needed
·
Warm water
·
2 teaspoons borax
·
2 TBS liquid soap
·
1 cup Baking soda
Combine
baking soda with enough water to make a paste
Apply it to oven surfaces, and let it sit for 15 mins
Now take a scouring pad and scrub the inside of the oven remove deposits and then wipe dry
It’s a good idea to use gloves and glasses if you have them
Apply it to oven surfaces, and let it sit for 15 mins
Now take a scouring pad and scrub the inside of the oven remove deposits and then wipe dry
It’s a good idea to use gloves and glasses if you have them
·
1 cup vinegar
·
1/4 cup washing soda
·
1 tablespoon vegetable oil-based
liquid soap
·
2 gallons hot water
Combine
all ingredients, stir well and place in bucket
·
1-1/2 cups vinegar
·
1/2 cup water
·
8 drops citrus essential oil of
choice
Combine
all ingredients in a pump spray bottle and shake well before use
Spray solution onto mirror and wipe with a dry cloth or scrunched up newspaper
Spray solution onto mirror and wipe with a dry cloth or scrunched up newspaper
·
2 cups baking soda
·
2 cups white vinegar
·
4 cups water
Mix
these ingredients and use 1/4 cup per load in the final rinse
·
1 ounce liquid castile soap
·
1 cup washing soda
·
1 cup baking soda
·
1 cup white vinegar
Mix
ingredients and add to wash.
Enjoy dear readers!
Vanessa & Lauren
How to teach your child to be bilingual
Learning Two Languages
- How do I teach my child to be bilingual?
- Will learning two languages cause speech or language problems?
- What should I expect when my child learns more than one language?
- What resources can I use to help my child be bilingual?
- If my child is having trouble communicating, should we use only one language?
- What are some additional resources?
Anyone can learn a new language. Some people find it easier than others, but all of us can do it. People who can use two languages are bilingual.
Children can learn to be bilingual. They can learn two languages at home, at school, or in the community. Some children learn both languages very well. But sometimes they know one language better than the other. The language a child knows better is called the dominant language. Over time the dominant language may change, especially if a child doesn't use it regularly.
Speaking two languages is like any other skill. To do it well, children need lots of practice, which parents can help provide. Without practice, it may be difficult for children to understand or talk to people in both languages.
There are a number of ways to teach children to speak more than one language. You can do the following:
- Use two languages from the start. Many children grow up learning two languages at the same time.
- Use only one language at home. Your child can learn the second language when he or she starts school.
- Give your child many opportunities to hear and practice using both languages in everyday situations.
No. Children all over the world learn more than one language without developing speech or language problems. Bilingual children develop language skills just as other children do.
Every bilingual child is unique. Developing skills in two languages depends on the quality and amount of experience the child has using both languages. The following are some basic guidelines:
- Like other children, most bilingual children speak their first words by the time they are 1 year old (e.g., "mama" or "dada"). By age 2, most bilingual children can use two-word phrases (e.g., "my ball" or "no juice"). These are the same language developmental milestones seen in children who learn only one language.
- From time to time, children may mix grammar rules, or they might use words from both languages in the same sentence. This is a normal part of bilingual language development.
- When a second language is introduced, some children may not talk much for a while. This "silent period" can sometimes last several months. Again, this is normal and will go away.
Books. You can read to your child in both languages. You can find the books you need at bookstores, at libraries, and on the Internet.
Audiotapes and CDs. Tapes and CDs in other languages can help too. Singing is a great way to introduce a second language to your child, and it can be lots of fun!
Videotapes and DVDs. Children's programs are available in many languages. These programs often teach children about numbers, letters, colors, and basic vocabulary.
Language programs. Children can also learn to be bilingual at language camps or in bilingual education programs. These give children the chance to use two languages with other children. Some school districts offer programs to help children learn another language from an early age.
In this case, it's best to talk to your child in the language you're most comfortable with. This is true even if he or she uses a different language at school. But try not to make a sudden change in your child's routine. This can be stressful.
Children who are having problems in both languages may need professional help.
This list is not exhaustive, and inclusion does not imply endorsement of the organization or the content of the Web site by ASHA.
Love,
Vanessa & Lauren
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