Friday Fun Day- Cooking up Speech- "Pete's a Pizza"

Cooking up Speech with Pete's a Pizza 

(by, William Steig)

 ♪♫♪♫♪"When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore!"♪♫♪♫♪

 

About a year ago, my then three year old and I read the book, Pete's a Pizza, by William Steig.  This led us to partake in my son's first pizza making experience.  

 

Even making pizza can help children with sequencing, following directions, attention, vocabulary, articulation, etc.  Just remember that they might add a couple of steps to the equation.  For example, my son decided to eat some cheese.

 

While you wait for the pizza to bake you can...

1) Read Pete's a Pizza, by Steig

2) Make a Pizza Craft-

 Give your child a circle made of cardboard, tag-board or paper.  Provide glue, sequins, gems tissue paper, and so on to decorate the pizza.

3)  Partake in Pretend Play-

One child lays down and pretends to be the dough of the pizza.  The other children or parents put toppings on the "pizza."  Toppings can consist of fabric scraps, light cars, paper, and so on.  Set a timer for about 30 seconds.  The "pizza" can rise (pop up) when the pizza is done.  

4)  Make a Pizza out of Play Dough

 

 

(Low) Tech Tuesday-Picture Schedule

Picture Schedules

It can be difficult to find ways to encourage children (and let's face it, adults) to complete tasks.  Picture schedules can help.  

Picture schedules do not have to be complex. About a month ago, I found myself in need of an on the spot picture schedule and reward system. As you can see, our son receives a star for each completed activity.  He is rewarded after 10 stars.  Phone time and fruit snacks are examples of rewards we use in our family. It helps to let your child chose the reward they will earn for completing the tasks.

You can use the reward as a learning experience.   Here, my son is making a pattern with his fruit snacks. He counted them, named

the characters, labeled the colors, and so forth.

Friday Fun Day- Cooking up Speech- "If You Give a Pig a Pancake"

Cooking Up Speech-PANCAKES

1) Read If You Give a Pig a Pancake, by Laura Numeroff.

 

2) Make and eat pancakes!

3. Do a coloring and following directions activity. 

I obtained the image for the following directions activity at the link below.

http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/harperchildrensImages/Printable/7539.pdf

 

4. Play a game.  We chose to play Memory using cards from a sequencing activity.  Our "follow-up" activity will be to use the cards to sequence the events in the book.

 

You can find the Sequencing Activity at the following link:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxjylOkfka4eQU9uak5JZzY0dWc/edit




 *These activities focus on following directions, sequencing, vocabulary, social skills, articulation, fluency, labeling, and grammar.*

 

Make it Monday-New Year's Eve Fun

 

 New Year's Eve Fun

 

During the day on new years eve you may want to have your child help prepare activities for the late night.  I have listed some ideas below that my family did last year:

 

 

1) Hourly Activity Bags

 

A) Draw clocks on 5 paper bags.  "Set the time" on each bag.  I had one bag for 7:00, one for 8:00, and so on until midnight. 

B) Have your child decorate the bags.

C) Fill each bag with activities. I chose activities that were similar to my son's normal routine.  For example, the bag for 7:00 had colored shaving cream to use during his bath.  The bag for 8:00 contained a small coloring book and crayons.

D) Your child can complete the activities throughout the night.

 

2) Confetti Poppers

 

A) Collect cardboard toilet paper tubes.  

B) Split them almost in half.  

C) Encourage your child to cut/rip crepe or tissue paper to fill the tubes.  

D) Have your child fill the tubes with the paper. 

E) Place filled tubes on large sheet of tissue or construction paper.  Roll large paper around tube. 

F) Use ribbon to tie the two edges of the roll. 

G) Break them open at midnight.

 

3) Noise Makers

 

A) Obtain empty plastic water or soda bottles. 

B) Open bottles, and set lid aside. 

C) Have your child cut tissue paper to attach to the outside of the bottles. 

D) Prepare equal parts white glue and water. 

E) Have child place the small pieces of paper on the bottle by using a paint brush to "paint" the glue/water mixture on the bottle. 

F) Fill bottle with dry beans. 

G) Use a hot glue gun to place glue on the outside of the mouth of the bottle. 

H) Affix lid.

I) Shake at midnight.

 

4) Party Hat

 

Last year we made a hat out of poster board, crepe paper, ribbon, staples, and markers.  There are many ways you can make a hat. 

 

5) Glitter Balloons

 

A) Open the mouth of a deflated balloon.

B) Have your child fill the balloon with glitter, torn tissue paper, or other small items.

C) Inflate and tie closed.

D) Tie ribbon around knot of balloon.

E) Hang to pop at midnight.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

 

 



Tech Tuesday-Free Android Christmas Apps

Android Phone Christmas Apps for Speech and Language
............................

Below are a few free and fun Christmas themed applications that can help enhance speech and language skills:

1) Memory, jigsaw, shapes, etc at
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kidgames.christmas.pack

2) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.com.sevenBulls.summerMemory

3)Grammar, vocabulary at
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aheadsolutions.hangman.christmas

4)Vocabulary at
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.doodlejoy.colorbook.xmas

5) Phonological awarness and writing at
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pamdev.abcchristmas

6) Articulation, feedback, etc at
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.outfit7.talkingsantafree

Map it Monday

Map it Monday!

My four year old and I are enjoying the "Larry Gets Lost" series, as we explore the USA.  Tonight, we listened to "Larry Gets Lost in San Francisco." It was fun to hear about "home"  from a children's book.

There is also a "Good Night" series that travels thr states.

He is learning about sequencing, main idea, detail, and other reading comprehension concepts with  these book series.  You can ask where Larry will go next by looking at a map with your child.  Questions related to how he gets lost and where he goes in each city are beneficial, as well.

My son is also gaining an understanding of other places. Geography, culture and language are intertwined in this ongoing lesson in our home.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uQS7f_nigc

Tech Tuesday: Talking Tom

TECH TUESDAY-Talking Tom

I plan to find or write a review of free or cheap apps/tech that can be used to enhance Speech and Language on some Tuesdays. I plan to pose have Trivia Tuesdays on other Tuesdays.

I found this simple review of Talking Tom.... It works well in therapy, and my 4 year old son has loved it for quite some time. Talking Ben, Talking Tom, and more help keep therapy silly and fun.

http://www.meredithharold.com/3/post/2013/03/favorite-free-therapy-app-talking-tom.html