Peterson Speech Therapy wishes everyone a peaceful, successful, and prosperous new year! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Frugal Friday- 25 free 4x6 photos

SCORE! Walgreens 25 Free Photos!

 

     Until 12/31/11, 11:59PM, you can order 25 free 4x6 prints from Walgreens using the code "PRINTNOW." You will not be charged shipping if you choose "in store pickup."

     What in the world do free photos have to do with Speech/Language?  You didn't think I would leave you hanging did you? 

1. Memory Game : This will require two sets of 25.  You can always ask your friend or spouse to get a set.  You could even do a small memory game of 12 pairs.  Laminate the pictures, and voila! a memory game.  While playing the game, have your child talk about the pictures they pull.  Maybe your child is working on plurals, actions, pronouns, or sound production?  It's a great, fun way, to work on skills.

2. Communication: Do you have a young one that is not quite using their words?  Sometimes giving children choices using pictures helps them to communicate or make a decision.  You can take pictures of every day objects, food, etc.  Laminate the pictures.  Put a magnet on the back.  Place a couple of the pictures on your fridge, and you have just given your child a way of telling you what they want to eat or drink!  After they begin to point out what they want, you can soon work on having them produce the words.  This is a helpful hint that many of my clients' parents swear by!

3. Picture Schedule: Picture schedules are a fun way to help children and teens with communication needs with transitions.  Take pictures of your child doing daily activities, and some special activities (i.e. swimming, etc). Use a desired sized, magnetic, dry erase board.  Leaving enough space for a photo along side each item, list your daily schedule .  For example: 7:00 Wake up, 7:15 Breakfast, etc.   Cut the pictures to the desired size, and laminate if you wish.  Place magnets on the back of the pictures. Affix an envelope to the bottom of the dry erase board.  You can either have your child place the pictures as you go through the day, or you can put the pictures up prior to starting the day, and they can remove them.  The envelope is storage for all of your pictures.

4. Organizing Toys:   Help your child group their toys into categories.  Take separate pictures of one or a few of the items in each category.  Take the prints, and tape them to an appropriate sized bin for each group of toys.  Write or type the name of the items, and tape near the picture.  There you go!  The toys are organized.  This gives your child the ability to learn categories, organization, reading, and much more.

5. Picture Book: Take pictures of friends and family, type out a label, place in a small photo album, and POOF! a picture book for your child to enjoy.

Enjoy your pictures however you choose to use them!  This is a great deal for prints of holiday madness. I mean fun.

Happy New Year!!!!

Here are links to ideas that will occupy the little one on New Years:

Crafts:

• Let your child be part of the action!  Have them create this Noise maker from familyfun.go.com or this noise maker shaker.
• How about a Time Capsule?
• What would the party be without the Hat and the CONFETTI ???

Recipes:

• Check out the appetizers and treats at familyfun ! Let the kids get messy!

Games:

• Who can pop it? Have each child blow up balloons, tie them off, sit and pop.  Whoever does the most wins.  I used to love this game when I was little!
• Look at this site for a number of New Years Game ideas.

Please share your family's favorite New Year's celebration tips!

Cooking Up Speech!- Candy Cane Chocolate Pretzels

	Cooking Up Speech! *Candy Cane Chocolate Pretzel Rods* Trying to get rid of some candy canes. This treat is easy enough that a toddler can help you. Just prepare for a little mess!	1. Cover cookie sheet with wax paper. 2. Lay another sheet of wax paper on the counter 3. Crush those candy canes!!! -Place candy canes in sealed gallon sized plastic bag - Smash the candy canes with a hammer, mallet or rolling pin 4. Place crushed candy canes on the wax paper on the counter 5. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave in a shallow dish. -Add 1 tbsp vegetable oil if too thick - I used one dish of chocolate chips and one dish of white chocolate chips. 6. Dip pretzels in chocolate! You can use a spatula to apply the chocolate. 7. Roll pretzels in crushed candy canes, and sprinkle with colored sugar if desired. 8. When cooled you can drizzle with more chocolate for a marble/striped look. 9. Let chocolate cool and ENJOY!