Calling all Middle Schoolers! Home Enrichment, Activity 5

Picture1.png

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!

Picture1.png

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 2: A-Z Animal Scavenger Hunt!

Picture1.png

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

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!

Picture1.png

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!

Valentine’s Day Books!

Spread the love this Valentine’s Day with any of these adorable children’s books! These books are perfect for celebrating Valentine’s Day – whether you have a little one at home or you’re shopping for a sweet Valentine for a friend. At the SLP Center, we love using books as a joint attention activity for toddlers, language expansion for preschoolers, or a fun reading tool for young readers!

Click here to explore this compilation of Valentine’s Day themed books, ranging from board books to fun classics to quirky new stories!

Picture1.png

Healthy Brain Foods!

Just as there is no magic pill to prevent cognitive decline, no single almighty brain food can ensure a sharp brain as you age. That said, certain foods in this overall scheme are particularly rich in healthful components like omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and antioxidants, which are known to support brain health.

Click the link below to see what foods you could start incorporating into your diet!

PastedGraphic-2.png

Making Mealtime Fun!

At the SLP Center, we have specialized training and experience utilizing the SOS Approach to Feeding. “This approach integrates motor, oral, behavioral/learning, medical, sensory, and nutritional factors and approaches in order to comprehensively evaluate and manage children with feeding/growth problems (Toomey, 1998/2010).”

We implement this approach to feeding and do our best to make mealtime fun! To learn more about our feeding therapy services, give our office a call at 781-792-2700.

22532E55-993A-47A9-AF36-551607506B2C.JPG

Happy Holidays from SLP Center!

Sending warm wishes to all for a happy and healthy holiday season!

Please Note: The SLP Center will be closed from December 23rd through December 29th. We will re-open the following week, with closure on January 1st only. You can reach us through the contact page on our website should you need anything. Thank you!

large_happy-holidays-title.png

Activities for Adults!

With cold weather and the holiday season coming up, finding interesting and age-appropriate activities for adults is difficult. Check out the link below for game ideas to improve memory, daily life skills, and overall mental health. At the SLP Center, we love to have fun with logic puzzles and book clubs!