When I was at the Toy Fair last week, I was walking the aisles and noticed a crowd gathering around a man. Of course I had to see who this celebrity was, and there was Bob McGrath, the familiar performer on Sesame Street since the 60’s, signing copies of his “Sing Along With Bob” CD’s for fans.
He graciously posed for a picture with me as I reminisced about collapsing on the couch with my three preschoolers at 4 PM to watch Sesame Street. His recognizable, friendly smile and approachable personality came right through as we chatted about kids and all the media opportunities they have at their disposal these days.
Bob autographed a copy of “Sing Along with Bob #2″ and I went on my way. Today, it was quiet, so I decided to put in Bob’s CD and I went right down memory lane with him! I’m not sure who I will send the first copy to–Great Grandmother who used to sing “John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt” to my brother and me and end up in fits of laughter or to my preschool gang. “Boom Boom Ain’t It Great to Be Crazy” took me back to overnight camp memories as we used to wail out that song, resonating in the dining hall, stamping our feet to the “booms.” “The Muffin Man” gave me my first nickname, “Muff” because I loved to dance to the beat.
With thirty four short songs, sung in Bob’s clear, inviting voice, this CD should be in every preschool and therapist’s cache of activities. From “Let Everyone Clap Like Me” to “The Hokey Pokey,” there are many interactive songs that teach listening, following directions and imitating. Little ones will get moving and giggle while “shaking out their sillies” and “jumping out their jiggles.” Parents and grandparents will enjoy the intergenerational experience of sharing songs loved over the years.
Thanks, Bob, for the memories!
“Sing Along with Bob #2″ was provided by Bob’s Kids Music. The opinions expressed in this review are solely those of the author.
This past week, the The New York Times reported that William Clark, co-founder of the company that produced “Baby Einstein” videos, has asked a judge to release information from the University of Washington studies that showed the negative influence of TV viewing on young children. Clark is asking for the raw data and analytical methods used in the studies since “other research studies have not shown the same outcomes.
Clark and his wife started the company the produced the Baby Einstein videos but no longer have a financial stake in the company, after selling it to Disney in 2001. Last October, Disney offered refunds for those who bought the DVD’s, due to the “threat of a class-action lawsuit due to unfair and deceptive marketing suggesting that the videos boosted baby brain power.
According to the article, “the Clarks said they went to court to protect their legacy.”
What are your thoughts on the Baby Einstein videos? Did you see learning occur with your child? Did you even show them to your baby? I know what the research says but I also know what some parents have told me. This is a hot topic. One of the top viewed blogs of last year concerned the topic of Baby Einstein videos on the Wall Street Journal’s blog, Juggle.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
When I work with parents of children with language delay, I advise them on what toys are helpful to encourage language development. It is fun to watch as they start to understand the characteristics of good language toys and are more discerning about what they buy for their child.
I had advised one mom of a 2 year-old to get some play sets with people that are around a theme that is within the experience of her child–a farm, a playground, a car wash or gas station. She understood but apparently the grandparents didn’t!
After a visit there following Christmas, I found out that both sets of grandparents gave their grandson the Leapfrog Tag Junior Book Pal. I tried it out. You place the book pal on a picture or text and it reads the words, asks questions, says a rhyme, or talks about the picture. According to the product features on Amazon.com, “The Tag Junior book pal encourages toddlers to explore while helping build confidence with books.” I just don’t get it. I think toddlers love to explore a well-written, beautifully illustrated book for what it is–especially if an adult reads it or narrates the pictures. I found as I followed the pictures on the page with the “pal” it was almost disjointed, with an animal sound followed by a rhyme or text. The flow of the book was lost.
Let me know what you think of products like these and if they have been beneficial to your kids. I am open to changing my mind!
Toys do make a difference in stimulating a child’s speech development. I am constantly reminded of this as I work in homes and see what toy selections some kids have. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on toys, but carefully select toys that will encourage talking and creative play.
Recently I was in the home of a 16 month-old who was not talking. She responded beautifully to our first few sessions, using jargon to ask for me to repeat actions like starting a car, blowing bubbles or playing music. When I asked mom to bring out her favorite toys so I could show her how to use them to encourage talking she said her daughter really likes her laptop.
Mom brought out Thomas the Train Learn and Explore Laptop by VTech. This mini-laptop with over 30 games to teach numbers and letters, and a little screen, is designed for children 3-6. No doubt it is fun for that age range, but a 16 month-old simply enjoys pushing the buttons and watching the screen being constantly bombarded with repeated phrases of good job and bye bye. The little girl who had been so vocal was 
suddently mesmorized by a toy beyond her age and was silent, unless I tried to get her attention away from it. I suggested that mom put the toy away until she is older and look for toys that are more exciting for stimulting language.
Here is what to look for:
- Toys where you can hold back an action or music until the child verbalizes or attempts a word. (Fisher Price Piggy Bank, where you can hold back the coins and give them as the child makes a sound or word, you can wait to open or close the tummy on command too.)
- Toys that are inherently reinforcing. (such as bubbles where you can model “open top” or “off” to open the bubbles and then say, “blow” or “ready, set..go” to start blowing bubbles, and “pop” as you pop them. Kids love bubbles and try hard to ask for more
- Toys where you can repeat simple actions using the same core vocabulary such as pounding blocks through shape sorters so repeat, “block” “bang” “drop” and “clunk.”
- Toys with flexible parts that you need to manipulate to continue play. (such as the Fisher Price Garage with the gate to open and close to let a car run down the ramp)
As a speech pathologist, I am always interested in what others in my profession are producing besides doing therapy. I came across these delightful books called, God is with me Through the Day, and God is with me Through the Night that are authored by speech pathologist, Julie Cantrell. Perfect for toddlers and up, God Is With Me Through the Day, takes a child through the apprehensions of their day and night, as they leave the safety of family laughter and mom’s kisses and run out into the world, alone.
Pairing a simple sentence, “I start to feel alone,” with a matching picture of an animal seemingly feeling the same emotion–a lonely raccoon peeking out from behind a bush–each page builds on reassuring spiritual concepts of “God is always with me,” and “Just like when God kept Jonah safe inside the whale.” Cheers of “God loves me,” ”I am safe!” and “In God’s hands I am strong!” give little ones something to say in the face of fear, relying on God.
Just enough language for a toddler or preschooler to master, each short statement comforts a child, leading up to the final Bible verse, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. Psalm 56:3
God is with Me Through the Night is a perfect sequel, taking your child from the comfort of evening family fun, goodnight kisses and snuggles, to feelings of loneliness and fear. Encouraging your child to declare God’s comfort and assurance, the animals encourage, “I say out loud, ‘I am loved!’ or “I roar like a tiger, ‘I am safe!’”
These books are adored by children and would make a great Christmas present.
I watched a wonderful interaction between mother and child today during our speech therapy session. It is exciting for me to see my little clients improve, but just as satisfying to watch parents learn how to encourage speech and language.
Little two-year-old Sean loves my three dollar plastic pretend microphone. He selected it out of my bag and started to make sounds into it. Mom held the mike and began to imitate Sean. Much to his delight he continued in their “conversation,” offering up new sounds and syllables, waiting for Mom to imitate. Ever so gradually, Mom began to slightly change what Sean was saying. He said “ba” and she replied “ba ba.” Slowly the roles reversed and Sean started to imitate mom so now he was having to match what mom was saying. He was learning the fun of producing sounds, having a conversation and imitating sounds all at once. By the way, Mom was having fun too!
Whenever we teach parents how to stimulate speech and language, they become a big part of their child’s progress.
Many of you e-mail me with tips and ideas that bring out language in your preschoolers. I appreciate ideas from moms who are out experiencing life with their little ones daily. Here is a recommendation for a snack that can stimulate language learning:
“Hi, Sherry,
I got a new snack for Alexandra at the grocery store this week that is SO cute and great for language. They are called Bug Bites by Keebler. Basically, they are graham crackers in the shape of different bugs including a butterfly, caterpillar, ladybug and firefly. The great thing about them is that they look like real bugs, so they are a great conversation piece. They are also a healthy snack — good source of whole grains and calcium (taste good too I might add).
Just wanted to pass this along as a possible tip for moms! Alexandra LOVES bugs so they are a huge hit in our house!”
So snack on and talk before you bite!
I had heard nothing but fantastic reviews from parents about the Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk, CT. A visit from my one and a half and three year-old grandchildren prompted my first visit there today. Wow is all I can say.
Try to choose between the “Waterscape,” “Rainforest Adventure,” “Toddler Terrain,” “Build It” or “ColorCoaster.” Each exhibit is just enough to digest and kid-sized for attention spans and interest. We hardly got past the “Waterscape” room, where we were offered a plastic smock to keep kids dry as they explored fog, currents, whirlpools and waterways. Plenty of realistic play turtles and crabs and were available for swimming in the pools of water.
Next, we discovered the “ColorCoaster,” a 27 foot kinetic sculpture–a giant mechanical toy whose balls were whipped, dropped, and cascaded along metal trails, gathered by the arms of a gorilla or rolled into the mouth of an turtlle. Ben, 1 1/2, who loved balls, was so fascinated, we had to pull him away to the next exhibit.
Putting on the appropriate costume for each exhibit encouraged the pretend play as kids wore dental coats to examine a larger than life set of teeth, a doctor’s coat to drive the ambulance and work the walking talkie in “Healthyville,” a fireman’s coat to put out a fire, or a tool belt in “Build It” to construct a project. “Toddler Terrain,” designed as a safe place for toddlers to explore on slides, shapes and projects just their size, even had a rack of costumes to choose from–bug wings, ladybugs or bears.
Since much of the research emphasizes the importance of play in building language skills that under gird academic skills, this is a place to let your child loose to explore.
Besides the benefit of creative, interesting, interactive exhibits for kids, this museum is a resource for parents and educators. With an emphasis on raising healthy kids, their programs educate the community through activities for families and school groups. They have a resource library with tubs of language enhancing toys as well as a library of books that can be checked out for use at home.
If you are within driving distance or planning a trip to the East Coast, make sure the Stepping Stones Museum for Children is on your itinerary. As we left, my adult son said, “This is better than the Children’s Museum in Boston.” That’s quite a compliment!
In anticipation of our visit with my grandchildren, their mom asked me if I would assess Caroline’s toys and give her ideas for what she might need at age 15 months.
Upon arrival, I saw that Caroline had plenty of great toys for stimulating language–a toy house for pretend, plenty of push toys including a stroller for her “baby,” lots of containers to dump and refill and many books.
We took her off to the pool and she went right for a 3 year-old boy’s truck, intent on getting it out of his clutches. Since grandma and grandpa forgot toys, we were lucky that a mom offered us an extra car. The rest of our visit involved sending the car down the slope of the pool into the water and retrieving it.
When we got home, I declared, “Caroline needs a truck!” We went off to Target and got this Mega Bloks Li’L Dump Truck and she was delighted. It had all the prerequisites for a good language toy: a person to talk and drive, moving parts, blocks to create with and a dumper to collect things and dump.
Lamaze Play and Grow Logan the Lion’s big eyed face attracts newborns and invites conversation. His ribboned mane, different textures, slippery ribbons, shiny nose, fuzzy cheeks, bumpy rings, smooth tummy, star with ridges and bumps, and crinkly feet provide lots of textures to talk about. With a head as a rattle, crinkly feet, and clanging rings, this zoo attraction will stimulate the senses with its sounds. Check out the contrasting patterns and colors to draw attention to this friend and provide lots to describe.
Manhattan Toy’s Put and Peek Birdhouse is a favorite of mine. What child wouldn’t like a portable playhouse for birds with a handle for safe travel? The many openings to put birds through, in, out, and doors to open and shut, provide the language of position and prepositions. Each little bird is distinct and can be described by its contrasting colors, size and shape. Little hands can easily grip these birds to start the fun.
Alex Jr. Round the Farm is a friendly four-sided ball with plenty of plush for a toddler’s grip. Each side sports the face of a different animal–cat, frog, pig and dog. Four faces combine contrasting patterns, textures and colors to entertain baby and invite exploration. Fuzzy protrusions, for ears, tails, or feet, are easy to grab to rotate the ball to meet a new barnyard friend. A little squeeze on the ear brings on a ribbit, meow, oink or woof, corresponding to the animal’s face. Babies love a squishy ball that they can easily grab, roll or manipulate to hear sounds, feel textures, see faces, or stick their finger in a fuzzy hole. An inherent preference for faces drives baby’s curiosity to explore, and eventually “speak” to a face on this delightful ball of fun.
Baby Cakes is a wonderfully rhythmic, bouncy tale about ones love for their baby, as a toddler expresses his love for his teddy bear. Providing plenty of opportunity to add gestures to the story, this book encourages bouncing on the lap, clapping, playing peek-a-boo, laughing, singing and hugging.
Taggies Big Soft Blocks are for grabbing, turning, tasting and exploring. From a shiny sunshine to a woolly sheep, each object combines a variety of shapes, textures and colors to invite a child to play. Plastic rings allow one to clip them together so they can tag along on a trip or a diaper bag.
Manhattan Toy Dress Up Princess is ready to play pretend beginning at 18 months. Practice with the buttons, snaps, zippers and ties or leave the dress up for later and have a pretend picnic, outing or school lesson with this new pal.
