During my trip through the Toy Fair I was on the lookout for new baby toys that were stimulating and fun for building language. I look for toys that have a varied parts for baby to explore as well as lots for Mom or Dad to talk about and describe. Many of these stimulating toys can be used by speech therapists who work with the birth-three population to encourage vocalizing, gestures and finally words.
Playskool has introduced a new line of Gloworm products that follow in line with their old favorite toy. But Gloworm has been updated with new sensory features such as rings, a snail teether and crinkle flower to entertain. The light up face attracts babies and keeps their interest as they babble in conversation with their new little playmate. To see my full review go here.
Manhattan Toy has a new line of infant toys along the theme of Chicka Chicka Boom. They are bright, and eye catching, especially the ABC Stacker.
Yookidoo seems to keep producing new winners. Their clip on dolls for infants and toddlers now come in sets of pirates and princesses. Their big eyes invite conversation and attract kids.
I Play’s “My First Doll” comes complete with her bottle, diaper, bib, and teddy bear all to be carried in her bag. Perfect for beginning pretend play and learning language.
“If the Shape Fits eebee,” by eebee’s adventures, is a delightful plush friend with hook on shapes that can be used to encourage language with toddlers and preschoolers. The shapes can be attached most anywhere as you describe location.
Note: Sensory Gloworm is available in stores now, as well as eebee, but the other products will be available later in the year.
“Sensory Gloworm was provided by Playskool. The opinions expressed in this review are solely those of the author.
This is a topic that is being discussed since recent research was disclosed this week about the effect parental age has on the chances of having a child with autism.
Yesterday’s New York Times’ article explains the new research that claims that both parents’ ages are linked to the risk of autism.
In a study published in the journal Autism Research, the researchers looked at the effect of paternal and maternal age, being very specific about the risk factors when the parents were close to the same age versus one was considerably older or younger than the other.
The article reports that using a large sample size, the researchers found that “when the father was over 40 and the mother under 30, the increased risk was especially pronounced–59 percent greater than for younger men.” Previous research had already found a link between greater incidence of autism as the paternal age rose.
As a woman’s age rose, so did her risk for having a child with autism.
Each piece of research contributes to our knowledge about autism as we continue to try to put the puzzle pieces together. What causes it? What are the risk factors? What therapies are most effective and so on.
I, for one, appreciate the work being done to answer these questions.
Here are some more Valentines Day books to use in speech therapy to liven up your sessions:
Love, Splat by Scotton
Splat has made a special valentine for his secret crush, Kitten. A little bashful about giving it to her, he also discovers that his rival, Spike, has eyes for Kitten too. In fact, Spike has a bigger valentine for her than Splat. Losing his nerve, Splat drops his valentine for Kitten in the trash. Turns out that Kitten finds it, and prefers Spat over Spike inspite of his rumbling stomach and bendy tail.
- A cute story to use to re-tell, talk about the beginning, middle and end, as well as the problem and solution.
- Extend the story to talk about how kids treat you at school. What makes a friend? What do they appreciate in you?
- Make some valentines for friends. Talk about what you appreciate in each one and dictate or write a message telling them that.
- Talk about the difference between being good at something like soccer or drawing versus a character trait like generous, kind or helper
- Talk about the comparatives, “I love you higher than the highest bird ever flew,” or taller than the tallest tree.” Encourage the student to make their own comparatives: bigger than…., wider than……happier than….. and illustrate your words.
- Point out the descriptive words, “swirly skies,” “sneaky shadows” or “wavy waters.” Collect pictures or objects around the room and add a descriptive word to the noun. See how many you can brainstorm.
- Talk about places your student has gone, and add a descriptive word to it.
How funny that speech and language difficulties can even be involved in the naming of Apple’s new release, the iPad Tablet. According to the New York Times yesterday, in their article, “iPad Name Conjures Up More Than Intended,” the pronunciation of the /a/ sound in the iPad is too similar to the /o./ in iPod for people from Boston to Ireland to easily hear a distinction. Who didn’t check that out??? A good speech pathologist trained in foreign dialect could have advised Apple on the confusion.
The language piece that gets confusing is, that according to the article, some women are upset because of the awkward association between the name and feminine products. Naming consultants get paid a lot of money to come up with names that conjure up just the right associations. In this case, who would have thought?
Anyways, I think the iPad is a cool product and as soon as I get to know my precious iphone a little better, I will be ready to take on the iPad, controversy or not.
Let the party begin! Oh, but what about the cake? If you need some inspiration, pick up a copy of Melissa Barlow’s Easy Cut-Up Cakes for Kids.
Even if you feel a bit artistically challenged, you can create cute, simple, cakes to delight your child. Made from cake mixes, using just a few standard baking pans, these creations can vary from a pirate ship to a clown fish, or football. Simple patterns and instructions guide you through cutting and assembling your masterpiece to present at the party.
If you are teaching a lesson on diversity or just want to expose your child to different cultures and traditions, Running the Road to ABC is a delightful story with many opportunities to teach language concepts, vocabulary and inference. I just used it with a third grade student with language processing difficulties.
- Have your student compare their school experience with that of the children in the book (how they get to school, importance, their lunch, backpacks, clothes, food, physical structure). Even the children’s names are different.
- What does it mean that the roosters are still dreaming when moms wake their children up for school?
- Look at the foods they eat for breakfast–are any familiar to you? Look up the others and see what they are.
- What does it mean, “their feet remember the way in the dark” to school?
- Why are the kids running to school?
- What does it mean, “Their legs take cold showers of morning dew on the weeds along the narrow trails?”
- What happens to the bugs sleeping on the road?
- Why do local folks step aside when the kids approach?
- What do the children see and hear on their road to school? What do you see and hear on the way to school in the morning?
- How is their running over the sweet-potato mounds “like fish dancing with sea waves?”
- What do you dash across, leap over and climb?
- Why do the children check to see if “the sun is still asleep?” What does this tell them? Why are they happy about that?
- Why do they hurry if the sky becomes “the color of honey?”
- Why are sunlight and shade their only clocks?
- What makes you up in the morning and gets you to school on time?
- What evidence is there that the town is waking up too? What do they see?
- Why are the horse tamers the only ones to keep up with them?
- Why don’t the kids complain about the long run to school over rocky, rough terrain?
- Why don’t they stop when they get injured?
- What do they do if they are injured?
- What does it mean to run on the shadow of another child? Draw a picture to illustrate this.
- What do the children think about as they run?
- What motivated the children to come to school?
- Where did the author get the ideas for his story? Where did he grow up and go to school?
One of my favorite events of the season in Westport’s Holiday Art Trail, where local artists open their studios and invite visitors in to view their work and hear their stories. This is the third year of the Art Trail where finding the studios is like an adventure hunt. Some are tucked away next to streams, situated in an old barn behind a house, or down a windy road in the woods. Each of the artists are a delight to visit with as you experience their creativity.
I wish I had seen more children on the Art Trail, being exposed to art and the creative process. I’ve written before about how language is linked to art as kids create and talk through their masterpieces. Sometimes a child’s favorite part about writing a story is illustrating it. They come up with new ideas as they express themselves visually.
I was pleasantly surprised to see artist Karen Ford at the first studio stop. I had been impressed with Karen’s ceramics since I was introduced to her at this summer’s SoNo Arts Celebration in South Norwalk, Connecticut. She describes her work as ”functional porcelain with melted glass inlay thrown in a Japanese, contemporary style.” Translated, that is a beautiful combination of peaceful, aesthetic pieces to use or just enjoy looking at.
The next stop was Elise Black’s studio. This gracious multi-media artist encouraged us to wander through her home, taking in her impressive collection of works. From the custom glass backsplash in her kitchen to this vibrant collection of found objects, (one canvas included a bicycle wheel), you are visually entertained. After reading Elise’s bio, with a background in fashion illustration and textile design, it made sense that her studio had bags of fabric scraps and canvases using suede and other fabrics.
Keep your eye out for special programs during the holiday season to expose your kids to the arts. Don’t limit yourself to seemingly adult programs, just like you wouldn’t skip The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Ask your child to choose a favorite piece of art and ask them why? You might just learn something.
Okay, you have survived “Black Thursday,” and now it is off to “Cyber Monday.” Personally, I would much rather go online to shop than battle crowds but I do like to hold and feel what I am purchasing! So, if you are one to get your holiday shopping done tomorrow and want some great ideas for educational toys for gifts, here are a few helps:
- Best Language Toys and Games for Gift Giving, 2009. This is my annual post of my favorite toys that encourage language development for babies through 8 years. I especially liked the games this year. Last year’s list is made up of toys and games introduced in 2008.
- Parents’ Choice Awards’ Gift Finder allows you to choose a gift by the child’s age, interests, and your budget and you will get a list of top toys that have been tested by experts and recommended for their play value.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday with family and friends.
Sherry
