Cold Weather Speech and Language Activities for Kids

By Fawn Gold, TLC SpeechTherapist

January in Colorado is a chilly month! And with cold temperatures, ice, and snow, comes the need for indoor activities with children. Find a whole month’s worth of indoor speech and language activities to help keep kids busy (and having fun!) while developing speech/language acquisition skills, and oral motor skills in the chart below:

Make hot chocolate and talk about each step involved in preparation (first, second, third, etc.).	When getting ready to go outside, talk about the purpose of coats, hats, scarves, and why we need to wear them.	Name four animals you see in the winter/cold climates and find pictures to discuss how they are similar and different from each other.	Act out and talk about the verbs jump, crawl, kick, throw, catch, and other movements that can be demonstrated in the living room.	Race cars on a table and talk about the differences between fast and slow.
Read a book about winter and ask your child to recall five details from the story.	Find items of different textures (rough, soft, hard, etc.) and put them in a bag and have your child guess what they are.	Use silverware to make a pattern and talk about what’s first, last, and what will come next.	Take turns thinking of things that are white like the snow. Where can you find each of the things you list?	Help your child find 10 words in a book or magazine that start with the same letter as your child’s name
Find five things in the kitchen and talk about how they are used, and what you can make with them.	Make snowballs of various sizes and talk about the differences between big and small.	Find all the tables in your house and talk about their sizes and shapes. Ask your child, what can you do on each table?	Make a grilled cheese sandwich and label and talk about the ingredients.	During a meal, include a variety of food textures and talk about soft, crunchy, chewy, etc.
Have your child help sort the laundry and match colors.	Write the names of all family members and then count the letters and talk about long and short.	Find several pairs of shoes and arrange them from biggest to smallest.	Have your child go to three rooms in your house and find five things in each room that are blue	While driving, ask your child about all of the different colors of houses, buildings, etc. that they see.
Walk between two buckets transferring cotton balls on a spoon and talk about full and empty.	Take turns hiding a small object under one of three bowls and guessing which bowl it’s under (1st, 2nd, or 3rd).	During bath time, talk about which toys or objects float and sink.	Use play-doh to make a snowman and talk about all of the body parts.	Take turns naming as many different animals as you can.

Are you looking for a pediatric speech, physical, or occupational therapist for your child? TLC Learning Center has a highly rated pediatric therapy center, in addition to our 4 Star ranked preschool education and infant care center. Call us at (303)776-7417) to learn more.

The Importance of Community Involvement and Non-profit Organizations

By Biff Chrisman, TLC Board Member

Winton Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” It is easy to get caught up the hustle and bustle of our lives and simply look past non-profit organizations and the benefit they provide to our communities. These benefits are far reaching, but can include children receiving better educations, homeless animals finding loving homes, children receiving quality medical care, and people in need being fed and sheltered. These are just a few examples of the many great services that are provided by non-profits. Our community is stronger because of the programs non-profits put in place, and help from the community, both financially and through volunteers, is always needed and appreciated.

We are all constantly adhering to busy schedules and the many demands pulling our attention and time in different directions. The programs in place in our community are only successful because of the caring individuals that find a little extra time to put the framework into place, implement the services, and stay the course to make sure that the mission and vision of an organization are being met. The success of the non-profits in our community can be accomplished by a group of people working together to better the lives of everyone that call the community home.

There are many great non-profit organizations in our community of Boulder County and Longmont that could use your help. Simply look at what is important to you and what you believe in, and reach out and give…maybe from your pocket… or maybe by volunteering an hour of your time to help the organization’s effort.  Everyone has needs, what can you do to help meet the needs of others in your community? Our community is only as strong as its members, and it takes a combined effort to ensure the future success for generations to come. 

I have been a resident of Longmont, CO for over 30 years and have seen first-hand the positive impacts that TLC Learning Center has had on both the community and children that I personally know.  I fully support providing all children in our community, with typical and non-typical needs, a higher standard of early education. It is a privilege and pleasure to be able to give back to my community through sitting on the Board of Directors of TLC Learning Center. Being a TLC Board Member lets me give back to the community that I love and call home. I challenge everyone in our community to find a way to do the same, whether by doing something small or something big. Doing SOMETHING is the greatest start.

It is time for all of us to reach out a helping hand and give back to our community. By doing so, we will all wake up feeling better about ourselves, and be happier with the person staring back at us in the mirror. One of our greatest leaders gave us this advice over 100 years ago:

“This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in”    – Theodore Roosevelt

Being a part of TLC Learning Center is one of the ways I hope to help make the world not just a good place to live in, but a great place to live in. I hope you’ll consider joining me in supporting TLC Learning Center, or another community non-profit that inspires passion through their vision of a better place for all of us.

Pediatric Physical Therapy Through a Child’s Eyes

By TLC Physical Therapist Candice Cartiaux, PT, DPT

“I am a kiddo and I have some special needs.  Every day starts with my mom showing me my daily schedule.  My schedule is made of labeled pictures that show me doing the different activities I will do today.  My mom puts them in the order we will do them, and sometimes I help choose what we will do first. What a sweet time each morning for my mom and me! I find freedom to relax and trust someone else to make my decisions when I am given instructions and shown what my day will be like.  I know what to expect, and I like that. 

A photo schedule by Milk Allergy Mom

Today is Thursday.  My mom shows me a picture of myself and my physical therapist as she tells me that I will have therapy this afternoon.  Every week on Thursdays, I have a friend who comes to my home to spend an hour with me.  Even though Mom calls it physical therapy, I really feel like it’s just my special play-time.  When my friend comes over, she always asks if I am ready to play, and even though I can’t tell her yes, my mouth smiles and lets her know that I am ready.  My friend prefers to play on the floor.  I enjoy this because I spend a lot of time sitting in my wheelchair at school during the day.  It feels good to stretch my body and have some space to move.  Though I cannot do much movement on my own, it is great to have the freedom to try. 

 

A child plays out of his wheelchair during a therapy appointment

My friend likes to take her shoes off and get on my gym mat with me.  My mom puts my favorite songs on the CD player while we play, and I like that my friend sings along to them.  Sweet music puts my body and heart at ease.  Even though we work through some of the same activities and tasks each week, my friend always tells me what she is about to do or help me do before she does it.  I don’t like to be surprised by touch or sound, so this gives me the chance to be mentally prepared and engaged.  

A kiddo plays with two therapists in his backyard at home

 

One of the biggest things my friend is helping me learn to do is roll over on my mat.  I am pretty good with using my neck to turn my head each direction, especially if there is a toy I like to see and hear.  I swear she can read my mind!  When I turn my head to look at my jingle bells, she says “bells” and shakes them.  I love being able to have a conversation with my eyes because it is very hard for me to form words with my mouth.  I know if I keep looking at the bells out of my reach, my friend knows that I really want to play with them.  She then uses the simple words, “Let’s Roll!”  I appreciate how she gives me more time to process what these words mean, because it takes a little longer for her message to move from my brain to my body.  Because I am already looking over, I can feel my body ready to roll, and we roll.  My body adjusts once I have rolled over, and from the praise I received from my friend, you would have thought I won an Olympic gold medal! It sure feels like it. 

My friend is not only helping me get stronger but also feel stronger.  The stronger I get, the more time I can have to play with my family.  And honestly, that is my favorite thing to do.”

Physical therapy can be a fun part of a child’s week, in addition to an important part, that helps them grow stronger and more independent. TLC therapists invite kids to PLAY with them during sessions! If you would like to learn more at pediatric physical therapy for children birth – 12, or about pediatric therapy integrated into a preschool setting, contact TLC at (303)776-7417

 

Early Intervention & Occupational Therapy

By Shari Karmen, TLC Therapeutic Services Manager & Occupational Therapist

I believe in Early Intervention; I don’t believe in the motto “wait and see what happens in a year.” Parents should trust their gut feeling when worried about their child’s development because parents know their children best. Early Intervention and screening for developmental delays and disabilities can make all the difference in setting a child on course for healthy growth.

Helping kids and their families screen for delays and address areas of concern to build strong, happy kids is what I love to do. I want all parents to know what Early Intervention is, and how it can benefit their child.

 My son, K, as a baby

When I think of the successes of Early Intervention in children I’ve worked with, so many faces come to mind. I remember when a little girl with a serious heart condition ate her first cheerio without choking, a huge feat for a toddler with a history of feeding difficulties and poor weight gain. I remember another little girl who was sent home from her long hospital stay with bottles and nipples from the hospital that were not available to the public. Her mom was panicked, but we worked together to find the right combination and a comfortable feeding position. Together, we were able to help the little girl move to a commercially available bottle and nipple. Her mom was overjoyed, and the little girl was able to eat a healthy amount and gain weight at a healthy pace, and that made me smile. I have so many stories like these.

I also have a personal story. My son, K, was delayed. I was probably the nightmare mom – the one who knew just enough to drive the doctors nuts. I brought my son in to the doctor’s at four days old and said he had low muscle tone. Of course at the time he was crying his eyes out and stiff as a board, making the process of observing him more difficult. But my pediatrician believed me when I voiced my concerns, and referred me to the Early Intervention program in Tucson.

K is truly an Early Intervention success story. We started Physical Therapy for his low muscle tone at six months, followed by Occupational Therapy, and then Speech Therapy. With help building his strength and muscle tone, K was able to sit upright, as well as crawl a crooked path at nine months. He walked at 18 months. He did not use verbal language, but learned some sign language between 12-18 months. He was very sensitive to movement, noises, and touch, which made car rides, going to the grocery store, and getting dressed a challenge. Our therapists worked with K and us on each of these difficulties.

My husband and I followed through with every recommendation and exercise demonstrated by our therapists, working with K at home following appointments. My son graduated from Physical Therapy, then Speech Therapy (speaking in full sentences), and lastly, Occupational Therapy within three years. I am happy to report that today he is a talented, soft spoken, and loving 18 year old, getting ready to leave the nest to pursue degrees in classical piano performance and music education. We couldn’t be prouder parents.

I know not everybody’s story is the same, but in all of my years working, I can honestly say that I always see positive changes with Early Intervention services. I was friends with my son’s therapists, and now I have made friends with my client’s families, and I love seeing the progress their children make long after they’ve graduated from Early Intervention therapies.

So, what is Early Intervention?

Commonly referred to as EI, Early Intervention is a nationwide system that helps identify, and then helps treat babies and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities. EI focuses on five areas of development:

• Physical (rolling, crawling, using hands to play with blocks)
• Cognitive (problem solving how to get to a toy, playing peek-a-boo, figuring out a toy)
• Communication (babbling, talking, following directions)
• Social/Emotional (feeling secure, smiling, playing with other children)
• Adaptive (eating, dressing, sensory processing)

Eligibility for EI services is determined by an evaluating team. If eligible, EI services can be put in place from birth up to a child’s third birthday.

Anyone can refer a child to EI. If you as a parent have a concern about your child’s development, you can call a center like TLC (a pediatric therapy office specializing in EI services and physical, occupational, and speech therapies for children up to 12), the local Child Find office through your school district, or the Part C agency in your county. Physicians and daycare providers are also great referral sources.

Early Intervention services include:

• Physical Therapy – to address gross motor skills such as rolling, crawling, and walking, issues with balance, strength, and coordination.

• Occupational Therapy – to address fine motor skills, sensory processing, self help skills (feeding, dressing), and play skills.

• Speech and Language Therapy – to address understanding of language, expression, social communication, and speech intelligibility.

EI is based on routines. That means that we, the therapists, help you, the parent, to provide therapeutic activities during your child’s daily routine. EI therapists can see children in the hospital, in homes, in childcare settings, and out and about in the community.

If you have any concerns about the development of your child, don’t hesitate to have your child screened. It’s easy, and can make a world of difference in helping your child be the happiest and healthiest baby it can be. I’m proud to say, Early Intervention works!