Putting Therapy Into Practice
Placing items into categories or groups is an important skill that can be taught very early to young children. We use categories daily to help organize ourselves without even realizing we are using this skill. For example, when you go to the grocery store, the aisles are grouped (vegetables, fruit, meat, etc.) and the same for a clothing store (pants, shirts, socks, etc.). Books are grouped into different genres (mysteries, graphic novels, etc.). Our world is filled with groups and subgroups. Thus, it’s important for children to be introduced to groups at a young age. As an activity, sing the song Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes and point to each part of your body as you go.
Head and shoulders, knees and toes
Knees and toes
Head and shoulders, knees and toes
Knees and toes
And eyes and ears
And mouth and nose
Head and shoulders, knees and toes
Knees and toes
- Group: Ask: “What group do these all go in?” Body parts
- Or, “Head, shoulders, knees and toes are all ______”
- Ask: “Can you name another part of your body?”
*If your child is having difficulty generating the name of another body part, ask them to point to one (e.g. foot, hand, fingers, eyebrows, forehead).
- Function: Ask: “What do we do with our _____?” or “What do we use to see/smell/walk/etc?”
- For a more challenging question, “What is something you can put on your ______?”
- Feet-shoes, hands-mittens, head-hat, etc.
Activity of the Month
Planting and growing seeds is a fun way to help our kids develop speech and language as well as fine motor skills. When choosing what to plant, talk with your child about what group the seed/plant belongs in such as: flower, vegetable, fruit, herb, etc.
You will need:
- Cups for planting
- Spoons for scooping
- Potting soil
- Grass seed
- Water/Spray bottle for water
- Markers, googly eyes, other decorative materials
Before you plant the seeds, decorate your cup (if you want to!) and make a silly face.
- Scoop the soil into the cup ( about ¾ full)
- Sprinkle grass seed on top of the dirt
- Spray a little bit of water on top of the dirt/seeds- good for fine motor!
- Place the cups in a sunny place a water daily.
- Watch as your seed starts to sprout.
Some ideas after your seed begins to sprout:
- Talk about the changes (color, height, etc.).
- Measure how much it grows each week.
- If your child chooses to plant grass, when it gets tall enough, give it a haircut!
Speak with your PROMPT© trained therapist to determine which words to use in the activity. Some lexicon ideas include: you do, you do it, I do, I do it, let me do it, I need seeds, put it in, cut it, mow (if “mowing” instead of a haircut).
Upcoming Events
- May 19-May 20 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Loudon County Fair
- May 19th from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m- Touch a Truck in Fairfax (8550 Arlington Blvd.)
- May 16th at 10:30- Outdoor reading, singing and and fun with DC Public Library at the Plaza at City Center (every Thursday through September 27th)