Putting Therapy Into Practice
Have your child(ren) help you set and clear the table. Ask your child what do we need to set the table? For example: How many plates do we need? How many cups do we need? Place the dishes, cups and utensils on the table and allow your child to set each place setting. After the meal is completed, have your child bring his/her plate to the garbage can and empty the remaining food into the trash. Then, he/she should place their plate in the sink and/or the dishwasher.
Monthly Activity
Planting Flowers
You will need the following items:
- a small pot
- potting soil
- flower seeds
Give your child a cup to scoop the soil out of the bag. Fill the pot 3/4 of the way with soil. Your child can now drop a handful of seeds into the soil. Scoop one more cup of soil and place over the seeds. Moisten the soil with a cup of water. Place the pot in a sunny location inside. Make sure to save at least one seed for comparison later. You can check the pot with your child daily and talk about:
- how the soil feels (wet/dry)
- what the seeds need to grow? (water, sun)
- what the plant looks like (big/small)
- compare/contrast the seed vs. the plant (big/small, color, leaves/no leaves, flower)
- how the flower smells (good/yucky)
Kara’s Recommended Toy
Create & Play Dinosaur Construction Set is a fun activity that can help build a child’s executive functioning skills such as working memory/short term memory, shifting attention, and inhibitory/impulse control. These kid friendly, mechanical screwdrivers, which contain 2 drill settings (forward/reverse switch), allow opportunities for problem solving during play.
Language Opportunities:
- Question Formation: Ask who goes now? what do you need? which one do you want?
- Answering: In response to who goes now? you and your child can say I do, you do, me, you. In response to what do you need? you and your child can say I need ___, I don’t need it. In response to which one do you want? you and your child can say I want (the)___.
- Turn-Taking: Encourage turn-taking with the screwdriver by saying (it’s) your turn, (it’s) my turn.
- Commenting: When it’s your turn to use the screwdriver, make comments such as I am turning, I am using it, I need it, you need it, it’s loose, it’s tight, it’s fun, it’s off/on.
- Problem Solving: Try to “create” a problem by talking through the situation. Depending on your child’s language skills, you can ask open ended questions such as, Which bit do I need to use? Which tool do I need to use?
Upcoming Events
- National Cherry Blossom Festival through April 17th
- April 9th from 1:00-9:00: Southwest Waterfront Fireworks and Festival
- April 13th at 11:00: Thomas Jefferson Birthday wreath-laying ceremony
- April 16th-17th: Arlington Festival of the Arts
- April 23rd from 10:00-3:00: Touch a Truck in Sterling