Downey Speech Therapy

🍁Fall Fun 🍂
Use this changing season to inspire some unbe-LEAF-able free artwork! Create nature artwork using what your child can find outside. Go on a scavenger hunt for art supplies, such as leaves, flowers, sticks, stems, and more!

Opportunities for learning and growth:
🍁 Label colors
🍂 Discuss various textures
🌼 Teach “on” vs. “off” with artwork paper
🌿 Prompt “help” throughout as needed
🍃 Teach prepositions while looking for supplies (in, on, behind, below, etc.)

https://www.realredridinghoods.com/fall-leaves-crafts-for-children/ (https://www.realredridinghoods.com/fall-leaves-crafts-for-children/)

Fall leaves crafts for children | Real Red Riding Hoods forest school Fall leaves crafts for children Crafts August 28, 2020 admin With the hot and dry weather conditions it seems like the leaves started turning colors early this year. And as leaves that started changing colors will fall off shortly anyway, we feel collecting them for crafts doesn’t go against “Le...

🍁Fall Fun 🍂
Fall is in full swing! Take this time to explore the changing season around you to create a free and educational science activity for your toddler, sink or float! Go on a nature walk and collect fall items, such as leaves, acorns, pumpkins, sticks and more! Experiment to see which items sink or float in water.

Opportunities for learning and growth:
🍂 Teach fall vocabulary
🍁 Discuss “big” vs. “little”
🍂 Demonstrate “heavy” vs. “light”
🍁 Discuss “wet” vs. “dry”

https://mrsplemonskindergarten.com/2017/10/preschool-fall.html (https://mrsplemonskindergarten.com/2017/10/preschool-fall.html)

Preschool: Fall - Mrs. Plemons' Kindergarten I LOVE fall and all of the fun events that come with it. Wait it is fall right? I mean it is still in the high 70s here which is crazy for the beginning of October in Wisconsin, but I will take it while I can because winter will be here before we know it. […]

🎃Pumpkin Palooza🍁
It is finally cooling off and beginning to feel like fall, which means pumpkin season is here! Use the link to find pumpkin patches in your area. Engage your child this fall season by making them apart of picking out which pumpkins to take home to decorate or crave!

Opportunities for learning and growth:
🎃 Teach “big” vs. “small”
🍁 Discuss how colors come in different shades
🎃 Count the number of pumpkins your family picked out

Northwestern Pennsylvania Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More - Find Halloween and Fall Fun! Complete list of 2023 pumpkin patches, corn mazes and other Halloween activities in (and the the website has rest of the United States, Canada, and other countries) along with pumpkin carving tips, the history of Halloween, corn mazes, spook houses, instructions on how to make a pumpkin pie from a p...

🍁Fall Fun 🍂
As summer draws to a close, and the leaves begin to change fall is right around the corner. Use the changing leaves around you to create a free and educational activity for your toddler, cutting leaves! This is a great fine motor activity to do together!

Opportunities for learning and growth:
✂️ Review colors with leaves
🍁 Sort by size
✂️ Practice “help” during cutting activity
🍁 Teach prepositions while looking for leaves (in, on, behind, below, etc.)

https://happytoddlerplaytime.com/leaf-cutting-tray/ (https://happytoddlerplaytime.com/leaf-cutting-tray/)

LEAF CUTTING TRAY - Happy Toddler Playtime A quick and easy fine motor scissor skills activity cutting leaves. It's a great Fall activity to do after a nature walk.

🚌School Prep📚
Make learning fun at home to prepare your child for school! Teach your child to count and keep them engaged by using fun songs! Click the link to find a list of counting songs for toddlers.

Opportunities for learning and growth:
1️⃣ Count using your fingers
2️⃣ Tap each object when you count them
3️⃣ Count toys, food, stairs, etc.
4️⃣ Use consistent phrases during play such as “1, 2, 3…go!”

https://www.prekinders.com/counting-songs-kids/ (https://www.prekinders.com/counting-songs-kids/)

Counting Songs for Kids These Counting Songs for kids will help preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten age children learn numbers and counting skills while having fun. Visit

🚌School Prep📚
As August draws to a close, parents and children are preparing to head to school! Do you have a toddler who is headed for daycare for the first time? Or a toddler who will be three and headed to preschool?

Consider these developmental milestones to help prep your child for scuess in the classroom!

Milestone for 30 months:
📕 Says two or more words together
📗 Names things in a book when asked
📘 Uses things to pretend play
📙 Demonstrates simple problem solving

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-30mo.html (https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-30mo.html)

What developmental milestones is your 30-month-old reaching? Check the milestones your child has reached by the end of 2 months. Take this checklist with you and talk with your child’s doctor at every visit about the milestones your child has reached and what to expect next.

🚗 Summer Trips 📚
Consider using your time while traveling to set a foundation for literacy for your child! Click the link to find five different types of interactive and QUIET books that will keep your child entertained and learning while traveling this summer!

Opportunities for learning and growth:
📕 Learn to turn pages left to right
📗 Practice holding a writing utensil
📘 Exposure to upper & lowercase letters
📙 Learn to hold books in the correct orientation

https://undomesticmom.com/5-things-to-do-on-a-long-car-ride-ages-3-6/ (https://undomesticmom.com/5-things-to-do-on-a-long-car-ride-ages-3-6/)

5 Long-Lasting Car Activities for Kids Do you have a road trip planned this summer? Worried about how you'll survive? Check out my top long-lasting car activities for kids!

🚗Summer Tips 🎶
Whether you are taking a short road trip or driving across states, it is important to have good tunes! Consider playing some finger play songs for young children while driving. These types of songs are a great way to keep children engaged and are very educational!

Opportunities for learning and growth:
🚙 Sustained attention
🎵 Sequencing and memory
🚙 Body part Identification
🎵 Sets the foundation for verbal imitation
🚙 Practices imitation for learning social gestures

https://wootherapy.com/my-25-favorite-songs-with-hand-motions/?v=7516fd43adaa (https://wootherapy.com/my-25-favorite-songs-with-hand-motions/?v=7516fd43adaa)

25 Favorite Songs with Hand Motions to Sing with Kids Here is my 25 favorite songs with hand motions that are perfect for at home or school. They will keep your kids engaged and building skills for hours!

🚗Summer Tips ✈️
Summer often means family trips and traveling! While traveling can be exciting, it can be challenging for young children. Click the link to find fun, educational, and QUIET travel toys for your little ones this summer!

Affordable, quiet toys:
📚 Books from home
🧮 A calculator with big buttons
📖 Look & Find book form the library
🍽️ Snacks, snacks, and snacks!
📸 Printed photos of family and friends in a dollar store photo album

https://www.takethetruck.com/blog/budget-travel-toys-toddler (https://www.takethetruck.com/blog/budget-travel-toys-toddler)

Keep Your Sanity With These Road Trip Activities for Toddlers | Take The Truck Looking for the best road trip toys for toddlers? Or simple road trip activities for toddlers that will keep everyone happy during your long car ride? This post is filled with great ways to make your next family road trip easier.

☀️Summed Fun☀️

Today is the grand re-opening of the expERIEnce Children’s Museum! The Museum will be open from 11am-7pm today and will feature:

☀️A new entrance and lobby
☀️ A new “town” to explore
☀️ The 2nd largest water table in the country
☀️ Accessibility and inclusivity

If you cannot make it today, stop by anytime!

Monday 10-5
Tuesday CLOSED
Wednesday 11-7
Thursday 10-5
Friday 10-5
Saturday 10-5
Sunday 1-7

https://erie.macaronikid.com/articles/6489ed69ee537d6814461dbb/get-a-look-inside-the-experience-childrens-museum-opening-june-21 (https://erie.macaronikid.com/articles/6489ed69ee537d6814461dbb/get-a-look-inside-the-experience-childrens-museum-opening-june-21)

Get a Look Inside: The expERIEnce Children's Museum Opening June 21 | Macaroni KID Erie Macaroni KID Erie was excited to get a sneak peek of the brand new expERIEnce Children's Museum, which is opening June 21!We were blown away by what an a…

☀️Summer Fun ☀️

Summer is finally here in Erie! Take advantage of this beautiful weather and enjoy some fun in the water. Click the link to find information for public pools, splash pads, creeks, and more!

Opportunities for learning and growth:
💦 Work on social skills with peers
💧Teach the difference between “stop” and “go” while playing in the water
💦 Label “hot” vs. “cold”
💧Label body parts while applying sunscreen

Places to Swim, Splash and Cool Off in the Erie Area | Macaroni KID Erie Looking for the perfect spots in Erie to help your kids beat the heat? If you're unsure where to go, we've got you covered! Check out our comprehensiv…

Happy Better Speech and Hearing Month!

Do you have concerns with your child’s speech and/or language? Use this chart below as a reference to help determine if your child could benefit from services. Do not wait for your child to grow out of it, seek help with Early Intervention. Benefits include:

✔️Early treatment is most effective
✔️Therapists come to you
✔️Early Intervention is FREE
✔️Prepare your child for kindergarten/preschool
✔️Set your child up for school and social success

You do not need a referral from your doctor for Early Intervention!

If you are interested in services contact Erie County Care Management (ECCM).

814-602-7516
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5pm

May is Better Speech and Hearing Month!

Do you have concerns with your child’s speech, language, hearing, and/or feeding/swallowing? Do not wait for your child to grow out of it, seek help with Early Intervention. Benefits include:

✔️Early treatment is most effective
✔️Therapists come to you
✔️Early Intervention is FREE
✔️Prepare your child for kindergarten/preschool
✔️Set your child up for school and social success

You do not need a referral from your doctor for Early Intervention!

If you are interested in services contact Erie County Care Management (ECCM).

814-602-7516
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5pm

Are you in need of child-friendly activities in the Erie community? Look no further! Click our link below for a calendar for family friendly fun this month! 🌸🌳☀️

https://www.downeyspeechtherapy.com/ei-events-calendar (https://www.downeyspeechtherapy.com/ei-events-calendar)

General 2 — Downey Speech Therapy

Growth & Development

Children grow and develop at a very fast rate when they are young. Consider using BabyNavigator to track your little ones development with growth charts for each month ranging from 1month-24month!

https://scgc.babynavigator.com/ages/1-2Months (https://scgc.babynavigator.com/ages/1-2Months)

Social Communication Growth Charts

Are you in need of child-friendly activities in the Erie community? Look no further! Click our link below for a calendar for family friendly fun this month! 🌹🌻🌷🌼

General 2 — Downey Speech Therapy

Are you in need of child-friendly activities in the Erie community? Look no further! Click our link below for a calendar for family friendly fun this month! 🍀🍀🍀

https://www.downeyspeechtherapy.com/ei-events-calendar (https://www.downeyspeechtherapy.com/ei-events-calendar)

General 2 — Downey Speech Therapy

STEM

This is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Consider creating a spark for your child in these exciting education areas through interactive activities! Try bringing the snow inside with this fun science experiment activity, Magic Snowballs!

Opportunities for learning and growth:
❄️ Discuss different textures
🧑‍🔬Model “first/then” sentences
❄️ Adress color identification
🧑‍🔬 Build on delayed gratification throughout the experiment

https://entertainyourtoddler.com/magic-snowballs/ (https://entertainyourtoddler.com/magic-snowball

How to Make Magic Snowballs That Won't Melt Indoors 2023 - Entertain Your Toddler Play with magic snow indoors and make these magic snowballs. One ingredient makes these snowballs foam and fizz. Try this indoor activity for winter fun!

The month of Love! ❤️

Remember, empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Expand on teaching your little on about empathy by crafting together! Create a big hug card for anyone who might need an extra special hug!

Opportunities for learning and growth:
🫂 Discuss why someone needs the card
❤️ Pick your card recipient together
🫂 Give examples of how hugs make you feel
❤️ Practice putting yourself in another’s shoes

https://munofore.com/a-big-hug-card-craft-for-kids/ (https://munofore.com/a-big-hug-card-craft-for-kids/)

A Big Hug Card Craft for Kids A Big Hug Card craft for kids - simple card to show they care about someone. Sympathy Card. Mother's Day Card, Grandparents Day, Father's Day. Valentines

The month of Love! ❤️

In this season of love, consider working on developing and teaching empathy with your child. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. This lays a great foundation for social skills for your child!

Opportunities for learning and growth:
❤️ Show your child empathy
💛 Talk about feelings
💚 Role play
💙 See your child’s viewpoint
💜 Practice putting themselves in other’s shoes

https://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2012/12/teaching-kids-empathy.html?fbclid=IwAR1u45eZZTtSefeG8cleyxqQWkoDCmynSYxHBWONSxWedwQmm2t0SUgINBs

Teaching kids empathy Tips for how to teach young children empathy. Teach kids about giving by example and tips about how to teach our kids empathy.

Are you in need of child-friendly activities in the Erie community? Look no further! Click our link below for a calendar for family friendly fun this month!

https://www.downeyspeechtherapy.com/ei-events-calendar (https://www.downeyspeechtherapy.com/ei-events-calendar)

General 2 — Downey Speech Therapy

Baby It’s Cold Outside!

Cold weather means lots of warm layers! While dressing your child, consider making this daily routine an opportunity to improve speech skills!

Opportunities for learning and growth:
🧤Directions: practice one-step directions
🧣Label: name clothing and colors
🧦 Verb: teach “help” as needed
🥾 Requests: expand to simple “help” phrases

Are you in need of child-friendly activities in the Erie community? Look no further! Click our link below for a calendar for family friendly fun this January!

General 2 — Downey Speech Therapy

Speaking and Listening

Enjoy a FREE winter celebration at the Tom Ridge Center this Saturday, Dec 17th. Work with your child on listening and following one-step directions during the craft and learning stations!

Opportunities for learning and growth:
❄️ Repeat directions using simple language

🎉 Reinforce directions by using prompts, such as pointing to items named in the direction

❄️ Model following the direction for your child

🎉 Acknowledge your child’s efforts to follow the directions

FREE: Winter Celebration at TREC | Macaroni KID Erie Celebrate the arrival of winter to our region in this event throughout the TREC including crafts and learning stations. Create natural ornaments and le…

Reading Informational Text

As families began to celebrate the holidays, consider reading a Christmas or other holiday book. If this is your family, consider reading a holiday book to your child that has an accompanying movie. After reading the book, watch the movie with your child and discuss the following:

🎬 Compare the book to the movie
🍿Create a game to find all the characters during the movie
🎬 Ask opened ended questions such as what should happen next in the movie according to the book
🍿Attend to children’s questions and comments while reading and watching the movie, pausing the movie as needed

5 Christmas Books That Have Been Turned Into Movies There have been a bunch of really fantastic Christmas books that have been turned into movies, including The Polar Express. Check out the full list here.

Reading Informational Text

During this time of year, many people reflect on what they are thankful for. Books can be a great place to start teaching your child about what it means to be thankful and grateful.

Opportunities for learning and growth:
📖 Tell your child what you are thankful for prior to reading the book
📚Compare what you are thankful for to the character
📖 After giving examples, ask your child what they are thankful for
📚Find physical objects that the characters are thankful for in your home mentioned in the book

Children's Books About Gratitude That Inspire Thankfulness | RoP Children's books about gratitude can help parents and educators raise grateful kids! Each of these picture books on gratitude for children provides simple lessons to help our children find thankfulness at thanksgiving, and for life! Reading thankful books for kids is an easy way to encourage an atti...

Reading Informational Text

Spark critical thinking in your child through reading books! While you may already have many picture books, consider adding books with real photography to help your child make the connection between what you are reading and what they see during daily routines.

Opportunities for learning and growth:
📖 Ask “who” or “what” questions
📷 Compare pictures to real objects
📖 Describe the picture when reading
📷 Read the same book repeatedly and check for comprehension

15 Board Books with Photography I'm always looking for different blog post themes and thought a post with board books that use photography would be a fun one. Comment below with your favorites---I'd love to hear what they are. 1. May We Have Enough To Share by Richard Van Camp A board book that celebrates thankfulness, the beauty....

Phonological Awareness

Enjoy this spooky time of year with Halloween books for your little one! Books are a great way to begin to introduce sound awareness to your child to set a foundation for literacy.

Opportunities for learning and growth:
🎃 Identify sounds made by different characters

🎃 Read books that have rhyme and repetition

🎃 Encourage your child to repeat sounds and words

12 Non Scary Halloween Books For Kids Under 5 Looking for a non-scary Halloween book for your toddlers, preschooolers or kindergarteners? These 12 Halloween books for kids are cute, fun & family friendly.