In some professional groups, there is a language development misconception that using sign language or other visuals will inhibit the ability to learn to talk. Trusted professionals who give out inaccurate advise, although well-meaning, do a disservice to children. My experience with a professional’s language development misconception: My first two children met and often exceeded […]
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Waldorf education is known for integrating art throughout the school day. High quality block crayons are used to 1) explore lines, curves, and shapes and 2) for creating beautiful masterpieces to go along with stories and lessons. This block crayon tin contains 8 crayons and costs $14.95. Although I love the idea of high quality block crayons, […]
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On Independence Day we celebrate the birth of our nation, the United States of America. This holiday is commonly observed with fireworks, parades, and barbecues. Citizens often show patriotism by displaying the American flag on this national holiday. Celebrate Independence Day with children by completing a fun art project. My toddlers love to dot paint, so I […]
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Structured teaching adds visual clarity to a task. Many alphabet toys can be turned into structured teaching activities. In this activity, the LeapFrog Letter Factory toy was given visual organization as a structured teaching task. Learning objectives: Use 1-to-1 correspondence to move objects Use fine motor skills to place letters in the slot Exposure to letter names […]
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A literacy rich environment is one that exposes children to print from an early age. Access to books, educational toys, and other writing at home all contribute to a literacy rich environment. Care givers who spend time talking to, playing with, and reading to children will maximize the benefits of early exposure to print. Alphabet toys […]
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As a parent, I have found that many people do not know how to work effectively with my autistic children. My children respond well to visuals and become easily bored. Situations that rely on solely on auditory input (sitting still, listening, and discussions) are very difficulty for them. Typical discipline approaches will not work and may even […]
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Reading fluency is the ability to read accurately at the rate of natural speech. A fluent reader recognizes each word by sight. The words in sentences and paragraphs are quickly grouped together allowing the reader to gain meaning from the information. What is the big deal about reading fluency? People who read fluently read with minimal […]
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Many children who have sensory sensitivities also have a restricted diet. Many textures, tastes, and smells are aversive for them. Getting a child a balanced diet becomes a high stress priority. The suggestion that they will grow out of it or that they will eat if they are hungry enough just does not apply to […]
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I have been intrigued by the classical education movement. A classical education is one that bases learning off of three stages: 1) the Grammar stage, 2) the Logic stage, and 3) the Rhetoric stage. Children below 5th grade are in the grammar stage. In this stage, facts, general knowledge, and memorization are required. During the […]
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Many children do not eat enough vegetables. It is recommended that children eat 3 servings per day. If your child has sensory sensitivities to food, providing them with a balanced diet may seem impossible. This “deceptive” recipe sneaks spinach into yummy oatmeal bars. The cooked and cooled oatmeal bars will not have any spinach flavor. They […]
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