The post Let’s Go To The Grocery Store appeared first on Super Simple.

The post Star Breathing Activity appeared first on Super Simple.

Nothing can replace hand washing when it comes to staying clean and sanitary, but if you’re out and about it’s a great idea to carry some hand sanitizer just in case. Our spritzer version can be used on hands or surfaces as a quick disinfectant spray.

Here’s what you’ll need to make 1 1/3 cups:

• 1 cup 99% isopropyl alcohol 
• 1 tablespoon 3% hydrogen peroxide 
• 1 teaspoon glycerin 
• ¼ cup boiled water that has cooled OR sterile distilled water 
• Bowl 
• Funnel 
• Measuring cup 
• Spatula or a whisk of mixing 
• Spray bottles – sterilized and dry

STEPS:

Pour the alcohol, peroxide, glycerin and water into a bowl. Mix thoroughly with a whisk.  Use a funnel to pour into your sanitized spray bottles. TIP: You can add 2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil if you like, just make sure it’s not an allergen for your family first. Remember, hand washing is always the best practice. Stay clean, Super Simple Family!

The post DIY Hand Sanitizer Spray appeared first on Super Simple.

Can you imagine just for one moment, if instead of all those apocalyptic films of humanity trying to survive a zombie contagion, that instead the future held a worldwide kindness contagion? Kindness and love spreading over the Earth in a beautiful ripple effect.

Think back to a time when you were feeling low, down in the dumps and generally struggling to rise out of it. Then out of the blue, a complete stranger does something or says something so kind that it literally blows away your cobwebs. It takes you completely by surprise and snaps you out of the all consuming storm clouds that were revolving around your head. Suddenly you can feel your mood lifting as you walk away wondering how lovely and unexpected of that person to bestow this random act of kindness. That feeling, right then? Bottle it. Bottle it and then open that feeling up again and give it away to someone else. Imagine if everyone released that feeling to the next person. Think about a bottle of perfume. That beautiful scent was not made to simply sit in that glass container just to be looked at. That scent was meant to be worn and inhaled by other people as you walk past. That lingering scent left clinging to the air once you have left, leaving a trail in its wake. This bottled kindness contagion could spread like wildfire and soon everyone will have experienced an act of kindness from someone they don’t know.

The Kindness Rocks Project was created by Megan Murphy, a life coach from Massachusetts. The premise is simple, to spread kindness to others by painting rocks with encouraging words on them, words of affirmation, words of life and love and leaving them for people to find. Anyone can take part and getting your children involved is a wonderful way to teach about random acts of kindness. This movement has captured the hearts and minds of thousands not only in America but the whole world.

Children learn by watching and then repeating what they see themselves. Ever heard your child repeating something you’ve said or say regularly in their role playing? They are making sense of the world around them. So these Kindness Rocks are a great way to teach them to start to think beyond themselves. Children for the most part will naturally focus on their immediate loved ones, family and friends. This act begins to encourage them to think beyond themselves to those outside their circle and the impact it can have on others to be kind. These rocks illustrate the power of words and how they can affect those around us. So join with us and create your very own Kindness Rocks to give away. Who knows, you may even find that it becomes a monthly family activity!

Some examples of what to use to decorate your rocks:

• Paint
• Paint pens
• Permanent markers
• Glitter
• Nail varnish and water
• Black paint and metallic pens

All should be sealed with clear varnish spray of a Mod Podge glue to make sure they’ll last in all weathers.

Making Kindness Rocks like ours

What you will need:

• Smooth rocks big enough to write on
• Paint (or any other material you wish to decorate them with)
• Paintbrush
• Sharpie black pen (any other permanent marker will do)
• Mod Podge glue
• Positive words!

Have a discussion with your children before you start or while you are collecting your stones about kindness and ask some open ended questions such as:

• What does kindness mean?
• Can you give a few examples of being kind?
• How does it feel to receive kindness?
• Does that feeling make you want to be kind to someone else?
• Do you think if someone was feeling sad, saying something kind could make them feel a little better and make their day not so sad?

Instructions:

1. Have a discussion about kindness with your children. Use the above questions to guide the conversation.
2. Together think about some nice things to write on the stones.
3. Go out and find some rocks together. They need to be big enough to write on them and with at least one smooth surface for the writing.
4. Clean them and dry them.
5. Paint them and let them dry.



6. Write on them.
7. Put them in a bag or basket and disperse them around your neighbourhood for people to find.

As always we want to see your creations, so tag us in your social media!

The post Spreading Joy #6 – Kindness Rocks appeared first on Super Simple.

Spring has sprung! Or almost, at least! When I think of Spring and Summer time I think of being outside, swimming, enjoying the sunshine and when it comes to food – I think of cooling, delicious, healthy foods that work well for ourselves and our children’s bodies.

When we eat foods that are local and in season, our bodies can digest them much easier because they are what is natural in our environment around us at that given time. When we start eating according to our environment around us, we produce the enzymes necessary to break these foods down properly. Our body wants to be in homeostasis – a state of balance – so when we give it the opportunity to do this it will thank us!

In Spring and Summer, our bodies crave cooling foods that will help produce an alkaline internal environment. Hot, fiery, warming foods are for fall and winter, and can actually produce an acidic environment for our guts during the summer months

Here is a list of foods that you will start seeing pop up at your local farmer’s markets and health food stores this Spring/Summer season. Some foods are in season in almost year round, like honey!

May

• Rhubarb
• Asparagus

June

• Strawberries
• Rhubarb
• Peas
• Lettuce
• Cherries
• Beets
• Beans
• Asparagus

July

• Tomatoes
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Potatoes
• Plums
• Peppers
• Peas
• Peaches
• Onions
• Garlic
• Melon
• Lettuce
• Corn
• Cucumber
• Celery
• Cauliflower
• Carrots
• Broccoli
• Beets
• Beans
• Watermelon

August

• Tomatoes
• Squash
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Potatoes
• Plums
• Peppers
• Peas
• Pears
• Peaches
• Garlic
• Onion
• Nectarines
• Eggplant
• Cucumber
• Zucchini
• Cabbage
• Apples

Watermelon Salad Summer Recipe

1 watermelon, chopped into cubes
1 red onion, small slices
1 cup feta cheese
1 cup nectarines, optional
2 cups arugula
Dressing: 1 cup balsamic with 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tsp dijon mustard

Mix ingredients together and enjoy a refreshing, delicious salad with flavour!

Delicious Warm Weather Snack and Meal Ideas:

• Fruit salad bowl: mix a variety of in season fruits together
• Zucchini and cucumber chips
• Apple with honey or peanut butter
• Stuffed peppers
• Pea soup
• Bacon wrapped asparagus
• Broccoli and cauliflower salad or casserole
• Caprese salad
• Eggplant pasta
• Pears in a bowl with cinnamon

I hope that you and your family enjoy the beautiful warm weather that is to come!

The post Healthy Habits for Warm Weather appeared first on Super Simple.

Autism. Seeing or hearing this word can impact people in so many different ways. For some, it’s an everyday word. It may remind parents of their child and light up their face. Or it may be a word that describes who they are as a person. For others, it might remind them of their child’s struggles and bring anxiety. For many families, it’s a feared word because they aren’t sure what it might mean for their child. Many parents may wish to know more about Autism and some may avoid the topic all together. It’s definitely an emotionally charged word for many – and this is okay. For me, this is a word I am passionate about. Children on the Autism Spectrum make me happy, they challenge me, they make me laugh, they can frustrate me, they motivate me to be a better speech language pathologist, they bring so much joy into my life, and are my absolute favorite children to work with!

Most people have heard of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and many have heard the most common signs and can probably share some facts about Autism. This really is great because it means knowledge is increasing! In spite of this, there is still so much that is misunderstood about Autism. This is why April is not just about increasing awareness and learning more about Autism, but more importantly, increasing acceptance for those that are neurodiverse and have brains that are simply wired differently than others.

One of the main reasons Autism is misunderstood is because it is often thought of as this major visible difference. People expect those on the spectrum to look differently or behave differently, or act in ways that could be considered “stereotypical” for ASD. And while some people on the spectrum do, this just isn’t true for everyone. This thought process is likely due to the fact that we often hear about children who are on extreme ends of the spectrum. These are the children with cognitive delays or who are significantly impacted by their autism, unable to speak, avoidant of other people, and frequently engage in what is viewed as unusual behavior. We also hear about kids that are geniuses and have amazing savant skills. While both of these are examples of what people on the Autism Spectrum may look like, the truth is, the majority of individuals fall somewhere in the middle. When talking about ASD, remember that no two people will present the same, and in fact, could appear and behave very different from one another. Additionally, a person’s characteristics will change over time, and as a child gets older it is expected that their differences be displayed in alternative ways, some of which will appear more typical.

So what exactly is Autism? Autism is a neurodevelopmental disability that is characterized by differences in the development of language and social communication combined with repetitive behaviors and/or restricted interests. It is important to note a diagnosis involves a combination of these characteristics, and differences, although they could be subtle, would need to be present in all three key areas. Let’s break these areas down to get an idea just how these differences might present, but please note that one would not need to have all or even most characteristics in each area, these are just some common examples for how Autism can present in different individuals.

Differences in Language:

While not necessarily a requirement for an autism diagnosis, a first clue to a child being on the spectrum is often a delayed onset of talking. It is also common for kids to initially begin talking and then lose words or skills around 18-24 months. Some children may have advanced language skills and even use unexpected vocabulary words. A child may repeat what you say exactly the way you say it, which is called echolalia. They may repeat things they hear on tv, and some parents describe this as talking like a “parrot”. Some kids may speak in gibberish, also called jargon, and may combine nonwords with real words. Children may struggle with pronouns (I, you, he, she) or prepositions (on, under, off). Often those on the spectrum may speak in an unusual pitch or tone, sing-song voice, or have an atypical quality to their voice. Many children on the spectrum will develop what are known as splinter skills in their language. This may present as the child who knows all of their letters, numbers, shapes, colors, names of construction vehicles/dinosaurs, or can label many pictures or items around them, but struggles communicating their wants and needs, or combining words for everyday functional communication. Making requests can be particularly difficult, and it may be that children will point, whine, or cry rather than say words that they already know. Some kids will use language in a repetitive manner; such as saying exclamations like “Oh no! Oh dear!” frequently and with the same tone each time. Additionally, decreased pointing and gesture use can be a characteristic of Autism. A child who uses others’ hands to do things like turn pages in a book or activitate toys, or pulling parents towards a desired item in order to get help is also common for younger children on the spectrum.

Differences in Socialization:

First, it is a common misconception that Autism means anti-social, but this is usually not the case! Many children may want to interact with other kids, but just do not know how to start interactions or continue them appropriately. Other kids may prefer to play alone. Additionally, some kids struggle initiating interactions in general, or may primarily do this when they want something, need help, or have a highly motivating item. While many children with Autism, particularly girls, may frequently hold out items to show others, decreased showing and sharing of items is also a common characteristic. Most people on the spectrum will have decreased eye contact. That does not mean that they never make eye contact, but it is less than would be expected, not always combined with words, or not used at times it would be expected (such as when requesting). Some kids do not consistently respond to their name, or parents describe them as having “selective hearing”. Many children do not make many changes in their facial expressions. Some kids struggle recognizing others’ facial expressions or demonstrating an understanding of a range of emotions. For older and more verbal children, most have difficulty participating in reciprocal conversations. These children often rely on someone asking questions to continue conversation and may have decreased sharing about their experiences or asking about others’ experiences. Often more verbal individuals with ASD have preferred topics that they will bring up frequently in conversation, and the quality of their conversations may improve when it is a topic of their choosing.

Repetitive Behaviors and Restricted Interests:

Most people have heard hand flapping and toe walking are a sign of Autism. This is true, but what is less known is that there can be many other atypical movement mannerisms. This can include tensing one’s hands, face, or body, making unusual finger postures, or frequent jumping, spinning, or rocking of the body, which is called stimming. Some children might be so interested in a topic that they learn all kinds of amazing facts or take items apart to learn how they work. Kids may play with a few toys to the exclusion of others, such as vehicles, trains, dinosaurs, numbers, letters, etc. Some children lack functional and/or creative play. Children may play in a very similar way each time or set up play scenarios without playing creatively. They may line items up in a row or enjoy organizing toys rather than playing with them. Some children may struggle with changes in their routine, insist on things happening the same way, or be unable to tolerate having activities interrupted before they are completed. Many children with Autism have strong memories, and can remember facts and details that may be surprising to others.

Sensory differences can also fall under this category. Common sensory differences include having a high tolerance for pain, being sensitive to loud sounds, smelling items other than food, enjoy running and crashing into items, liking to be squeezed tightly, or avoiding being squeezed. Many children dislike having their hair cut, brushed/washed, or their nails being trimmed. Also, most are picky eaters and have a difficult time trying new foods. They may be sensitive to having their hands dirty or particular about their clothing.

Many people think that behavioral difficulties are a part of Autism, and while it is common for children on the spectrum to have tantrums or meltdowns, it is necessary to note that this is not a part of the diagnostic criteria. These behaviors are often secondary to the characteristics listed above. For example, a child who cannot communicate will likely cry as a form of communication. A child who is rigid and struggles with unexpected changes or becomes upset when they perceive things to be “out of order” is easily overwhelmed when these things happen and may tantrum as a result. Additionally, a child with sensory sensitivities is likely to be easily overloaded. And this is where the acceptance comes in- if you see a child or parent struggling, please do not assume the child is spoiled or acting out on purpose, and instead offer support.

It is critical for the community to know these differences may not be easily observable to parents, teachers, therapists, or physicians. This is often due to people knowing the stereotypes of autism, or thinking of the characteristics in a black and white or yes and no manner. There’s no magical checklist that one can go down and check off behaviors (responds to name- check, makes eye contact- check, points- check) to diagnose or rule out autism, and in fact, it’s fairly common for a child who has autism to do all three of those things. Instead, one would need to look at the quality and quantity of the child’s interactions, which can include not demonstrating skills consistently across people, settings, topics, or activities.

If after reading this article, you have concerns in two or more areas listed above, it is recommended that you seek an evaluation to determine the presence of or rule out Autism. It is my experience as an evaluator that parents and physicians are better at identifying the differences in language and sensory, and either struggle recognizing differences in socialization and repetitive behaviors, or feel like some differences are typical for a child’s age. It is possible that your concerns may be dismissed by others, and this can often delay children getting the help they need. So it’s really important to trust your gut and seek help if you have any concerns.

Assessments and getting a diagnosis can be scary, but it’s key for parents to remember that no matter what, your child is the same exact person with the same strengths and weaknesses as they were the day before you received the diagnosis. You may have a new word in your vocabulary that helps describe and help your child, and being armed with this information can really make a huge difference for your family.

The post Autism: Different Than You Might Think appeared first on Super Simple.

One idea is to add roasted beets, beet powder, red peppers, or fresh/frozen berries to your favourite pancake, waffle, muffin, smoothie, and/or dip recipe. Another idea is to try red/pink/white themed snacks and lunches. You can do this with food alone or head to your local dollar store or party supply store to find heart shaped dishes and/or baking tips and use these to serve pink and red foods that are rich in nutrition, flavor, and fun!

Valentines week is also a great time to get your kids involved in snack and meal prep. Below you can find a recipe for Homemade Valentines Day Frozen Yogurt that is easy for children to make and always a hit for snacks and dessert in our home! I have also included teaching opportunities that you can try while making it.

Ingredients

• 1 cup Greek yogurt (or a coconut yogurt if you would like it to be dairy free)
• 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
• 1 cup fresh or frozen pomegranate seeds
• 1 cup fresh or frozen sweet cherries
• 1 cup frozen cranberries
• 5 dates
• (For a boost of protein and omega 3 fatty acids you can add ¼ cup hemp hearts too!)

Instructions

1) Pull dates apart and remove the pit.
2) Add all ingredients to a blender, such as Vitamix, Blendtec, Ninja, or other that has the blade capacity to puree the dates.
3) Mix on a low setting (1 or 2) until the dates and berries have been pureed, then move to a higher setting to finish blending all ingredients.
4) Pour into small glass containers or popsicle molds and place in the freezer. The containers pictured here are from WeanGreen.

“Kids in the Kitchen” Learning Notes

Letter recognition and letter sounds: For this recipe you can focus on the letter “P” for PINK. In our home I use a flashcard with the letter “P” on it. You could also use a Scrabble tile or alphabet puzzle piece. While adding ingredients we talk about the sound the letter makes and then other words that start with the same sound like PULL and PIT (when we pulled the date apart to remove the pit), POUR (when we added the ingredients in), and PICK (when we talked about the strawberries we had picked and frozen last summer for recipes such as this one). An alternate or additional letter that would be great for this recipe is the letter “F” as it applies to FROZEN, FRESH, FAST and FUN.

Colours: For this recipe you can talk about the colours PINK and RED. I focus on the fact that when we blend red and white, we can make pink. I use a flash card which has the color pink on it but you could also make a fun game of collecting all the pink things in your home or playroom.

Texture/Solid vs. Liquid: It is fascinating to watch a child’s face as a LIQUID forms from several SOLID items. This is a great recipe to take that one step further and talk about how the process of FREEZING works and the time it takes for that to happen.

Numbers and Mathematical Skills: At the start of a recipe I like to COUNT the ingredients with my children, then let them know all we will be doing and the order we will be doing it in. Then we continue to review throughout the cooking process what we have completed and what is next. My goal is for them to understand ORDER and that it matters. This is a rather fast recipe, but it is still a great one for counting and order as it is easy numbers which is great for a toddler/preschooler.

Creating/Imagination/Experimenting: Frozen yogurt or “nice cream” is a wonderful way to experiment with blending colors, textures, and tastes. You can talk to children about what color foods they want to add and why some frozen treats are a lighter color and others darker.

Life Skills: In this recipe you can discuss FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS, ASKING FOR HELP (to pour from heavier containers), and PATIENCE (as you wait for the freezing process).

The post Valentine’s Snacktivity Round Up appeared first on Super Simple.

February. The month of chocolates and roses. The month of love. Some love it, some not so much. For lots it is an opportunity to ‘show’ their loved ones how much they care. For others it is just another month the shops take advantage of the shoppers in an act of commercialisation.

But what about self-care and the self-care of those you don’t know?

What about using February as a month of Random Acts of Kindness, or rather gathering with us in our Spreadable Joy mission and ‘spreading’ some joy anonymously. We aren’t talking about standing on the sidewalk with a megaphone shouting ‘Love yourself’ and handing out hugs, we are talking about quiet, discreet pockets of surprise for people that spread warmth to everyone, but especially for those who are needing it that day. We are talking about this month’s Spreadable Joy, Post-It Note Affirmations.

What is an affirmation? What are we talking about in this context? We are referring to positive affirmations that a person can tell themselves to move away from toxic negative thoughts of inferiority that we may repeat to ourselves. All humans have negative thoughts about themselves in one way or another, however if we leave those thoughts unchecked it can slowly start to chip away at the love we should have for ourselves.

‘There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement and acceptance. We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create. Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life.’
-John Lennon

So how can we help others to take a positive affirmation away with them today? Easy! By printing out our Post-It Note Affirmation printable that you can put up in a public toilet or on an advertising board, at school in the common room, in your classroom, at home, in your office, on a public bench or fence, in a cafe, anywhere!

If you don’t have a printer though… Don’t panic, an even more simple way of doing it is by using actual post-it notes with one affirmation on each and placing them in spots wherever you go. It is so super simple, with little effort required. Why not get your children involved, explain why you are doing it, ask them if you think it would make someone who is sad smile, even for a moment?

As you go exploring while dispensing these notes, introduce the concept of self love to your children. Certainly those who are four years and above, who have started school will have some hold on it. School is when comparison begins to emerge between peers. To teach self love at this age is to begin to build confidence in their worth and the knowledge that they are like no one else in the world. That they matter and have worth just the way they are. That if they are to love, really love other people and make great relationships in the future they need to first love and care for themselves.

Some ideas of affirmations to use on post it notes:

• I choose to follow my dreams today
• It is enough to do my best
• I matter
• I am capable
• I choose to rise above
• I am not the mistakes I have made
• I choose happiness today
• I am beautiful inside and out
• I am enough
• I will love myself unconditionally
• I choose courage over fear
• I am brave and bold
• I am strong enough to get through this
• I know my worth, I am priceless
• Today I will be patient with myself
• My strength is more than my struggles
• I CAN do this
• There is only one ME in this world

So, during this month of love, we ask you to do more then just loving yourself and those closest to you. Tend to your private garden and the gardens of your loved ones, but don’t forget to tend to the woodlands beyond you. Love and spread love to everyone, especially the ones who might need it today, tomorrow and the day after that. All it takes is one seed to grow a tree and that one tree has the potential to make more. Imagine if everyone in the world planted one seed of kindness. Apart from having more oxygen, we’d have a forest as far as the eye could see. A forest of kindness. What a sight to behold that would be.

The post Spreadable Joy: Post-It Note Affirmations appeared first on Super Simple.

1. Be intentional about vitamin D intake. Part of the reason SAD develops in the cold winter months is less exposure to sunlight which leads to lower levels of vitamin D. This can cause us to feel anxious, depressed, irritable, and often leads to carbohydrate craving and poor sleep. Including 2 cups of vitamin D fortified milk per day and 2-3 servings of salmon and other fatty fish per week can help. And for some it may be worth considering a vitamin D supplement.

2. Boost your immunity. SAD can be more intense when we don’t feel well. Stay on top of your immunity with nutrition by:

1. including lots of fresh fruits and veggies rich in beta carotene (carrots, sweet potatoes) and vitamin C (strawberries, kiwi, watermelon, and oranges);
2. ensuring adequate intake of vitamin D (fortified milk and fatty fish);
3. and taking a probiotic daily as these support gut health which has a huge impact on our defence against viruses.

3. Set aside time for food preparation. If we are feeling the effects of SAD, we may crave foods high in simple sugar and saturated fat. These foods can cause the symptoms to get worse, not better. Setting time aside to wash and cut up fresh fruits and veggies increases our likelihood of consuming them when hunger hits. This in turn leads to a more nourished body and brain!

4. Get outside. Even 20 minutes of fresh air can help improve mood and sleep patterns. And while it may take more time to get your child ready to go outside than the time you are actually out there, the positive outcome of better moods, appetites, and sleep patterns make it very worthwhile!

5. Get active. Moving our bodies releases endorphins in the brain that lift our spirits. A simple walk around the block, ice skating, tobogganing, or just playing in the snow can help. On really cold days when it is hard to be active outside, try indoor yoga, online fitness classes, or even dance parties in your living room with your little ones!

6. Stay social! It is easy to feel isolated in the winter months. If you have young children at home, make a standing play date once per week with a friend who has children of similar age. Or if your local library, community centre, or church has a “mommy and me” group, make time to go and meet up with other moms and children. The social time will bring you and your children joy in the moment and also leaves something for you to look forward to if much of your week feels isolated.

The post Six Lifestyle Tips for Combating Seasonal Affective Disorder appeared first on Super Simple.

Noodle and Pals are well loved Super Simple characters and songs that I, as a Speech Language Pathologist, frequently use in speech therapy sessions. I will pick some of my favorites to share ideas for how you can support speech and language development at home all while having fun!

Why do I love Noodle and Pals songs? To fully explain it, I need to cover some basics of speech and language development. Language development begins in early infancy and continues to develop throughout one’s adult life. Babies learn speech and language by observing and listening to others around them. They begin by hearing sounds that are made when others move their lips, and this builds to eventually understanding that combining certain sounds will make meaningful words. In other words, children learn to understand what others are saying (receptive language) before they are able to speak (expressive language).
Most parents tend to put a big emphasis on expressive language- the actual words babies and toddlers begin to say. Which makes sense because verbal speech is what you can actually see and hear as kids develop. However, receptive language is just as important in order for a child be an effective communicator. Receptive knowledge can range from being able to point to items that are named, to following directions, to understanding what is taught in school. Which brings us back to why Noodle and Pals are awesome. They have some amazing songs to work on early receptive language skills.

One Little Finger:

This is one of my all time favorite Super Simple songs. I love using One Little Finger when teaching children about body parts as well as following simple directions. This song specifically teaches head, nose, chin, arm, leg, and foot, but I like to make up my own song to learn other body parts and even pointing to other objects (i.e. sing “put it on the floor”). Some kids struggle learning pronouns and I often use this song to teach the possessive pronouns ‘your’, ‘my’, ‘his’, and ‘her’ (“Put it on MY nose” vs “Put it on your nose”). This song is also great to learn and practice pointing, waving bye bye, and using/understanding the prepositions up and down!

If You’re Happy:

If You’re Happy is perfect for learning both simple emotions and following one step directions. Learning about emotions is a very important early social skill, and actually begins developing when babies are very young! I like to use this song to practice making and recognizing facial expressions and feelings. You can push pause while watching the video and ask how the characters feel when they are smiling, or give directions such as “Show me happy”, or ask “How do I feel if my face looks like this?” It also helps kids learn simple instructions like “clap your hands”.

I also enjoy adding on to this song by teaching cause and effect for simple wants and needs. “If you’re hungry hungry hungry, eat your food”, “If you’re thirsty thirsty thirsty, take a drink”, and “If you’re hurt hurt hurt, say ouchie”.

This song holds a special place in my heart as it brings back a very special memory everytime I hear it. Earlier this year I was evaluating a child who is on the autism spectrum and he was overwhelmed with being in a new setting. As a result, he was struggling to engage with others and the activities, and I could tell it was really difficult for his mom to watch. She wanted to show us some of his strengths and started singing If You’re Happy. His face immediately lit up and he looked at her, smiled, and stomped his feet. It is a memory I will hold dear forever- but also a great reminder that music not only helps with language development and bringing back positive memories, it can also calm those who are upset, and help those who struggle making connections be able to engage with others.

Walking Walking:

Word of warning: be prepared for you kids to get a little wild with this one- but I promise it will be so worth it! Plus kids learn best when they have fun because playing and movement helps the brain make more connections. This song is great for learning action words- walk, hop/jump, run, stop, tip-toe, swim, and sleep are all specifically taught. I also like to work on opposites like fast/slow and loud/quiet (“let’s walk fast fast fast!!!!”, “now let’s walk slllloooooow”, “Let’s be LOUD LOUD LOUD”, “Whoa, that was so loud, now let’s be quiet, shhhh”). A fun twist is letting your child give you directions or playing Simon Says.

An added bonus is this tune is catchy and perfect for making up your own songs as you go about your day! Modeling language and talking about your day as you go is the BEST way to help a child learn how to talk, and singing it makes it a little more fun for everyone. “Eating eating, eating eating, chomp chomp chomp, chomp chomp chomp, I am so hungry, I am so hungry, let’s eat more, let’s eat more”, “Getting dressed, getting dressed, put it on, put it on, now I’m ready, now I’m ready, let’s go play, let’s go play”, or “waiting waiting, waiting waiting, I can wait, I can wait, waiting waiting waiting, waiting waiting waiting, now let’s go, now let’s go!”

Follow Me:

Follow Me is an excellent song for increasing receptive vocabulary and following a bit more complex directions. A lesser known, but important communication skill is using gestures to facilitate communication, and this song has several gestures for children to imitate. Waving your hand towards yourself when saying “follow me”, hands out for “yay”, waving “hello”, and flapping your arms for “flying” are gestures to practice with this song.

This song is also an excellent way to introduce a new game of imitation- Follow the Leader. Get outside and have your child imitate your actions (while saying what you are doing!). Take turns and be sure your child and younger/older siblings get to be the leader. You can comment about what your children do as they move- “Jackson is the leader! He is walking around the tree, now he’s jumping up high, ohhh now he’s rolling on the ground!”

If you truly want to work on receptive language skills, I would recommend starting with the videos to give your child a visual to help them learn. When you are teaching and learning with videos, it’s important to remember that the key to learning is not in the video itself, but in the interaction between adult and child. Singing along, dancing, and doing the movements with your child will have a huge impact on their ability to learn- children make many more synapses in their brain when they are having fun and engaging with others- and much less when sitting alone watching a screen. Once your child is able to do the actions with the video, try singing it without the visual aid and see what your child can do just by listening! You can also download the songs on iTunes, Google Play and Spotify, which is great for at home and car rides!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!

Contributor
Andi Putt is a mommy, pediatric Speech Language Pathologist, and chocolate lover. She specializes in language development and autism spectrum disorders, and has deep love for helping children with special needs. Andi is passionate about teaching parents how to support speech and language development at home, and does this on her blog at www.mrsspeechiep.com. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram for quick tips to improve your child’s communication skills.

Original content © 2019 Super Simple. Not to be reprinted without express written permission. Terms of Service.

The post Help Kids Use Their Noodle (and Pals) appeared first on Super Simple.