Thankful Turkey Craft

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Here is a fun little craft you can do with the children in your family during this fun holiday. It is an easy project that can also double as a writing activity.

 

What you will need:

-Paper bag

-Colorful feathers

-Glue

-Scissors

-Construction Paper: red, orange, black & white (or Googly eyes to add extra fun)

-Markers/crayons

Directions:

1. Have the top rectangle of the paper bag at the top facing you (this will make the bag become a puppet).

2. Glue eyes, beak, and gobble on the top rectangle area.

3. Have the children write what they are thankful for on the body of the paper bag or have the child tell you and you can write it.

4. Turn the bag over and glue some colorful feathers on!

This is a perfect time to have your child work on their speech and language skills! While making a Thankful Turkey you can talk about how the feathers/paper bag/construction paper feel different. Using describing words (such as smooth, soft, fluffy, colorful, bright, long, triangle, and round) are great for expanding their vocabulary. You can use the following sentence to get started, ‘The (object) feels/looks (describing word(s)/adjective)’. Then have your child retell the steps they completed to make their Thankful Turkey. It is also a great time to target speech sounds ‘k’, ‘g’, and ‘th’ with the words: cut, glue, stick on, thankful, and feather(s).

Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

-Kirsten

Greetings from Denver!

A lucky few of us are at the annual conference for the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) in Denver, Colorado!  

While ASHA is a wonderful group for speech-language pathologists (SLPs), it's also a fantastic resource for families and individuals impacted by communication challenges.  

Here are some of ASHA's online resource highlights:

Typical Speech and Language Development

Early Detection of Speech, Language, & Hearing Disorders

Self-Help Groups for Speech, Language, and Swallowing Disorders

Books About Communication

(As a wanna-be librarian, this list is one of my personal favorites -- it has educational books for adults and parents, books written by individuals with communication disorders, and children's books that address communication challenges in an age-appropriate and sensitive manner.  Check it out and hit up your local library or bookstore!)

Information on Health Insurance Coverage for Speech-Language Therapy

If you want to explore more of ASHA's resources for non-SLPs, look here.

Wishing everyone a happy weekend,

Sarah

Giving Thanks!

With Thanksgiving only a few weeks away I felt inspired to share with you and your family a few simple ways in which we can show and give thanks. Thanksgiving is a holiday spent with family, friends, and of course eating.  This got me thinking about some of the families in our area who may not get to enjoy this holiday due to a lack of resources.  Right in our back yard is the Maple Valley Food Bank.   They provide individuals and families in need with food and other resources.  The Maple Valley Food Bank relies on the generous donations it receives from the community to make this all possible. Donations are always welcome and needed.  Donations can be dropped off at several locations around Maple Valley.

Donation drop off sites include:

• Maple Valley Library
• Greater Maple Valley Community Center
• Fire Station No. 80 (near Motorplex)
• Covington Library
• Covington MultiCare.

Check out their website for additional information about donations.
http://www.maplevalleyfoodbank.org/donate/

Also, during the holiday season many local grocery stores provide pre-packaged meal bags which can be purchased at the store and left on site for donation.  The meals usually are no more than $10.00 to purchase, and can provide families with all the fixing they will need to make a wonderful holiday meal.  Check out the local QFC, Fred Meyer, and Safeway for specific information and details.

Just remember during a time of year where food is such an integral part of the holiday season helping others is a significant way we can show our thanks.  Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving.

-Paige