National Pie Day January 23rd

National Pie Day

The first pies appeared around 9500 BC in the Egyptian Neolithic period or New Stone Age.

Here's a fun Tid-BitPie throwing:
Cream filled or topped pies are favorite props for humor.  Throwing a pie in a person’s face has been a staple of film comedy since Ben Turpin received one in Mr. Flip in 1909.

National Pie Day was created by the American Pie Council.  The American Pie Celebration began in 1986 to commemorate Crisco’s 75th anniversary of “serving foods to families everywhere”.

Where can you go to get deals to score some pie?

Shari's - Get a free slice of pie when you sign up for their Cafe Club.

Old Country Buffet - Enjoy a whole pie for $6.99

McDonald's - Use their app and get a free pie with any purchase!

How Speech Therapy Works?

How Speech Therapy Works

SLPs ( Speech-Language Pathologist) figure out what kind of language problem a child or adult has. They determine what’s causing it and decide on the best treatment. SLPs may help kids build skills by working with them one-on-one, in small groups, or in the classroom.

If your child has trouble reading and spelling, speech therapy may not seem like the obvious answer. Many people think that speech therapists only work with people who have trouble making certain sounds (articulation) or who have stutters or lisps.

Speech therapists do handle those speech issues. But they also help kids with other kinds of problems with spoken and written language, such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and auditory processing disorder. In fact, a speech therapist is more accurately called a speech-language pathologist.

Different Focuses:

SLP can help with -

• Articulation problems: Not speaking clearly and making errors in sounds.
• Fluency problems: Trouble with the flow of speech, such as stuttering.
• Resonance or voice problems: Trouble with voice pitch, volume and quality.
• Oral feeding problems: Difficulty with eating, swallowing and drooling.

SLP can help treat - 

• Receptive language problems: Trouble understanding (receiving) language.
• Expressive language problems: Trouble speaking (expressing) language.
• Pragmatic language problems: Trouble using language in socially appropriate ways.

SLPs use strategies tailored for each child’s particular challenge. Strategies might include:

• Language intervention activities: These activities build skills in a variety of ways, including modeling and giving kids feedback. The therapist might use pictures and books or play-based therapy. She may also use language drills to practice skills.
• Articulation therapy: The SLP models the sounds the child has difficulty with. This might include demonstrating how to move the tongue to create specific sounds.
• Feeding and swallowing therapy: The SLP teaches the child exercises to strengthen the muscles of the mouth. This might include facial massage and various tongue, lip and jaw exercises. She might also use different food textures to encourage awareness during eating and swallowing.

The Benefits of Speech Therapy

Speech therapy can help kids learn to speak more clearly. This helps them feel more confident and less frustrated about speaking to others. Kids who have language issues can benefit socially, emotionally and academically from speech therapy.

For kids with reading issues such as dyslexia, speech therapy can help them hear and distinguish specific sounds in words: the word bat breaks down into b, a, and t sounds. This can improve reading comprehension skills and encourage kids to read.

Speech therapy is especially beneficial when kids begin early in life. In one study, 70 percent of preschool kids with language issues who went through speech therapy showed improvement in language skills.

Results You Can Expect From Speech Therapy

Your child’s work with a speech therapist may last for months or even for a few years. It depends on your child’s needs. You will probably see improvement in your child’s issues. Remember, though, that therapy can’t “cure” your child. The underlying speech or language issue will still be there.

The therapist should give you and your child strategies to deal with obstacles more effectively. She will likely give you activities to practice at home to reinforce the skills your child is learning. Kids who make the most progress tend to be those whose get involved in their treatment.

It’s important that the speech therapist and your child are a good match. The speech therapist should have experience working with kids with your child’s specific issue. Speech therapy is just one way to help a child with learning issues related to language and speech.

Key Takeaways

• Speech therapy isn’t a quick fix. It takes hard work over many months or even years.

• It’s helpful if the speech therapist has experience working with kids with your child’s issue.

• Your involvement—like practicing exercises at home—can make speech therapy more effective.

Sources: https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/treatments-approaches/therapies/what-you-need-to-know-about-speech-therapy?gclid=Cj0KCQiAkNfSBRCSARIsAL-u3X-m2ENYuDwF_WTWFVQPTG9ovENZRQlrmYfQ6xC7kwg-AU4V-QNRgswaAmLOEALw_wcB

Raising Awareness for Human Trafficking

What is Human Trafficking?

Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked in countries around the world, including the United States. It is estimated that human trafficking generates many billions of dollars of profit per year, second only to drug trafficking as the most profitable form of transnational crime. 



Traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to lure their victims and force them into labor or commercial sexual exploitation. They look for people who are susceptible for a variety of reasons, including psychological or emotional vulnerability, economic hardship, lack of a social safety net, natural disasters, or political instability. 

To learn more or to help, see link below:

https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/what-human-trafficking

Little Hats, Big Hearts

The American Heart Association and The Children's Heart Foundations are looking for help from anyone who can kit or crochet to make red hats for babies born in February. 

"Little Hats, Big Hearts" started in February of 2014 and collected 300 hats that first year in Chicago. It has since expanded to 40 states, including Washington! 

The specifics for these hats include red yarn, cotton or acrylic, medium to heavy weight and machine washable/dryable. 

They also are accepting donations of yarn! 

Check out their website to learn more about the specifics and to find free patterns. 

Winter DIY Crafts

Winter DIY Mason Jars

Easy Do-It-Yourself Mason Jars or Candle holders

Supplies you will need: You can find these at any Walmart and Dollar Store

Mason Jar or Candle holder

Glitter (Any type in any color)

Paint brush

Mod Podge 

Project will be messy! 

             

*You can add ribbon, charms, jewels and much more!

Holiday Activities

Check out these budget-friendly holiday activities to do with the family this holiday season!

1. Reindeer Festival in North Seattle - Website 

2. Snow Shows at Pacific Place - Website

3. Gingerbread Village at Seattle Sheraton - Website

4. Christmas Ship at Argosy Cruise Port - Website

5. Winterfest at Seattle Center - Website

6. Garden d'Lights at Bellevue Botanical Gardens - Website

7. Ivar's Clam Lights & Argosy Christmas Ship in Renton - Website

8. Seattle Festival of Trees - Website

9. Snowflake Lane in Bellevue - Website

10. Redmond Town Center - Website

11. WildLights at the Woodland Park Zoo - Website

12. Zoo lights at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium - Website

13. Holiday with Lights at Wild Waves - Website

Facts About Holidays

Facts About Holidays

                                        

 Christmas

• The poinsettia, a traditional Christmas flower, originally grew in Mexico, where it is also known as the ‘Flower of the Holy Night’. Joel Poinsett first brought it to America in 1829.
• The first Christmas was celebrated on December 25, AD 336 in Rome.
• Artificial Christmas trees have outsold real ones since 1991.

                                   

Hanukkah

• Hanukkah is celebrated around the world for eight days and nights.
• The word ‘Hanukkah’ means dedication, and honors one of the greatest miracles in Jewish history.
• In ancient times, oil was used in the menorah. Over time, candles were substituted for the oil.

                                  

Kwanzaa

• Kwanzaa is not religion based, but cultural celebration of African heritage, Spirits of Nature, and togetherness.
• Kwanzaa is rooted in African culture, however, people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds are welcomed to join in the celebration. 
• Kwanzaa is represented by three colors - red, green, and black.