May is Better Speech and Hearing Month (BSHM)!

In honor of BSHM, here are some fun facts!

• 7% of children between the ages of 3 and 17 have a speech, language, or swallowing disorder.
• Children who regress can rebound!
• Dyslexia (difficulty reading and understanding/using written language) is the most common learning disability

References:
American Speech Language Hearing Association (2015). Almost 8 Percent of U.S. Children Have a Communication or Swallowing Disorder. ASHA Leader 20(8). https://doi.org/10.1044/leader.NIB1.20082015.10
American Speech Language Hearing Association (2020). School Services Interrupted https://www.asha.org/uploadedImages/BHSM2020-School-Services-COVID1.jpg
Dyslexia Facts (2015). Dyslexia Fun Facts. Dyslexia.com.au

How to: Enjoy Time with your kids

Ease the pressure to “make every moment count:”

Pick 1 special time to be fully present (e.g., reading before bed, bath time, share a meal or snack together.)

Turn off electronics during playtime

Too many sounds at once can be overwhelming! Try shutting down noisy toys/electronics.

Find a time to be messy!

Take (keep? 🙂 the mess outdoors (e.g., chalk, shaving cream, dirt, sand). Using words like “messy zone” and “clean zone” can help with ending activities and cleaning up.

Spring Words!

Grow – Action

Talk about how plants, animals, and people grow!

Look at old photos and talk about what is the same/different

Plant – Action, Noun

Watch videos or plant your own seeds!

Name/find different plants outside

Describe and compare (colors, shape, size, smell)