Category Archives: Homemade Therapy Resources

Two Autumn Therapy Ideas

It’s been over a year since I wrote anything here, I’ve missed it, I hope I’m back.

I’m listening to my kids in the kitchen with their grandparents. They’re doing a chestnut experiment. We collected loads, while out on walks. I can hear such varied vocabulary: peel, shell, sharp, brains. And they’re using a timer, to see how long they boil the chestnuts for, 2 mins – “poke,” 4 mins – “still too hard,” 6 mins – “perfect!” My kids love experiments you can eat! And they’ve been learning new words at the same time.

We have also put chestnuts into dump trucks and trains, eaten them at tea parties, and thrown them. Very multipurpose.

I’m using this Halloween craft from Made by Joel, tomorrow with a 6 year old client. We’ll be practising giving each other instructions – “colour the pumpkin with the orange pen” and “cut the bat with the small scissors.” Then we’ll use the finger puppets to act out sentences: “the ghost is scaring the cat!”

Let me know if you have any favourite seasonal craft activities for young children, I’m always on the lookout.

Thinking about time and my intentions for 2017; get moving and get outside

Movement Matters

My partner has taken the kids out for a walk, so I have time to sit down and write this blog post. I’m reflecting on time. What do I want to use my time for? How can I use my time in a way that serves my purpose?

I haven’t written anything here on the blog for 4 months. I enjoy using writing as a tool for reflection, and ‘blog regularly’ features on my Goals for 2017 list. I meant to write earlier in the year about my intentions for my practice in 2017, but I didn’t make the time. I have two children, the youngest just 6 months old: quiet time to concentrate is rare. But I don’t want to think about time with a scarcity mindset, and I don’t want to live my life that way, rushing from one thing to another, frantically trying to do everything. That’s not connecting with my power. Continue reading →

Staying Motivated: progress, online CPD and books

simple_matters_boyle madetoplay_cover

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve found it challenging to get back into work mode after the winter break. It’s dark when I leave the house and dark when I get home.

Here are three things that have inspired me:

  • Observing the progress my clients are making. I’ve reminded myself to slow down and notice the changes in each client. One is now able to produce s clusters, another can make a choice between two options, and a third has started asking questions. Their exciting progress keeps me motivated.
  • Doing a little CPD at a time that suits me, sitting at my own desk. I watched this Hanen eSeminar: Choosing Initial Vocabulary Targets for Children Who Are Late Talkers, which deserves a blog post of it’s own. It made me think about which of my children Hanen would classify as Late Talkers and gave practical ideas about the types of words to choose for targets.
  • Reading beautiful books which aren’t about speech therapy. I received Erin Boyle’s book Simple Matters in the post this week. The gorgeous photography and inspiring ideas were just what I needed to get out of my winter funk. And I’m sure there are principles I can apply to therapy, for example I’ll definitely think twice about buying more plastic toys, or resources. I also had another look through Joel Henriques’ book Made to Play. Another book with gorgeous photographs and the craft projects range for simple to pretty complicated. I’m going to pick a couple and have a go.

What do you do to stay motivated through winter?

Homemade therapy resources: Toilet roll Octopuses

Painted toilet rolls

One of my goals for 2016 is to make as many therapy resources as possible. I’m trying to spend more time rummaging through the recycling box and less time browsing on Amazon. I want to keep my clients interested, so I need a variety of materials. Continue reading →