April Community Events

Early Intervention Staff try to protect the health of all children involved in our program.  To help us do this, please reschedule your appointment if anyone in your home is ill.  Thank you for your help in keeping all children healthy.

Spring is in the air (sometimes) and this is a great time to get out and free your family from Cabin Fever! There are a lot of activities to enjoy!  For more information on any of the activities, please check your city's webpage.

Natural History Museum of Utah - Free Day!
Monday, April 14th.  Advance reservations are strongly encouraged for Free Days and are available online only on the Tuesday prior to each scheduled Free Day at noon.

Great Utah Shake Out
April 17th at 10:15 am.  Register to participate at beready.utah.gov and find great information on helping your family be more prepared for any emergency that can occur in Utah.  Remember, STOP, DROP and HOLD ON!

North Salt Lake:

• VITA Tax preparation continues on April 3 and April 10th from 5:00 - 8:00 pm at 10 East Center St.
• Annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 19th from 10:00 - 12:00 at Hatch Park

Woods Cross:

• City Clean-Up Curbside Pick up April 7th through April 11th
• Free Shredding Day, April 26th from 10:00 to 12:00 at the South parking lot of Woods Cross City Municipal Building (1555 South 800 West)

West Bountiful:

• Easter Egg Scramble on April 19th at 9:00 am in the school field behind City Hall
• Spring Clean Up, April 26th through May 3rd.  Large bins will be available for citizens to fill in the north parking lot of City Park

Bountiful:

• VITA Tax Preparation continues on April 2 and April 9
• Bountiful City Bunny Hop on April 12th from 10:00 to 1:00 with the Easter Egg Hunt at 12:30 and 12:45.  A variety of activities will be available.  Tickets are $.25 and the Easter Egg Hunt is $1.00.  This activity is sponsored by the Bountiful City Youth Council.
• Spring Clean Up April 14 through April 18.

Centerville:

• Spring Clean Up, April 7th - Green Waste Curbside Pickup
• Easter Egg Hunt on April 19th at 9:30 am at Founders Park (300 North 100 East) for children 10 and younger

Farmington:

• Annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 19th at 10:00 am at Farmington Forbush Park (formerly Main Park) for children ages 0 - 12

Fruit Heights:

• Youth City Council Easter Egg Hunt on April 19th at 8:00 am (Not sure the time is set yet) at 910 South Mountain Road

Kaysville:

• Easter Egg Hunt April 19th at 9:00 am at Barnes Park (950 West 200 North) for elementary aged children and younger

Layton:

• FlapJack Friday April 18th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Central Davis Jr. High Gym.  Enjoy Bingo and Pancakes with the family.

Syracuse:

• Easter Egg Hunt on April 19th at 10:00 am at Founder's Park for children 11 and under.  Accommodations for special needs children also.

Clearfield:

• Spring Clean Up April 3 through April 5th and April 10th through April 12th
• Center Street Cinema April 11 & April 25 at 7:00 pm and April 12 & April 26 at 4:00 pm
• Easter Egg Hunt on April 19th at Fisher Park
• Tots and Trees Activity at Fox Hollow Park on April 25.

West Point:

• Easter Egg Hunt on April 19th at 10:00 am at Loy Blake Park (550 North 3500 West)

Sunset:

• Annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26th at Central Park

South Weber:

• Spring Clean Up April 26th.  Bring yard waste to Posse Grounds (6650 South 475 East) or Cherry Farms Park (7994 South 2100 East) between 8:00 and 3:00.

We also have opportunities to celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd and Arbor Day on April 25th.

Tips for Parents on Talking, Singing and Reading

Early Intervention Staff try to protect the health of all children involved in our program.  To help us do this, please reschedule your appointment if anyone in your home is ill.  Thank you for your help in keeping all children healthy.

Tips for READING with your child.
The name for the ability to notice and work with the sounds in language is phonological awareness.  Young children who have phonological awareness notice, for example, when words begin or end with the same sound - that bag, ball and bug all begin with the sound of b; that words can rhyme; and that sentences are made up of separate words.  Research shows that how quickly children learn to read often depends on how much phonological awareness they have when they begin kindergarten.

It is important for young children to be able to:

• Repeat rhyming songs and poems, identify rhymes, and generate rhyming words when playing a rhyming game.
• Recognize the common sounds at the beginning of a series of words.
• Isolate the beginning sounds in familiar words.

Here are some things you can do to help children learn about the sounds of spoken language:

• Choose books to read aloud that focus on sounds, rhyming and alliteration.
• Do fingerplays raising your voice on the words that rhyme

Check out these books from your local library and read with your child.

• Dr. Seuss Books
• Mrs. McNosh and the Great Big Squash by Sarah Weeks
• Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash by Sarah Weeks
• Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino
• Snuggle Wuggle by Jonathan London
• Knock at the Door and Other Baby Action Rhymes by Kay Charao
• Silly Sally by Audrey Wood
• The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Iza Trapani
• Mary Had a Little Lamb by Iza Trapani
• I'm a Little Teapot by Iza Trapani
• Classic Rhymes and Verse by Eric Kincaid
• The Real Mother Goose
• Old MacDonald by Rosemary Wells
• Bingo by Rosemary Wells
• The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Rosemary Wells
• The Bear Went Over the Mountain by Rosemary Wells
• If You Were My Bunny by Kate McMullan
• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr.
• Time for Bed by Mem Fox
• Miss Mary Mack by Mary Ann Hoberman
• Teddy Bear Teddy Bear by Michael Hague
• Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
• There's a Hole in the Bucket by Nadine Bernard Westcott
• Do Your Ears Hang Low? by Pamela Cote
• The Lady With the Alligator Purse by Nadine Bernard Westcott
• So Many Bunnies by Rick Walton
• Hand Rhymes by Marc Brown
• The Honeybee and the Robber by Eric Carle
• One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root

Freezin' for a Reason

Come Freeze your tail off at the Gigi's Northern Utah Polar Plunge.  This is a fundraiser to raise money to bring Gigi's Playhouse to Northern Utah.  Gigi's Playhouse is an established series of Achievement Centers serving children and adults with Down syndrome.  Each Playhouse provides educational and therapeutic programs at no charge to families; and in a format that individuals with Down syndrome learn best.  All programs aim to maximize self-confidence and empower individuals to achieve their greatest potential.  We will be holding this event on National Down Syndrome Day, this is a great way to come out and show your support on a very awesome day!

You can participate in three ways:

• Form a team in honor of someone.  You must have 10 members to be considered a team.  Each team member needs to donate a minimum of $20.00
• Individual, you are registering for yourself and are not associated with a team!
• If you are too chicken to plunge you can make a minimum donation of $50.00 and receive an "I chickened out" t-shirt.

When:  March 21, 2014

Where: Willard Bay 900 W 650 N, Willard, UT

Registration Begins: 4:00 pm

Costume Contest: 4:30 pm

Program and Count Down: 4:45 pm

Plunge: 5:00 pm

Awards will be given to the top three teams that raise the most donations, also best costume will receive an award!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Brittanie Flint or Alex Harris by email.  Brittanie - brittumble@gmail.com or Alex - dietcokeaddict2@gmail.com

Tips for Parents on Talking, Singing and Reading

Early Intervention staff try to protect the health of all children involved in our program.  To help us do this, please reschedule your appointment if anyone in your home is ill.  Thank you for your help in keeping all kiddos healthy.

Tips for Singing with Your Child

Sing with your child often during the day.  Children do not care if you can carry a tune.  They just enjoy singing with you.  The main thing is that you make singing an enjoyable experience with your child. Singing activities can include: rhyming songs, silly songs, songs that repeat, made up songs, finger plays, nursery rhymes, poems, clapping for syllables, pattern books, and emphasis on words that begin the same.

Songs and rhymes provide comforting rhythms in children's early lives.  You can read, recite, chant or sing in a soft, low voice whenever a child is sleepy or fretful.  Songs are also fun to say and learn when children are wide awake and happy.

From songs, children learn words, sentences, rhythm, rhyme, and repetition, all of which they'll find later in books they read.  Kids who can't recognize the fact that two words such as bed and Fred rhyme - have a hard time learning to read, whereas those who can rhyme are able to make more inspired and more correct guesses about what a particular word might be when they are reading. - Purdue University Speech/Language Pathology Early Language Program

Rhymers will be readers: it's that simple.  Experts in literacy and child development have discovered that if children know eight nursery rhymes by heart by the time they're 4 years old, they're usually among the best readers by the time they're 8 years old. - Fox, Mem, Reading Magic Why Reading Aloud to our Children will Change their Lives Forever, Orlando: Harcourt, 2001

Tips for Parents on Talking, Singing and Reading

Early Intervention staff try to protect the health of all children involved in our program.  To help us do this, please reschedule your appointment if anyone in your home is ill.  Thank you for your help in keeping all kiddos healthy.

Infants, toddlers and preschoolers need to have parents and caregivers do three simple things to help them learn to read later in life.  If you use these three things throughout your daily routines, then they are "guaranteed" to help a child to grow ready to learn in school and to have a desire to read.  These three things are TALK, SING, and READ.

This post will focus on tips for talking with a child.
Tune in and talk slowly.  Tune in to your child's play, conversation and thoughts.  Listen to what your child says, look at him or her, and let them talk.  Often our rate of speech is too fast for a young child to follow easily, so SLOW DOWN.

Make talking fun and meaningful.  Praise your child for new words used or attempted.  If you can figure out what your child is trying to say, give them credit to motivate them to keep trying.  Repeat the words back to them so they can hear how they should sound.  Don't force your child to display their speech for friends and relatives.  Instead, bring up topics with a hint or two and let your child expand or participate if they choose.  For example: "We had fun today at the park."

Look at your child and stoop down to your child's eye level.  Adults frequently chat with children while completing tasks like dish washing or grocery shopping.  This is fine, but your talk will be most helpful if your child can see your face, particularly your mouth, while you speak.

Talk about the here and now.  Talk about things as they are taking place or just after they happen, getting your child involved whenever possible.  Events in the distant past or future may be more difficult for your child to discuss or understand.

Repeat words often.  Pleasant repetition of the same word gives your child many chances to listen, understand, and try to imitate.

Make your voice the center of attention by simplifying the environment.  Turn off the television, radio and stereo, and spend a few minutes alone with your young child, away from distractions of older children and other adults.  Fun activities include reading books, playing games, blowing bubbles, etc.

Clarify the meaning of your child's speech when it is unclear.  If your child says "Uh duh atdide?" while standing at the door pulling on the knob you can say "You want to go outside."  This provides a correct model of the intended meaning so your child has a chance to listen to and imitate the words.

Give feedback and expand.  Repeat what your child says, correcting incorrect sounds and words or adding new information.  For example:
Child: Kitty tree                   Adult: Yes, the kitty's in the tree.
Child: Come.                       Adult: OK.  I'll come and see.

Use self-talk.  Talk about what you are doing.  Describe every action, object, etc.  Leave some pauses so your child can participate if desired.

Use parallel talk.  This is the same thing as self-talk except you are describing and talking about what your child is doing.  For example: "Oh, you drew a circle.  It's a big, round, red circle.  It looks like a ball."

Name and point.  Name things for your child.  Don't be afraid to point out new words in your child's vocabulary.  Remember that children can usually understand more than they can say.  Children will choose to say words for things that interest them, so provide a lot of words for them to choose from.

Praise, praise, praise.  Make your child feel special!  This also means you should be careful not to say anything negative about your child when he is present.  Be positive and supportive.  This cannot be overdone.

Pick one or two of these tips to try over the next week and then come back for  tips for Singing with your child.

March Community Events

Reminder: Early Intervention staff try to protect the health of all children involved in our program.  To help us do this, please reschedule your appointment if anyone in your home is ill.  Thank you for your help in keeping kiddos healthy.

*Although we did not request a funding increase this year, the legislators have recommended that our one-time funding that was approved last year for $220,000 for Baby Watch Early Intervention Programs be authorized again this year.  Please email your legislator to ask for support for this funding by Friday, March 7th.  The additional funding is very much needed in our efforts to serve children and families.  You can access a list of legislators and their contact information at http://le.utah.gov/Documents/find.htm. 

There are not a lot of community events happening this month, but with the beautiful weather, it is a great time to get to the parks and playgrounds and give your little ones time to socialize with other little ones.  Here are the activities in Davis County:

VITA Tax Return Preparation for qualifying families.  Services are offered at 10 East Center Street in North Salt Lake on Thursdays from 5:00 - 8:00 pm and at City Hall Basement in Bountiful on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 pm.

Layton Family Night at the Library is on March 14th from 6:30 - 8:30 pm.  Enjoy a variety of activities while enjoying the theme "It's all a Mystery".

Enjoy free ice skating at Station Park when you spend $5.00 at any pavilion eatery (Starbucks, Sugar Daisy Bakery, Orange Leaf, or Bandidos Taqueria) then show your receipts at the Concierge Services in Building J, east of Twigs Bistro.  You will receive 2 free ice skating passes.  Call for hours of operation at 801 923-9111.

This is What We Do!

Reminder: Early Intervention staff try to protect the health of all children involved in our program.  To help us do this, please reschedule your appointment if anyone in your home is ill.  Thank you for your help in keeping kiddos healthy.

This article is a great summary of how to play with your child.  Hopefully, you recognize some of these suggestions as things you have heard from your service providers!  Thanks to Nicole Walker, one of our Speech/Language Specialists, for finding and submitting this article from KSL.com.

Harnessing the Power of Play with Your Child

 SALT LAKE CITY — Are you the type of parent who prefers rough and tumble play with your child or working together on artwork? Something in between?

Regardless of what style of play you prefer, folding in some play therapy techniques can offer long-lasting benefits.

Play therapists relying on the evidenced-based practice of child-directed play use letting the child lead, the sportscaster technique, limiting “teaching moments” and the use of labeled praise to improve relationships.

Dr. Gary Landreth and Dr. Sheila Eyberg pioneered child-directed play therapy. It's use focuses on improving the parent-child relationship as a means to improve the child's behavior. These techniques are typically used with children ages 2 through 7.

Researchers have long known that a good parent-child relationship (sometimes called a secure attachment) has lasting effects. Children in preschool and elementary school who have a history of secure attachment continually exceed their peers in regards to competency, empathy, feelings identification, social skills and self-confidence.

Child-directed play seeks to strengthen this relationship. But these techniques don't need to be reserved for play therapy only. What parent isn't interested in instilling more self-confidence or empathy in their child?

Let the child lead

Child-directed play is most effective when used with games that involve imagination, or at least those without rules. For example, board games aren't amenable to child-directed play, but any type of artwork, role-playing games, blocks, games using figurines (animals, dolls) work perfect. If you see your child is engaged in this type of play, join them, but let them be the director.

The pace of a child's play can be slower than adults are used to, so be patient. Sit back and use behavioral descriptions (explained below) as a way to participate. If they want you to join them, ask “which animal should I be?” Resist the urge to make suggestions or impact the direction of play. This is a role reversal for parents and children, and when it's in a safe, contained environment, let your child be the guide.

Act as a sportscaster

One way to let children know what they are doing is important to you is to use the sportscaster technique. This means using behavioral descriptions. Narrate your child's play as it's happening. Say “you choose to use the pink crayon.” Or “I noticed you are really focused on making a circle.” This communicates to children that what they are doing matters and that you are present with them. As adults this would bother us, and we'd question why someone was narrating our every move, but you'll be surprised how much your child eats it up.

Abandon your instinct to “teach”

Rather than jumping in during blocks and asking questions such as “what color is this block?” or “how many red blocks do you see,” focus on observing behavior and describing it. This is easier said than done. Many parents use every opportunity to teach their children. During this time, the focus is on letting the child direct the interactions.

Use labeled praise

We are quick to praise our children, but try using labeled praise — meaning specific, descriptive praise. For example, “I like the way you didn't give up when you were frustrated” rather than “good work.” When joining your child in play, look for opportunities to point out good decisions they've made, creative problem solving or examples of pro-social choices. By using labeled praise, children will gain a greater understanding of what your expectations are.

Additionally, when you are closely observing your child, it's easier to pick out what you are impressed with and give your child feedback rather than when you are distracted by your to-do list.

Play is the language children use to communicate their feelings. By using some of these techniques with your child, you may be privy to subtleties that are easily overlooked. Channel your inner child and enjoy.

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Whitney Barrell, LCSW, has a master's of social work from the University of Utah. In her private practice she enjoys working with children and families on myriad mental health issues.

Read more at http://www.ksl.com/?nid=1009&sid=28553438#tDXPtRK3dLp4w23Z.99