Play, It’s more important than you think...

May 15, 2015 by

I ran across this fun article floating around Facebook.  33 Activities for Kids That Cost Under $10 Dollars.  Some of these activities looked like a lot of fun.  While the examples they show look a little too “neat” to be done by kids, with some of the activities you can hand them the materials they need and step back.  As a matter of fact it might be a good idea to let them develop their own style of play with their friends.  The amount of learning, experimentation and problem solving the kids can do on their own is amazing if you let them try before swooping in to help. Take a look at the tin foil and hose experiment, what is the worse that could happen.  First they could actually learn how to rip foil...

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Games Can Be Fantastic Therapy Tools...

Dec 31, 2012 by

I have always said that I can turn or modify any game into an educational experience.  Me at my advanced years was thinking only about board games.  Over the years I’ve been able to teach almost every single language skill through conventional games.  Unfortunately, those days are numbered because it’s hard to collect data when your having fun. I was extremely pleased when I came across this article on Geekslp.com  Angry Birds Educational Tool.  This article truly validates what I already know.  I am so glad the younger generation of SLP’s are able to see the value of games in learning.  I love angry birds but never even thought to bring it into my therapy as a tool but I have used it as a reward.  Why I never thought of this I don’t know. ...

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Play Skills Are More Important Than You Think!...

Jun 6, 2012 by

This article was originally posted in Your Middle Schooler: A Unique Age April 2008. I met with someone this week who runs corporate events, basically arranges for adults to “play” and was reminded of this article. I’ve always had strong feelings about play and development of play skills. I am seeing the trickle down effect with the older kids who don’t know how to “play”, get along with others, see others perspective or work in groups. This morning I read an article in Smithsonian Magazine by Monica Watrous call “Playing for Keepsies”. It was a small article about a gentleman named Bruce Breslow and his Moon Marble Company in Bonner Springs, Kansas. The Moon Marble Company produces both expensive hand crafted marbles and inexpensive machine made marbles. Breslow is a woodworker who became interested...

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