Gross Motor Movement with Fun Activites can Stimulate Language Production

Gross motor movement, coupled with fun activities, can help language production for children who have verbal communication challenges. The home video below (featuring a Clear Speech client interacting with his sister) shows a young child’s first attempts at verbalizing when prompted with the promise of a highly-motivating, exciting activity. It can be very encouraging for a child to be rewarded for their attempts at language, even if their pronunciation is far from typical. It’s often very difficult for children with communication challenges to form sounds and words; focusing on meaningful play acts as a reinforcement and helps create a desire to keep trying and, ultimately, to be successful.

Challenge Air for Kids and Friends

Did you know that Challenge Air for Kids & Friends, a non-profit organization, provides special opportunities for children with disabilities and their two special guests to fly in a small private plane for a 30 minute flight around areas of Puget Sound?

Once a year, the Castle & Cook Hangar at Paine Field in Everett is tranformed into a carnival-like atmosphere where participants and their families can enjoy themselves before and after their special flight.

Private pilots offer their skills and use of their small aircraft so children with disablities can experience the freedom of flight.

Participants can forget the challenges of their disability as they gain a new perspective when they soar through the skies.

As quoted from the Challenge Air website: "Any child or youth living with a physical disability or life-threatening illness may pre-register for the program. Here is a list of qualifying examples: Spinal Cord Injury Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Downs Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Autism, Cancer, Leukemia, Sight/Hearing Impaired, and others."

Visit the Challenge Air for Kids and Friends website for more information for becoming a participant, pilot, or volunteer. http://challengeair.com/

Fourth of July Colors of Freedom Festival

Everett has many family events on the 4th of July including a festive Colors of Freedom Parade, complete with bands, clowns, floats, and more; Music & Family Fun Festival with children's activities; Imagine Children's Museum 2 for 1 admission; and Fireworks in the evening. For details click here.

Consider using the opportunity to talk about the activites with your child(ren), draw or make paper flags, take photos of your outing, then have your child use the pictures to tell someone else about their special 4th of July celebration.

Surfer's Healing

We love to inform our clients of special opportunities for children, especially for those with special needs. We recently learned about a free surf camp in San Diego for children with autism. It is called 'Surfers Healing'. Their website has some very touching pictures of children feeling the freedom of riding the waves along with a trained surfer. According their site, many autistic children have found relief from their sensory overload when riding the waves. Click here for more information.

Challenge Air for Kids and Friends

"Pilots take disabled kids into the sky at Paine Field" read one headline from the Everett Herald. Rick Amber founded Challenge Air with the belief that, "every disabled person should see the world from a different view…out of their wheelchairs and crutches and from the sky."

Any child or youth living with a physical disability or life-threatening illness may pre-register for the program to receive a free flight in a small aircraft with two guests as well as attend a fair at the hangar. Here is a list of qualifying examples: Spinal Cord Injury Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Downs Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Autism, Cancer, Leukemia, Sight/Hearing Impaired, and others.

For more information, click here.

Summer Reading Program

Reading stimulates children's language development; listening to stories will enhance their vocabularies and help them use longer sentences.

The Everett Public Library's Summer Reading Program begins June 13th, 2009.

A reading program for every age from babies to high school students. Prizes free programs and activites.

For more information consult the mail library at 2702 Hoyt Ave. or the Evergreen Branch at 9512 Evergreen Wy. in Everett.

Sorticulture, Everett’s Garden Arts Festival
June 12, 13 and 14, 2009

Friday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Legion Memorial Park
145 Alverson Blvd. at West Marine View Dr.
Everett, Washington 98201

Children's activities and fun for the entire family. For more information, click here.