August 24th, 2008 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
Parents of children who are not talking at all, not talking much, or not talking well can help their children gain speech and language skills throughout the day using the activities and interactions that occur naturally within the course of a day. Parent-child interactions provide constant opportunities for language and speech stimulation. Parents can learn how to maximize these learning opportunities.
The beauty of the techniques you will learn in this article is that you can learn to incorporate the concepts and techniques for stimulating language and speech into your everyday life. You don’t need to set aside extra time for “lessons.” You just need to focus time and energy on your child during daily activities and events.
Let’s look at many of the usual events that occur in most families on a regular basis and consider the kinds of words you could build into those routine activities. And let’s also look at the style of interaction and how to shape situations for your child’s benefit.
Meals/snacks: cup, sippy cup, hold, handle, spoon, bowl/dish/plate, napkin, washcloth, bib, want, more, need, help, wipe, cut, eat, bite, open, chew, swallow, taste, yummy, yum, mmmm, like, love, warm, hot, cold, fresh, dip, smell, good, wiggle, chewy, soft, hard, crunchy, (food names).
Dressing: sock(s), pants, shirt, diaper, underpants, undershirt, shoe, slippers, robe, dress, skirt, shorts, foot, hand/arm, leg, head, help, on, off, pull(down), pull off, sweater, jacket, coat, mittens, gloves, hat, one, other, choose, pick, new, old, ripped, zipper, zip, button, snap, tie, warm, cold, big, small, long, short, (colors, patterns, objects on the clothes like train, flower, etc.)
Playing with toys: on, off, open, out, in, work, broke/broken, fix, put, up, down, fall, go, move, zoom, fly, bump, push, pull, roll, bounce, throw, squeeze, ride, more, help, watch (me), my turn, make, shake, wiggle, match, cover, all gone, share, away, more, all done, put away, clean up, (specific names of toys/objects).
Outside play: run, jump, climb, slide, push (me), swing, hop, off, in, on, watch (me), help, up, down, more, boy, girl, share, wait, turn, pull, scoop, dump, wind/windy, cloud, sky, sun, rain, cold, warm, wet, muddy, fun, sand, rocks, throw, catch, bounce, roll, kick, (specific names of toys and equipment).
Book time: book, picture, page, turn the page, boy, girl, mommy, daddy, (other character names), (all action words to describe pictures), pat, pull, see, look, watch, fun, funny, (all emotion words: happy, sad, mad, etc.), (all modifiers: fast, slow, old, young, big, little), (lots of sound effects words: buzz, zzzooommm, crash, boom, rrrrrr, woof, beep beep, toot toot), more, again, all done, put away.
Riding in a car: go, car, open, door, car seat, seat belt, snap, click, pull, tight, key, start, music, radio, CD, on, off, stop, beep beep, truck, bus, train, people, work, rain, snow, wipers, windows, sister, brother.
Bedtime: bed, blanket, pillow, (stuffed animal), soft, warm, pajamas/pjs/jammies/nightgown, book, story, sleepy, sleep, tired, dark, light, night light, (your verbal routine: a prayer or routine saying), I love you, hug, kiss, night night.
Waking up: hi, mama, dada, mommy, daddy, happy, wake up, get up, window, light, hug, kiss, snack, diaper, morning.
Cleaning house: wipe, wash, dust, dirt, dirty, sweep, broom, dustpan, vacuum, clean, nice, pretty, table, floor, carpet, wall, dishes, squirt, soap, bubbles, rag, towel.
Fixing something: broke, broken, glue, tape, fix, nail, hammer, turn, hold, all done, all better, okay, new.
Shopping: cart, basket, paper, list, pick, get, put in, hold, see, look, feel, like, yum, yummy, make, cook, snack, (names of items).
As you talk through your child’s daily activities-awakening, getting up, diaper changes/ toileting, getting dressed, making and eating meals and snacks, playing, making things, drawing, reading/talking about books, helping with household tasks, going places, taking baths, getting ready for bed, and settling into bed for the night-be aware that all of these interactions with your child stimulate her speech-language development. This is therapeutic intervention in the most natural setting-family life.
You are the person who opens your child’s eyes and ears to the world. Narrate what is happening all around your child. Comment on what he is doing and experiencing. Make statements about what is obvious. Avoid asking questions. Watch carefully to see what interests your child, pace your comments, wait for your child to respond, and keep that cycle going. By following these suggestions, you will learn to make language and speech more obvious to your child and easier for him to try.
Mary Lou B. Johnson, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist with over 32 years experience working with children and their families at The Children’s Hospital, Denver. In her eBook, How To Help Your Child Learn to Talk Better in Everyday Activities, Mary Lou shares with readers the information, insights, and ideas that she has shared with parents in her practice. Mary Lou hopes that her eBook will enable a parent to gain new ideas and more confidence in her abilities to help her child acquire new speech-language skills. The reader can see the topics covered in the eBook by viewing the Table of Contents on the home page of the web site at http://helpyourchildspeak.com
August 19th, 2008 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
According to Mark Twain, “Clothes do make the man; naked people have very little effect on the world.” If Twain was right, and he usually was, then gentlemen need to dress carefully. Details will vary depending on your profession, your locale and the attitudes of whatever group is hosting the event, but there are a few almost universal rules to being properly dressed. They’re easy to learn and to follow, and they are important.
Half a century ago, more formal attire was the standard: A tuxedo was called a dinner jacket because you didn’t go out for dinner without one. A man wore his three-piece business suit to the baseball or football stadium because it was a status symbol — wearing suits was a right to be earned, and those who earned it showed off their accomplishment. More casual is the modern rule, and that makes it more important to know what to wear and when to wear it. Today’s menswear falls into a few basic categories:
Formal
Formal still means tuxedos; formal events are rare in most people’s lives, other than as part of a wedding party, but they still happen. If you have more than one or two per year, buy a tux, you’ll save a boatload of money over renting. Also, be aware there is a difference between ‘black tie’ and ‘white tie’ (and it isn’t the tie): Black tie means a tuxedo; the tie and cummerbund (or waistcoat) colors are wearer’s choice, as long as they match. White tie events no average person ever gets invited to attend. It means a white tie, white waistcoat and formal jacket with tails (top hat and cane optional).
Semi-formal
Opinions vary, but semi-formal really means a business suit with a dress shirt and necktie. You might see others in blazer and slacks at semi-formal events. This is acceptable, but, if you dress correctly, not acceptably, you will definitely get favorable reviews. Dress shoes are a must.
Business
Business dress varies by company; suits are still expected in many companies and by some professions; blazer (or sport jacket) and dress slacks with dress shirt and tie are acceptable in most places. Business casual, meaning dress slacks and a polo shirt (with sleeves and collar and, ideally, a fancy name-brand logo), is gaining wide acceptance. Dress shoes are preferred; some companies are okay with athletic shoes. Some companies are also okay with extremely casual dress.
Casual
Casual means whatever the host or boss says it means. That can be khakis, polo shirt and loafers or shorts, tank top and sandals. Know your host and you won’t embarrass yourself.
Specialty
Uniforms, work clothes, sleepwear, etc. This catch-all category can be pretty fluid: Specific sports are using more specialized clothing. Many men wear work uniforms outside the jobsite. Scrubs or hoodies and sweatpants are commonly worn in place of pajamas. This is truly the wear-what-you-like arena, unless there’s a good reason to wear something specific.
General tips
If you don’t care what people think, wear whatever. If a restaurant refuses you service because you’re in denim jeans, leather jacket or a pullover, you probably wouldn’t enjoy eating there anyway. If you want a career as a lawyer, banker or politician, pick up several men’s suits, some silk ties and a closet full of dress shirts, including several white ones. You won’t get far without them.
The basic rules are simple: Dress to the event, dress to the location, follow the leader (your host, employer, etc.). It is not about ‘the right’ clothes, it’s about courtesy and the group dynamic, both of which are important. Being properly dressed is a statement that you know what is going on, that you are part of the group, and that you want to be taken seriously (even if the group is the Association of Clowns, Jokers and Court Jesters).
Men’s clothing fabrics
Acrylic, Nylon, Polyester, Rayon, etc.: Synthetic fibers are easier to clean, but mostly lack the durability or appearance of naturals. The double-knit leisure suit is a nightmare from which some of us may never wake up, but new synthetics are vastly superior to those of a generation ago and some weaves come close to the quality and appearance of natural fibers.
Blends: Wool-polyester blends, silk-wool and silk-linen blends lower costs without significantly reducing quality.
Cotton: A natural fiber which, overall, makes the best dress shirts; used for all types of men’s clothing from boxer shorts to robes to cargo pants. Cotton wrinkles easily, though some new weaves are treated to be no-iron. (Still, a regular touch-up is recommended.)
Leather and suede: Animal skins treated to resist rot and shrinkage, full-grain leather means the whole hide, it’s the thickest, most durable and best looking option. Leather jackets can be styled just like a sport jacket or express the rebellious fringes of the 1960s. Motorcycling without a leather vest is just wrong; leather pants should be limited by law to Hollywood actors and rock-n-roll stars under age 60.
Linen: A natural fiber from the flax plant; stronger, stiffer and more lustrous than cotton; traditional in tropical weight business suits and good for shirts. Linen also wrinkles easily, but a little extra care is a small price to pay for a fine shirt.
Microfibers: A new class of synthetics, spun thinner than silk, they approach the look and feel of natural fibers at much lower cost and the weave is so tight they are very close to waterproof.
Silk: The finest natural fabric — spun on the looms of the gods, according to legend — nothing comes close in luster, warmth, strength or durability for any article of clothing. Unfortunately, it is also the most expensive and difficult to maintain. For the average man, pure silk is best limited to ties.
Spandex: A synthetic fiber most known for its elastic quality; very popular in fitness gear and superhero costumes.
Wool: The hair of certain animals; varies in grade from good to heavenly. The best affordable suits are 100-percent virgin wool. Some wools are of such quality they are never just called wool: alpaca from the South American alpaca, angora from the Angora rabbit, cashmere from the Kashmir sheep and mohair from the Angora goat. Every gentleman’s wardrobe should include a camel hair blazer — from the Bactrian (two-hump) camel.
Men’s clothing care
Shirts, pants, coats, pajamas, etc, are all designed for specific uses; use it to its design — wear business apparel at work, formal wear at parties, sports apparel at the game (playing, not watching!) and casual apparel for everything else.
In general, wools and silks should be dry cleaned and pressed; cotton and linen can be machine washed (except for suits) and ironed afterwards; many synthetics are wash-n-wear; leather should be hand cleaned gently with leather cleaner or taken to a professional.
Common men’s clothing questions
Do men ever even notice other men’s clothing?
Yes, especially bosses thinking about promotions. No joke, many think that if you care enough about the details of your clothing to do it right, you’ll probably care enough about the details of the business to do it right.
How do I know it will fit?
Know your size before you make any purchases. Any good clothing store will measure you, even if you don’t buy from them. Sizing guides help you determine your shirts, pants and blazer sizes, so you can buy with confidence. Since very few people are ‘average,’ you may need slight alterations with some pieces due to your individual body measurements. The better clothing stores all have an in-house tailor who will adjust your clothing free if you bought it there, for a small fee if you didn’t.
What colors go together?
That depends on taste. Black, white and gray match everything. Some men won’t wear suits at all unless they are black, gray or dark blue. Brown is widely accepted for business suits, green and other colors are not. Some people won’t wear browns and blues together. The more casual the style, the more freedom you have with colors.
What never looks good?
Clothes that don’t fit — too tight, too baggy, long sleeves that don’t reach the wrist, long pants that don’t touch the shoes.
Colors that don’t match (including some shades of the same color).
Brown dress shoes with anything except brown or khaki pants.
White socks with dress shoes.
Dress shoes, black socks and shorts, except in Bermuda.
Combovers.
If you’ve graduated from college, anything you wore in high school.
Final thought: “My best suit.”
Every man should have one complete suit — including shirt and tie — kept exclusively for weddings, funerals, executive interviews, court appearances, IRS audits and other serious occasions. Wear it, get it professionally clean and pressed (shirt included), put it back in a garment bag and don’t wear it again until the next life-altering event. These are the times you need the best to look your best, so find yourself a good sale, make the investment in yourself and don’t worry about price.
Phoenix Roberts has been a journalist, freelance writer and desktop publisher for over 10 years. His articles have appeared in local, regional and national publications and he’s worked for numerous corporate, community and political clients. Among his pre-journalism jobs, he sold menswear for one of New York’s major clothiers. Presently, he is an SEO Content Writer for Internet discount retailer Overstock.com (http://www.overstock.com)
(C)2008 Overstock.com–All Rights Reserved.
August 10th, 2008 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
As compared to most other baby purchases, buying baby bibs is comparatively much easier. You need to take care of only a few considerations so as to ensure that you make the best possible buy.
1. Let’s start with the most important consideration that is absorbency. Baby bibs made using fabrics like organic cotton, terry or wool are the most absorbent of all. They absorb all the mess caused by the baby, and keep the baby as clean and protected as possible. Feel the fabric with your hands, or check the product package, to ensure that you have opted for a bib that is not only highly absorbent, but also quick absorbent.
2. The second most important thing to bear in mind is that the bib should be washable. Remember, the bib will be subject to not only a lot of easy to clean but also as well a lot of tough to clean matter. It will be treated badly, and will be under continuous pressure to absorb things that have to be cleaned away later. A bib that can be cleaned easily should therefore get your preference. This ensures that your baby gets to wear the most fresh looking bibs always, besides promising that you would not have to replace the old bibs with the new ones too early.
3. The next important factor is the size of the baby bib. The length, as well as the breadth should be just right for the baby. Bibs that are not appropriate in size, especially if shorter than needed, do not quite serve the purpose well. Many a times we tend to opt for bibs in fancy shapes and cuts, though this is not necessarily a problem, it sure does give trouble, if the shape causes the bib to cover the baby less, especially where there is maximum danger of a mess.
4. The bib should also be comfortable to wear. Bibs with small neck lines causes choking and suffocation, especially when the baby is sleeping. Opt for bibs with necklines that are neither to small not too deep. Try it on the baby if possible, before making your purchase, so as to ensure that the bib fits your baby just right. The fabric, especially around the neck line, should be soft and smooth, so that it does not cause any rashes on the baby’s tender skin.
5. Though most of the parents may not be aware of this, but sometimes bibs are capable of causing serious heath hazards to the baby. Most of the baby bibs these days use a material known as PVC, (more commonly referred to as vinyl). This is basically used for providing better absorbency to the bib. Though this indeed results in better absorbency, it is cable of causing health problems to the child, especially if the child was born really delicate. This is because it contains lead, which can affect the baby’s health, with dangers and hazards of lead exposure. It is therefore best to avoid bibs that have been made using this material.
Gotobaby was founded in 2002 and ships from New York, CT, and Wisconsin. They offer baby gifts such as the Petunia Pickle Bottom Bag to the public and a great wholesale baby gifts to the trade. From designer bags like Petunia Pickle Bottom to baskets and personalized baby items there is something for everyone.