Penko & Associates Speech Language Services
1600 Pembina Hwy R3T5Z2 Winnipeg, MB, Canada

May 12,2020 There is still a chill in the air and the trees are waiting to bud. Bundle up and dont put away the scarves, mitts and hats yet. The beavers were discovered recently creating a home for themselves on the Red River. So we can add them to the I spy activities. Find out about where they live and what country has them as a national symbol.Talk about what happens to the water flow when they build their homes. How do they build their homes anyway? A wonderful learning and vocabulary building lesson. Do call us or email if you are concerned abut your childs speech and language . We are providing services online.

May 10.2020 Finger prints is a craft teachers did with our children . It also was something we did at home with coloured paints . I have saved my childrens fingers prints .To all the mothers and teachers , you are celebrated today. Even though we now hand wash and sanitize , do capture the hand prints of a child with paint, through a lense , in playdoh , in cookie doh and bake to eat, or in plaster. It is an moment in time event .

May 4, 2020 There are many good reasons to be physically and mentally active. Learning and movement combined is a powerful way to improve our health. We can exercise with our family at this time of transition from isolation to exposure. Exercise is a lifelong "essential vitamin",starting at birth when babies are madly kicking their legs, to six year olds learning about coding and later in life learning something new. Did you know that EXERCISE changes the brain in ways that protects memory and thinking and helps us maintain our physical and mental health. Learn something new today with your child. Share something new you learnt today with us.

May 3, 2020 Yesterday in Winnipeg, was definitely a weather charting day. A perfect day to develop more vocabulary. It was a day for many verbs to be learned and senses to be heightened. The toddler who turns 1 can watch the windmill blow in the garden and hear the word blow. The two year old could hear and see the word windy. The three year old could hear the swoosh and see the words spin and fly. The four-year old could hear the wind and learn the words creak, rattle, and whistle. The five year old could learn about the velocity of the wind and even experience it if they flew a kite or had a family walk. Perhaps talking about how do birds and butterflies fly in the wind? Enjoy teaching your child new vocabulary through experience. Do share your ideas with us on our page about your shared learning experiences with your children.

Lets try to capture this interview again

May 1, 2020 The neighbourhood walk this morning was very interesting. Signs of spring were evident as children were on their bicycles and families were doing the yard work . A parent was decorating the house for her 3 year olds birthday. A garden featured last week has grown even more. With all the online orders arriving save a box, make a cardboard house and paint it. A neighbour hung up all her art students work with a mirror in the middle on her fence. Children and adults have a lot to talk about together. Here are some shares that you can try.

A chat with a speech language pathologist . What do I watch for in my preschool child and ideas for stimulating speech and language skills . Tune in

April 29,2020 Hello to all the families that follow our page. This issue of the Winnipeg Parent Magazine is filled with ideas on survival during COVID 19. it is also the first time that the publication is available on line. Take a moment to read it. http://www.winnipegparent.com/pdf/issues/2020/wp-may2020.pdf... Thank you for following us. See more

April 21, 2020 At a distance walk with my wonderful neighbour Janice we noticed a number of things. One in particular was a greenhouse. The owner explained that you can start planting seeds. She off course has started a while ago. What an uplighting idea to get started on planting seeds as a learning lesson . You can use milk cartons as planters. Place them on your sunny window ledge and watching them grow. This is a great science project. Use math to talk about quantity of soil to fertilizer and measure the growth of the plant. Chart the progress. Plant something that brings you joy and food. Tomatoes, peas or a flowering plant. For parents checkout the greenhouses online and see what they are offering. Check out Jensens Nursery and Greenhouses

Today head out despite the snowflakes and know that you can look at nature to teach about science. What are the geese doing? They fly in a special formation. Actually they take turns flying in the lead position. The geese are able to support each other by flying this way. They are landing in the ditches and getting ready to make nests. What other birds are arriving and leaving?

I want to send this out to all the families that follow our page. So well said

Follow me in the Winnipeg Parent Magazine. The next article will be online as normal paper distribution is no longer possible at this time.http://www.winnipegparent.com/

April14,2020 Discoveries While we wait for the weather to warm up, start to look around and discover your neighbourhood. What types of houses are there, and how many houses are on your block? Homes is a larger topic that can be transferred to learning about Where animals live and what are their homes called? As I get ready to write for the next issue of The Winnipeg Parent Magazine, the idea of Scavenger Hunts was shared by my neighbour. What fun. Create a video of your hunt with your children. Work on expanding vocabulary , comprehension of words and develop an interest in the environment with your child. Its time to look after Mother Nature. Think about a "CLEAN UP around your yard.. Amazing what you might find!

April 8, 2020. It is April and we cannot even sing "Rain Rain go away", instead we sing "Snow snow go away" Yes in Manitoba My Elmo looks out the window and sings the Go away snow song. I want to talk to you about the importance of music and songs in a childs development. Music is processed by the brain and enables memory to be activated. Songs, rhymes, jingles all help a child to store language. Retrieval of the words in a song occurs when we hear a song sung repeatedly .Repetition allows the practice of words to a tune and in turn is stored in long term memory. Listen to music and sing along on this snowy day and develop your childs appreciation and memory of music.

April 7, 2020 It has been at least 3 weeks since some of us found ourselves home full time. For families now is the time to stick to a ROUTINE. There are some key tips for dealing with the siblings that will help in managing together. Routine. Set up the schedule on a white board and check off the activities. Each child can have their own or a shared master board. Set up the rooms. Play area, reading area/learning area and the kitchen. Start the day with Movement... Learning Book Time Cooking Play in door /Outdoor Alone time/Personal space Games that teach cooperation , problem solving and reward. Take photos and review what you do . Create a sequencing book Finally whatever you do be consistent and adapt. Separate the week from the weekend if you child is old enough to understand that. See more

April 5,2020 The term socialization takes on a new meaning. However, we can still socialize outside while keeping our distance.Babies, toddlers, children and adults all enjoy the outdoors. Research tells us that the outdoors is a way to enjoy the elements and helps our brain and bodies. We get to "re energize." It helps balance our day and enables us to exercise by walking, cycling, running and if you still have snow "imagination building". It allows for our children who need to burn off energy to do so in a pleasurable way. We get a chance to see how our neighbourhood has decorated the windows and to talk about it. Take your phone and capture the walk so you can review the story and create an iMovie for your child. Revisiting the experience lets you bring the outdoors in.

April1, 2020 What a wonderful season we are greeting... SPRING. This is the time to discover. We often find that the weather is variable so that is a great topic to focus on . Search out the signs of spring. Talk and share about what we see in the yard that tells us it is SPRING. Work on math by counting the ladybugs, or by making a favourite recipe. Develop your child attention and focus by creating a craft. Use words that develop understanding and expression such as wonderful, fuzzy, colourful and beautiful. Here is a craft I know you will have lots of fun doing. It will create memories.https://pin.it/7i2vHIP

March 27,2020 Did you get up this morning to the news or music. These days we constantly are staying in touch with COVID 19 updates. Listen to the highlights and then put on your childs favourite music. Research shows us the value of music on a childs development. So listen to you favourite tunes to help your mood and sing with your child today. Check out the YouTube video music to help you sing with your child. https://www.pbs.org//thrive/the-benefits-of-music-education

March 26,2020 I looked out the window and saw large fluffy snowflakes.Today we are going to focus on Discoveries. Our children ask many questions . Now is the time to expand the question knowledge of WHAT to Why? Where? Who? and How? Decorate the fun room with Question marks each day. Comprehension of language develops when we experience and learn about something. Once we understand it then we can ask the question and add in the word BECAUSE to expand the knowledge. Start th...e Discover Journey today. Begin with a theme, then introduce the questions while doing the interactive learning with your child . Use themes to master and stay focused on a topic. Who is in my family? What did dinosaurs eat? Where is the moon? How is an inukshuk made? Discoveries are fun. Stay in touch as we post new ideas. Remember to WASH YOUR HANDS. Check out our website: penko&associates See more

March 25,2020 As we continue to adhere to the message of staying home to reduce the risk of contracting Covid- 19 Lets change our lense today and on focus on Getting plenty of Exercise and enjoy the Fresh Air while keeping our distance . In Manitoba we still have snow, and taking your own children outside in your space and making a snowball can still happen today. It will lower your anxiety and theirs .Make it fun and create faces. Talk about what materials you will u...se that you have at home. Once you get inside set up the activities. Here are some ideas:throwing in the laundry ( sort and categorize colours and items )going on a Treasure Hunt, create a circuit , jump on a bouncy mat, stretches on the yoga mat and play Simon Says . For a healthy snack make a smoothie, or a shake and talk about what you are putting in sequentially . First / then / last . During all of this activity talk about what you are doing, take pictures and save the memory of the day . Here is one of mine. Check in tommorrow for the next activity. Remember, to exercise daily hand washing See more

Thank you for checking in on our website . We are making every effort to write about speech and language development ideas for your child as often as possible. Do read about us on Penko& Associates website

I want to share with you the importance of book time. Do read out loud to or with your children. Reading together allows for a sharing., hearing words modelled clearly, and to build vocabulary knowledge.With my children It is an interactive task which is nurturing and an excellent way for them to turn off the world and IMAGINE. Choose a variety of book styles. You can still download books from the library . READ , make a snack and ENJOY the time together. https://www.education.com//ar/readaloud-tips-preschoolers/

This is a time when we have to keep ourselves and the children busy while we engage in social distancing due to COVID 19. Here is the first of a daily post on fun speech and language play activities. Create a funny face and put it on your door for all to enjoy and talk about as they walk .Check this out https://messymotherhood.com/top-ten-activities-three-year-/

Our children may have been signed up in group activities especially during spring break and all is cancelled with COVID 19. You may find yourself without a day care and having to stay home from work. Use this time in a positive way to engage your child in a variety of activities such as pretending to go camping, hide and find activities or sharing a video together. Put on a puppet show, play puzzles and boards games together which will encourage turn taking skills. Look thro...ugh previous photos and talk about them. In Manitoba there is still snow, so get outside and enjoy the fresh air in your yard or if you have a cottage then head out on a trail walk and talk about the adventure. Try to limit the news exposure for the children and take care of your health and well being. Look online to see what educational programs are available.Read www.Winnipeg Parent Magazine for additional ideas we publish. Our practice is still available to answer any questions you may have even if we cannot schedule your child at the uncertain time. Stay in touch and Email us at [email protected] and we will answer your questions.if you have concerns about your Childs speech and language development. Use this time to be together and have fun playing and talking. See more

We are launching The 2019 Our Social skills Communication Camp . Register now

Read the article in this issue on Spring Camp what do children learn

http://winnipegparent.com/pdf/issues/2018/wp-dec18.pdf

Did you know that shared experience allows for more active brain engagement in learning language. Read in the latest issue of Winnipeg Parent Magazine Dec/Jan issue

Did you know that you can encourage children to copy sounds , practice movement and develop musical skills when you sing and do finger plays . Here is a great book that promotes jungle animals having a musical celebration. HICCUPOTAMUS.

Halloween can be for all. Read more https://autismawarenesscentre.com/enjoying-halloween-tips-f

Language Concepts can be promoted in fall activities. Read article http://www.winnipegparent.com/oct18/features/edu-1.html

A beautiful book that draws a child into the world of sea animals. Great vocabulary building, visualization and a chance for child and parent to share the experience.

Parent being coached during child intervention.

Read about the importance of vocabulary building in children in August 2018 issue of Winnipeg Parent Magazine. http://www.winnipegparent.com/pdf/issues/2018/wp-aug18.pdf

http://winnipegparent.com/