Hot Chocolate Day

National Hot Chocolate Day is celebrated on 31st January. So go on treat yourself

What do you need to make a Hot Chocolate?

• cup

• spoon

• hot chocolate powder

• milk or water

For an extra special hot chocolate why not add

• marshmallows

• cream

• chocolate sprinkles

Take photos of each stage and then retell the story..

After a walk outside on a cold, crisp winter day there is nothing better than a lovely hot chocolate to warm you up 😋

Enjoy #NationalHotChocolateDay

Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……..because Speech Therapy Matters

Virtual Hug Day

There are so many people that we cannot see right now but we can still show them we care.

Here’s a little pocket hug

Keep it close all warm and snug

So even though we can’t be there

Squeeze it tight and know we care

What could you do to let someone know you care

• send a picture/ card/ gift/ letter

• make them some cakes/ biscuits

• Phone call

• Video call

By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ………because Speech Therapy Matters

National Penguin Day

Today is National Penguin Day….

To celebrate my Penguin Popper has been busy popping balls

We have used lots of language whilst playing the game from simple ready, steady go games to talking about where the ball has gone. We have taken turns at squeezing penguins tummy to make the balls pop out.

Activities to do at home:

• Watch a film about penguins

• Watch a documentary about penguins

• Find out where penguins live

• Teach the concepts hot/ cold

• Make your own iceberg using ice cube on a tray

• Find out what penguins eat

• Make a word web about penguins

• Sing an action song about penguins

• Waddle like a penguin

• Draw a penguin

• Make a Lego Penguin

• Eat a Penguin biscuit

By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. …….because Speech Therapy Matters

Popcorn Day 🍿

It is not even mid-week but in these strange times anything goes so why not treat yourself to some popcorn.

Even better - make your own

……and on these grey, wet January days there can be nothing better than snuggling up on the sofa, watching a film whilst enjoying some popcorn.

Or

if you are feeling creative then why not make some popcorn jewellery or
Make long and short popcorn snakes.

What’s your favourite topping?

Plain

Butter

Salt

Sugar

Herbs & spices

Chocolate drops

Enjoy munching on some popcorn 🍿

By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ………because Speech Therapy Matters

Yummy 😋

Play Pooh Sticks

It’s National Pooh Bear Day so it would be rude not to. Pooh sticks is a simple game which can be played on any bridge over running water. Each player drops their stick into the water on the count of 3 or you could use Ready, Steady, Go. The winner is the stick that appears on the other side of the bridge.

Talk about the water - is it going fast or slow?

Did the stick float or sink?

Does a stone sink or float?

Can you see your reflection?

Did any sticks get stuck?

Wave bye-bye to your stick as it floats off down the river…

Where might it end up? Have a look at a map to see where the river goes.

At bath time or using a bowl why not find out what other objects that sink or float

Do you know the MAKATON sign for bear?

#WinnieThePoohDay #Bear

by Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……….because Speech Therapy Matters

Happy Rubber Ducky Day

In celebration of “Rubber Ducky Day” 🦆 🦆 🦆 there are so many fun things you can do:

• 5 Little Ducks went swimming one day (river template & ducks)

  “ducks”; “more ducks”; three ducks”; “ducks gone”

• Count the ducks, make duck noises, waddle like a duck

• Make some ducks - from play dough, clay, sand or snow (you could use a duck cookie cutter or duck snow mould if you need a helping hand)

• Duck slip and slide - down a chopping board, down a slide, across a plastic mat/ shower curtain. How can you make it more slippy?

• Hook a duck (what different ways can you catch the ducks in your bowl/ sink/ bath)

• Duck race (how about a duck and spoon race)

• Bath time with your own rubber ducks

• Play Hide & Seek with the ducks

  “Where’s duck”; “look duck”; “duck hide”; “hello duck”

  Step Up: Introduce position words (prepositions), e.g. in, on, under, behind, in front, beside, next to, above, below

• Make a treasure hunt to find the ducks

  (give clues: find it in the room we cook in; find it in the room we w ash in; find it in the room we sleep in or show a photo of where it is, e.g. photo of duck in the sink).

• Create a word web about ducks

• Go for a walk and feed the ducks

• Read a book about ducks

• Make a duck mask

Have Fun on 13th January celebrating 🥳 Rubber Ducky Day

Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ………because Speech Therapy Matters

Back to School - January 2021

What a rollercoaster of a week this has been….

Over the coming weeks we have some themed activities to keep you going… (many of which you probably have never celebrated before!)

• 8th January: Bubble Bath Day 🛁

• 13th January: Rubber Ducky Day 🦆

• 18th January: Winnie the Pooh Day 🐻

• 19th January: Popcorn Day 🍿

• 20th January: Penguin Day 🐧

• 21st January: National (virtual) Hug Day

• 31st January: Hot Chocolate Day ☕️

So let’s get started by running yourself a bath (and maybe a glass of wine) and then relax…. you’ve got this…… it’s been a tough week for all.

Don’t forget that if you need support during this period you can book in for some tele-therapy sessions.

By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. …………..because Speech Therapy Matters

Happy New Year

It is time to say farewell to 2020 … and even though we know that nothing magically will change on 1st January 2021 there is a sense of renewed hope for the coming year.

2020 has most certainly tested our flexibility, changed our perspective, and strengthened our resilience. Let's take these lessons learnt into the new year for ourselves, our family, and our communities. 

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and hopeful 2021.

By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……….because Speech Therapy Matters

Top Hats

This was always a must at birthday parties/ celebrations when I was a child but I know in most parts of England it is not a widely known party food.
It is possibly the simplest snack you could make.

All you need is:

• mini cup cake cases (large cases will work too)

• 1 bag of marshmallows

• 1 bar of chocolate

• 1 tube of smarties

Method

• Melt the chocolate.

• Put a dollop of chocolate into each case.

• Put a marshmallow on top of the chocolate.

• Put a small drop of chocolate on the top of the marshmallow and then add a smartie.

• Leave in a cool place to allow chocolate to harden

To brighter days ahead 🌈

Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……..because Speech Therapy Matters

Make a snowman

Do you want to build a snowman?

You may not have the real thing but don’t let that stop you…. Instead you could use:

• play dough

• Kinetic sand

• plasticine

• modelling clay

• paper mache

• marshmallows

(And it doesn’t even need to be white!)

What will you use for eyes, nose, mouth, arms?

Lego or buttons or bottle tops are all good options

or

jelly tots, smarties and chocolate drops for your marshmallow snowman

Have FUN creating your unique snowman (and eating edible versions)

Words: body parts, items of clothing you wear in winter, hot/ cold, melt, snowman

By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ………because Speech Therapy Matters

Chocolate puff pastry tree

If you are looking for a quick and tasty sweet treat then look no further.

All you need:

nutella/ chocolate spread (4 tablespoons)

Puff pastry - roll out sheet or block (320g x2)

1 egg (to glaze)

icing sugar (to sprinkle on top)

star cookie cutter ⭐️

rolling pin 🧷

knife 🔪

Method  

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C for fan assisted ovens)
   
   

2. Line a baking sheet with baking paper

3. Unroll one of the puff pastry sheets and place on the baking sheet
   
   

4. Spread the chocolate spread over the puff pastry sheet. Unroll the second puff pastry sheet and place on top of the first one.

5. Cut the layered pastry into the shape of a Christmas tree (triangle)

6. Use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut out a star from the spare pastry.
   

7. Lightly score 2 lines down the middle of the triangle to form a tree trunk. Using the trunk as a guide, cut branches into the sides of the triangle

8. Starting at the top, twist each branch away from you, giving two turns to each branch

9. Place the pastry star on top of the tree, securing with a little beaten egg. Brush the star and tree with beaten egg

10. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until risen and golden brown. Cool for a few minutes. Place on a serving plate or board and dust with icing sugar

Enjoy 😋

Words: roll, cut, turn, more, eat, cook, tree, star

By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ………because Speech Therapy Matters

Climb a tree

The weather outside is frightful but don’t let that put you off!!! Wrap up warm and why not go and climb a tree…..

Have FUN exploring and climbing

by Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……because Speech Therapy Matters

Go on an animal walk

Why not go on a walk to spot how many animals you can find:

• dog

• cat

• bird

• worm

• spider

• sheep

• horse

• Why not try and pretend to be that animal - wiggle around like a worm; pant like a dog, flap arms like a chicken, etc.
  Play a game of animal charades

• What noises do the animals make? Can everyone guess the animal from the noise you make?

• Get creative and make play dough or plasticine or Lego models of different animals

• How many animals can you name in 1 more minute?
  

• Alphabet animal challenge - can you think of an animal that starts with each letter of the alphabet.
  a = ant; b = bee; c = cat

  Why not make it into a family challenge 1 point for an animal for each letter of the alphabet and a bonus point if no-one else has the same animal as you.
  

• Collect up your toy animals and put 10 different animals on the tray. Cover the tray and try and recall what animals are on the tray.
  

• Get out your animals and just play
  (feed the animals, wash the animals, etc)

What is your favourite animal?

By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ………because Speech Therapy Matters

Wind up Toys

For a simple fun activity why not gather together some wind up toys.

Create some excitement by putting them in:

• a bag

• a stocking

• a bucket

• a saucepan

• a hat

• a box

look what have I got in my …… shake the bucket/ bag. Shall we have a look. Try and grab their attention. Using an unusual object might create more excitement and spark an interest in what you have.

Use the associated noises as you take the item out of the bucket/ box, e.g. “ho-ho-ho” for Santa; “quack-quack” for a duck, etc.

A wind up toy is a great Cause & Effect toy, i.e. the toy must be wound up before it moves.

Most young children will need some help to make it work. This provides a great opportunity for teaching the word “help”

(help, mummy help, help me)

As you wind up the toy you can say “turn, turn, turn”.  

Then let it go and say: “go”

You can build up the anticipation by saying “Ready, Steady, Go” or “1,2, 3, Go”

Then when the wind up toy stops you can say “stop”.

WAIT for your child to request the item again using whole hand reach, pointing, gestures, vocalisations, words or phrases. By waiting you will provide your child with opportunities to communicate and will encourage lots of Back and Forth communication.

Why not choose your character and have races.

Remember to keep the activity FUN

Core Words: more, turn, go, stop, help, again

Exclamatory Words: oh no/ uh oh (as wind up toy falls off table or goes in the wrong direction) or WOW

by Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……..because Speech Therapy Matters

Reindeer Game

All you need is a dice and a reindeer template for each player.

Each player takes a turn at rolling the dice. Draw the part of the reindeer as follows:

1. Face

2. Eyes

3. Nose

4. Mouth

5. Ears

6. Antlers

Get your reindeer template here

Who will be first to complete their reindeer?

Have FUN 🤩

Perfect for playing with all the family either in person or virtually.

by Sarah Winstanley

Communication Lincs Ltd. ………..because Speech Therapy Matters

Christmas 2020 🎄

Wishing everyone near and far a Peaceful Christmas and Brighter Days ahead.

Our thoughts and love are especially with those families who have lost loved ones this year and also those who are fighting illnesses.

We are also thinking of those of you who cannot share this Christmas period with your loved ones.

We have all felt separated from our friends and families this year and hope that we are now nearer to the end of this situation than the beginning.

Lovely gift 🥰 - missing seeing all my family and friends in Northern Ireland this Christmas 😢

By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……because Speech Therapy Matters

Reindeer Food

Prepare some reindeer food using oats, bird food and some carrot or pepper shapes for added colour. To make the various shapes use small cookie/ play dough cutters.

On Christmas Eve

• Sprinkle the reindeer food on your lawn

• you can use Google’s Santa tracker to track his journey across the world.
  santatracker.google.com

Remember to keep it simple and ensure that whatever you sprinkle is animal friendly (especially for reindeers)

Jingle your Bells to spread Christmas Cheer. Don’t forget to sing Jingle Bells to help Santa on his way.

Don’t forget to leave a snack for Santa too…….

By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……….because Speech Therapy Matters

Night Walk

Wrap up warm and go for a walk in your local area. Lots of houses have decorations galore. What is your favourite decoration?

How many items can you find off the list? Get the checklist here

Have some hot chocolate ready for when you get back home.

Make a tree

Don’t let the gloomy weather put you off. A walk always lifts the spirits. So today why not go for a walk in the woods and collect some sticks

Using the sticks and some string create your own Christmas tree or a star. Don’t worry if it’s a little wonky.

or why not….

Create a trail to a surprise snack by making arrows using the sticks. If you are doing this outside remember to keep the snack in a sealed box. We don’t want anyone else having a nibble before your child finds it!! (I speak from experience)

Or ……

Use the sticks to make different shapes. How many sticks do you need to make a rectangle, triangle, square, hexagon, pentagon, etc

You could even add some fairy lights to your tree or star. So what are you waiting for………

by Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ………because Speech Therapy Matters

Star

Tonight don’t forget to look at the sky (sunset tonight is approx 4pm in Stamford, Lincs). Jupiter and Saturn are set to move so close together that they'll appear to merge - forming a "Christmas star”.

Star Activities:

• Why not get out your craft items and make a star to put in your window

• Read Oliver Jeffers “How to catch a star” book. Or why not listen to an audio version on YouTube. Or listen to Oliver Jeffers reading his books during lockdown

• Sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

• If you have some glow in the dark stars stick them to the underside of your table to make your own stary sky and then put a blanket over the table. Lie under the table and enjoy your own starry night. (Make sure the stars have been exposed to some light. A torch would work) Or use some fairy lights to create the night sky.

• Why not learn the order of the planets: There are lots of rhymes to help you recall the order, e.g. “Many Very Elderly Men Just Snooze Under Newspapers”. Mercury - Venus - Earth - Mars - Jupiter - Saturn - Uranus - Neptune

• Use a star cookie cutter to make star shaped snacks, e.g. star sandwiches, melons, cheese, apples, biscuits

• Make a rocket out of all those spare toilet rolls and zoom- zoom up to the moon and stars

• Do some star jumps

Above all have FUN

by Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Comunication Lincs Ltd. ……….because Speech Therapy Matters