|
|
|
Welcome to “On the Horizon”
Issue 160: Developing Communication – The First Year
On the Horizon is an award winning weekly ezine for parents of children with developmental disabilities who want simple, effective strategies to reduce stress, support their child’s development, and improve quality of life for the whole family.
To keep receiving On the Horizon,
please add the email address “nicolebeurkens@horizonsdrc.com” to your safe address list.
|
|
 A Note from Nicole: Importance of High Expectation
Idea of the Week: Window Art
Feature Article: Developing Communication – The First Year
The Horizons Team Recommends: Autism Transformation for Educators
Upcoming Events: Workshops/Conferences
|
|
Hi Everyone,
As I write this I’m watching our camps kids out in the yard with their water balloons, squirt guns, hoses, and other water toys. It’s “Wet and Wild” week here at Horizons, and the six of them are having a riot running around in their swimsuits and getting each other soaking wet. When I look at some of these kids it’s hard to believe they are the same kids who have such difficulty maintaining emotional and behavior regulation during the school year. What a difference the slower pace and activities of summer make! It’s wonderful to see such a diverse group of kids come together and have fun; and it’s truly a testament to the importance of high expectations within a supportive environment.
This week’s feature article by Erin is all about communication development. She spotlights some of the important developmental discoveries kids are making during the first year of life, and how these relate to ongoing communication development throughout the lifespan. Definitely provides food for thought, and allows us to stop and celebrate each small milestone along the way.
With the new school year around the corner I know many of you are thinking about how to help your child’s be successful at school. Our Autism Transformation for Educators program helps teachers and other school staff understand the needs of students with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, and provides strategies to promote success in the classroom. You can check out this valuable resource on our website here.
Enjoy your week!
Looking to the horizon,
|
|
Window Art
Have your child help you decorate the windows for the summer. Gather some washable paint and paintbrushes. Allow your child to get creative as he/she paints a summer picture on the window.
|
|
 Developing Communication – The First Year
By: Erin Roon, MA CCC- SLP
Many of the foundations for human communication are developed in the first year of life. Babies are studying and exploring their environment in a multitude of ways during the first twelve months. They are learning how the world works in order to become active participants in that world. Our communication is what makes us unique among all other species on earth, and watching that development is fascinating whether the person is two months or twelve years old. The discoveries that are made as a person learns to interact with their world in new and different ways are amazing.
As a speech and language pathologist, communication is my area of expertise. I have spent many hours working on different pieces of communication with children and adults. During my college days I learned about how communication develops, and all the theories about why it happens in the sequence that it does. I even learned that children who are delayed in their communication development will follow the same developmental path, but at a slower rate and with some possible gaps along the way. The amazing thing is that until you experience communication development first hand, you don’t really understand the magnitude of what happens during this process, and how truly incredible the power of communication is. When I talk about communication, I’m not just talking about verbal communication, but nonverbal communication as well. We all know that there are some people who don’t have the ability to communicate verbally, but are amazing communicators just the same.
|
|
 The Autism Transformation for Educators
From Frustrated and Overwhelmed to Overwhelming Success: 10 Concepts That Will Transform the Way You Understand and Teach Students with Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders
In the Autism Transformation for Educators Audio Program, You will learn about the most important elements to consider when designing appropriate educational opportunities, including:
-
The most important thing these students need to spend time on in school (It’s generally ignored, which leads to big problems.)
-
The pacing you must use in order to speed up progress for your students (This is a little-known strategy that you probably haven’t even thought of before.)
-
The one thing you must make sure you do for each student before they leave each day (This is key for them in school and life!)
If you are a professional who invested in your own learning and in helping students reach their maximum potential, then this audio program is for you..
For more information, click here
|
 |
Please join us!
|
|
On the Horizon
is a weekly ezine for parents of children with developmental disabilities who want simple, effective strategies to reduce stress, support their child¹s development, and improve quality of life for the whole family.
Our mailing address is:
Horizons Developmental Remediation Center
3120 68th Street SE
Caledonia, MI 49316
Our telephone:
(616) 698-0306
Our email address:
info@horizonsdrc.com
Copyright (C) 2010 Horizons DRC All rights reserved.
To unsubscribe, see the links below.
Share this newsletter with a friend.
|
|
