Kids home for the summer?

Take advantage of the opportunity to boost your child’s skills! Without the pressure of school, kids can work on the underlying foundational skills they need to succeed academically and socially. Teaneck Speech & Language Center is open during the summer to help your child.

In the meantime, there are many simple, fun activities that can be used for all age groups to address various speech, language and pragmatic goals, such as:

Preschoolers/Early Childhood: increasing vocabulary, following simple directions, developing the understanding and use of locative concepts (such as in, on, under, next to), comparing and contrasting, expanding descriptive skills (big-small, thin-thick, colors, shapes)

Elementary (grades 1-4): increasing specificity in descriptions and following multi-step directions, categorizing, comparing/contrasting, reading simple articles and books related to nature, writing sentences and simple paragraphs

Middle School: expanding higher-level language skills such as inferencing, multiple meanings, idioms, similes and metaphors, organization of spoken and written language, developing research skills, summarizing and analysis skills

For example, a nature walk offers a myriad of opportunities for learning and fun, depending on your interests, schedule and mood. Grab a couple of paper bags and head out on a nature walk in your yard or on your street. Collect and discuss the rocks, leaves, flowers etc. that you see. Notice birds, animals and insects and their habitats. Consider planting a flower, vegetable or herb garden with your children. You may want to create a scrapbook, have your child draw or write about the objects and experience, or have a scavenger hunt, all tailored to your children’s ages and skill levels.

Development of these skills can be facilitated through all sorts of activities such as sports, cooking, crafts and anything else your family enjoys doing together.

We know that individual children have responded differently to the experience of learning on Zoom. By observing your individual children’s responses to activities like those described above and to Zoom learning, you may be developing new insights into your child’s strengths, skills and struggles.

Now that we are all anticipating a more relaxed, less structured summer schedule, this is the ideal time to identify and address the speech, language, reading and social needs your child may have. The therapists at Teaneck Speech and Language Center are available to help you determine whether your child’s skills are age appropriate and what can be done to help him or her prepare for the upcoming academic years.

If you have questions or concerns about your child’s growth and social/communicative/academic development or would like additional information, please email us at [email protected] or call us at 201-862-0333.

Wishing everyone a safe, healthy, happy and productive summer!