Totsy's Place

Top Toys for Toddlers this Christmas!

In the countdown to Christmas we're thrilled to reveal our favourite Top Toys for Toddlers.

We have winners in five categories of our annual Talking Tots Toy Awards. All of the winning toys are designed to spark children’s imaginations and encourage them to make new discoveries.

The Talking Tots Toy Awards panel were looking for toys that excel in developing skills in the following categories:

• Communication: toys that promote language skills, nurturing social confidence.

• Motor Skills: toys that develop fine and gross motor skills, helping young children become more confident and co-ordinated.

• Creativity: toys that encourage children to explore colour, texture, shape and form.

• Social Skills: toys that allow children to mimic the world around them and develop imagination.

• Pre-literacy: toys that introduce children to words, sounds, rhymes and rhythm in an age-appropriate  way, helping to build the skills that will be required for subsequent reading and writing.

The winners are:

• Wooden Diner Kitchen – Communications category

• Giant Foam Floor Pattern Blocks – Creativity category

• Gears Gears Gears Super Building Set – Motor Skills category

• Clickety Books – Pre-literacy category

• Melissa & Doug Doctor Roleplay set – Social Skills category

 

Highly Commended are:

• Circa – the circular calendar – Communications category

• Magnetic Chalkboard/Dry-Erase Board – Creativity category

• Curious Caterpillar Activity Pull-Along  – Motor Skills category

• Scout Fridge Words Magnetic Set – Pre-literacy category

• Dino Bite – Social Skills category

 

Winners and highly commended toys were chosen after a rigorous judging process by a panel of experienced early years professionals, mums and a team of determined toddlers. A full list and details of all winners and highly commended toys can be found by visiting our main website http://www.talkingtots.info

 

To celebrate the Talking Tots Toy Awards 2011, Talking Tots have £250 worth of toys to give away in a fantastic competition. Simply visit Talking Tots and fill out your details.

We love our job!

We really do love our work. As you know we're the franchisors of Talking Tots. In our past lives we were speech & language therapists ( but that's a whole different blog post).

We have some of the most fabulous franchisees from a massive range of backgrounds and all of their collective experience helps to build what Talking Tots is and becomes.

Our initial franchisee training is a 5 day training, but for a couple of reasons we split this in to a 3 day training and 2 further single day trainings. The first reason for this is that most of our franchisees are Mums (no Dads yet) and 3 days is enough to be away from your babies ( ok teenagers ... different matter!). Also we couldn't possibly train you to understand and deliver our  unique "Talking Tots Learning Slots © " with our game boards and cards in one go - your brain might burst.

Anyway - we had an update training day today and it was fab! We had a ball and as usual hysteria set in at about 2:30pm!

Dear Elaine,  Bridget, Jane, Siân, Clara, Becki, Debbie - we had a fab day .. thank you!!

Dear Sammie, Linds & Bev .... we missed you but understand why you couldn't be with us ... catch you soon!

A very happy L & T x

Voice problems - vocal nodules & strain

 

 Causes of nodules & strain

Voice strain and vocal nodules are caused by stress/abuse to the vocal cords. This can be caused by overusing the vocal cords, which may arise through excessive talking, shouting, cheering, singing, throat clearing and over using the voice in a professional capacity (e.g.. actors, teachers).
Other causes of vocal strain can include stress, over tiredness, anxiety, dehydration, incorrect pitch and poor breath support for speech.

Symptoms of nodules & strain

Hoarseness of the voice
Breathy or a scratchy quality
Reduced range of pitch
Reduced volume
Neck and/or ear pain
‘Lump in the throat’ feeling/ sensation

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU SEE YOUR DOCTOR IF THESE SYMPTOMS PERSIST BEYOND 2 WEEKS. YOUR DOCTOR MAY THEN REFER YOU TO AN EAR, NOSE & THROAT SPECIALIST.

Treatment of nodules & strain

If you have been diagnosed with vocal strain or nodules, you will than need to consult a speech & language therapist, who will help you identify abusive vocal behaviours and will suggest ways to avoid further damage.
More rarely vocal nodules may be treated medically or surgically, but this is generally considered as a last resort.

Good Vocal Behaviour

Don’t talk if you don’t have to - resting the voice is always beneficial

Drink lots of water - especially if you know that you have to speak more

Swallow or sip water rather that throat clearing / coughing

Avoid smoky / dusty / dry environments

If in environments where you need to raise your voice over background noise, use good breath support ( ask your SLT)

Avoid shouting/ cheering/ screaming

Use appropriate loudness

Use humidifiers at home ( particularly in bed )

 

Good Breath Support for Speech

The ‘Ssssss’ Test

Take a deep breath and exhale making a Ssssss sound for as long as you can. Do this 3 times and take your best score.

Male adults should be able to sustain for at least 20 secs

Female adults should be able to sustain for at least 15 secs

 

The Counting Test

Inhale and then count to the highest number you can. Do this 3 times and take your best score.

Male adults should be able to count to at least 15

Female adults should be able to count to at least 10

 

If you can’t reach these targets - then you need to practice good breath control.

Abdominal breathing

1. Breathe all of your air out - right down - even all the residual air. Hold your breath for as long as you possibly can. When you have to take the ‘in’ breath, concentrate on the movement of you abdominal muscles. They will move upwards and outwards. This is abdominal breathing.

2. Lie on your back and place something of a slight weight over your abdominal muscles. Breathe naturally and you should see the rise and fall of the object. This is a natural position for you to use your abdominal breathing.

3. Now sit on a chair and with a relaxed posture, try to replicate this breathing. Place your hand on your abdomen and you should feel the upward and outward movement.

Using abdominal breathing

Take an abdominal breath when your conversational partner is formulating a question or taking a turn to speak. Plan in advance! Try to breath where a punctuation mark would occur. Practice this with script!

Take reflective pauses. Use your speaking time. Maintain eye contact and use pause effectively. Not only will this help you plan your breathing, it will help with delivery of speech.

 

Lisa Houghton BSc(Hons) MRCSLT HPC  & Tracey Park BSc(Hons) MRCSLT HPC
Speech & Language Therapists

5 facts about speech & language development

 

5 Speech & language facts:-

 

 

Speech & language fact 1:

 

One in ten children has a communication disability in the UK

 

Speech & language fact 2:

 

Children with a communication disability may have problems with one or more areas of communication, such as expression or understanding of spoken language, production or recognition of speech sounds, or with understanding or using language in a social context.

 

 

Speech & language fact 3:

 

Communication is the channel through which all other learning happens. Difficulties with speech & language will affect a child’s ability to learn and to socialise and make new friends.

 

 

Speech & language fact 4:

 

There is an increase in the number of children, in the classroom, who find it hard to stay focused on a task and listen to instructions. Poor listening affects learning and behaviour.  

 

 

Speech & language fact 5:

Our friendly and exciting classes can help all children develop some of life’s most important skills:

Concentration and attention, making learning easier

Self-esteem and social confidence which are vital for making new friends

Pre-literacy skills helping pave the way for reading and writing

Communication skills helping little ones express themselves

Sharing and taking turns helping everyone get along better!

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY ... the classes are a brilliant fun! Your little one will flourish in the safe & supportive environment.


Visit us at http://www.talkingtots.info to find a class near you.

Talking Tots has got the basics covered

The Government has recently announced the launch of a new reading test for all six year olds.  They want all children to learn to read using synthetic phonics and schools inspectors Ofsted have also recently endorsed this method.  All pupils in Year 1 will start to take the tests from 2012.  The Education Secretary Michael Gove says the test will confirm whether individual pupils have grasped the basics of "phonic decoding" by the end of Year 1.

 

Talking Tots is the only national pre-school group that offers classes in pre-literacy skills which includes developing phonological awareness by breaking down the sound structure of words.  Phonological awareness is an important and reliable predictor of later reading ability.

 

Although this all sounds very serious, Talking Tots covers this basic understanding in such a fun way, that children do not realise that they are learning such an important skill that will help in the Year 1 test. They are simply enjoying playing with sounds.

 

Talking Tots was founded in 2005 by Tracey Park and Lisa Houghton, both experienced paediatric speech and language therapists. Tracey and Lisa realised that many children were not reaching their full potential because they lacked vital communication skills. The two women worked closely with a team of speech and language therapists, teachers and educational psychologists to develop a series of age-appropriate classes that would boost these skills.

 

The first Talking Tots classes were a phenomenal success, and there are now many classes throughout the UK. Visit www.talkingtots.info to find a class near you.

Talking Tots 2011 Toy Awards

 

The Talking Tots 2011 Toy Awards will launch in November 2011 with a new website and competition, which we will be promoting through some of the UK's leading parenting sites and social networks. Our own blog and website reach more than 10,000 parents in the UK every month.

 

 

The Talking Tots Toy Awards panel will be looking for toys that excel in developing skills in the following categories:

• Communication: toys that promote language skills, nurturing social confidence.
• Motor Skills: toys that develop fine and gross motor skills, helping young children become more confident and co-ordinated.
• Creativity: toys that encourage children to explore colour, texture, shape and form.
• Social Skills: toys that allow children to mimic the world around them and develop imagination.
• Pre-literacy: toys that introduce children to words, sounds, rhymes and rhythm in an age-appropriate way, helping to build the skills that will be required for subsequent reading and writing.

If you would like to submit a toy for consideration, this must be sent to Talking Tots before November 4th 2011. If you need toys to be returned , you will need to arrange collection. Please let us know if this is the case, and we'll do our best to keep packaging intact {if this prevents us from reviewing the toy, we'll let you know}. Please note, all toys must be available in the UK {either in retail stores or online} in December 2011, and be suitable for children aged 5 or under.

Please send to:
Talking Tots Toy Awards
108 Warton Street
Lytham
Lancashire
FY8 5HA

Please contact us for more information on headoffice@talkingtots.info  or visit  www.talkingtots.info

A new term !

A new term is beginning here at Talking Tots. It's an exciting time as we welcome old friends and new faces to our classes.

Activity classes are a fantastic opportunity to make new friends, have fun, and boost your child's development but the crucial thing to remember is quality matters more than quantity. If your child is always haring off to one class or another, they will probably be too tired and demotivated to get the best out of any of those activities.  

Look for one or two activity classes per week, that fit in with your schedule and which offer a progressive programme. Young children love repetition, but a good activity class combines repetition with new and more challenging activities, to keep your child learning AND having fun.

You should feel happy and confident that your activity class leader is able to deliver the class effectively, while bringing out the best in each child. A good leader knows how to nurture shy children while also capturing the attention of livelier toddlers! You should feel confident that these are people who will bring out the best in your child. With that in mind, Talking Tots spoke to the marvellous Sue Atkins, parenting coach and author of Raising Happy Children, to see what advice she has on choosing the right toddler activity class for your child.

She says: "Well run and well designed classes represent more than just an opportunity to entertain your kids for an hour! They can make a long-lasting and profound contribution to life long learning and help develop important social skills. As a teacher, I could always tell when children had been to a well-run toddler class. But don't think you have to spend a fortune - choose carefully and don't forget that you are your child's best teacher." 
Sue encourages parents to be really clear about what they want from an activity class and only choose those that feel right.

Questions she thinks you should ask before signing up for any class are: 
* What skills am I looking to develop or encourage in my child?   
* Are the people running the courses and classes professional?  
* Would you be happy to leave your children in the care of these people if you had to?  
* Do they have a progressive programme that builds up as your child develops and matures in skills?
* Are the classes too long, too short, badly organised?   
* Can you see the syllabus for the classes in advance?   
* Is the atmosphere full of playing, exploring and learning together in a fun and relaxed atmosphere?
* If you had to describe the people running the classes what would you say (as this helps you to clarify your intuition and gut feelings)   
* Would you feel happy recommending them to other parents?   
* Are your children enjoying the classes, what are they learning exactly and are they learning happily and easily?  

So why not come along and try a Talking Tots class? Talking Tots unique classes, which follow the developmental stages of language, are bursting with fun ideas and games! Watch your child’s language skills blossom, as they enjoy a variety of exciting and exclusive Talking Tots activities!

Sprites…boosting early chatter This class looks at fundamental skills such as social confidence, sharing & turn taking and listening & attention skills. There's lots of fun & action packed structured games, with exciting props, singing and rhymes. At Sprites, we focus on fun games and carefully-designed activities that encourage your little one’s natural desire to communicate, by building his vocabulary and helping him to understand and talk about the world around him.      

Sprinters… building confident communication At Sprinters, children take part in games and interactive activities that will build their social confidence and listening skills. Our exclusively-designed, vibrant pictures and props also help to develop your child’s narrative ability and build their vocabulary.  

Sparklers… paving the way for school In this pre-school year, children may enjoy playing with sounds, and will begin to join in with word games such as finding rhyming words and identifying the beginnings of common names and objects. Sparklers builds on this natural interest in words and sounds to boost a child’s pre-literacy skills and help prepare them for the classroom. At the same time, our friendly, supportive classes promote vital social skills such as listening, turn-taking and sharing.

 

Visit us here and see if there's a class near you!

Franchisor of the Year Finalist!

The shortlist for the prestigious mumandworking 2011 Awards have just been announced - and Talking Tots is amongst them!

The 2011 mumandworking awards are organised by website www.mumandworking.co.uk and reward and recognise the companies and individuals that make flexible working possible.  The aim is to show that family-friendly employment not only supports family life but gives real benefits to the companies involved.

Sarah Beeny, TV presenter, author, entrepreneur and Mum, commenting on the mumandworking awards said, "As a mum of four boys, aged 6,5,2 and 1 - I completely understand the importance of flexible working and the value of spending time with your family. It's great that the mumandworking awards celebrate the people who are making this possible for parents across the UK and its great to see so many successful mums out there taking part "

There are 7 awards categories to recognise working parents, flexible employers and parents in business. 

Over 300 nominations in total were made this year and we have been shortlisted in the Franchisor of the Year category.

Please support us by visiting Mum and Working and clicking "Like" in the Talking Tots box.

Thank you.

Lisa & Tracey

Are we nearly there yet?

It’s that time of year when many of us are making longish car journeys with our children. There are many ways to help keep children entertained in the car, with everything from hi-tech gadgets to simple games. We thought we’d share some of the simple games we played in the car.

Rock, paper, scissors

This is a game for 2. You need to know the three hand signs. The sign for scissors is your first 2 fingers (as if they were scissors), paper is an open palm and rock is a closed fist.

Count  to three together and then reveal one of the hand symbols. These are the rules to find out who wins:
- rock beats (scissors because you can't cut a rock with scissors)
- paper beats rock (because you can wrap a rock in paper)

- scissors beats paper (because scissors are used to cut paper)

Alphabet Antics

Starting with the letter ‘A’, think of a word beginning with that letter. Take it in turns to say a word beginning with the next letter of the alphabet. Choose categories such as food or animals. It can get quite tricky!

Animal, vegetable or mineral

Before you set off write different objects on small pieces of paper and put in a bag. Take turns to pick a piece of paper out of the bag.
You have to tell everyone whether it’s animal, vegetable or mineral.
Everyone asks you questions to help them guess what it is. You can only answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
After each question, that person has one go to guess what it is.

Lucky dip bags

Make up some lucky dip bags with lots of little bits & pieces in, such as cheap party favours & puzzles, crayons, plasticine & sweets. Limit the ‘dips’ to 1 item per 20 mins

I spy

It’s an old favourite!

Car Lotto

Before you set off, make some lotto cards. Divide a sheet of paper in to equal squares and in each square write the name of things that you’re likely to see on the journey (or for younger children draw pictures!). For example, Service Station, cow, lorry, traffic lights etc… You could include road signs too.
When someone spots an object they have to shout it out and tell everyone where it is (so there’s no cheating!). This object is then crossed off the card. The first person to cross off all the objects on their bingo card wins the game.

Silly Story

Take turns to tell a part of a story. The first person begins, for example, “  The brown bear wandered out of the wood and ….” .  The next person carries on “ … and found that he was in the middle of a party…” and so on. The stories can get really silly!

Pipe Cleaners

Pack a bag of multi coloured pipe cleaners (available from craft shops) and let creativity run wild. Children can make flowers, animals, chains, letters and much more!

Where are we?

Print out a map of your route for each person from an online route planner. Mark off places and landmarks on the map as you pass them. Also lets them see that you’re getting there!


Play tray

Take along a tray which can a base to draw / colour / use play dough on. It also makes a great platform for small figure/doll play. A thin sheet draped from the headrest of the front seat makes a great ‘den’ for playing under.

We also recommend taking old towels (in case of accidents), loads of wet wipes (sticky fingers) and lots of snacks, which will also pass some time. Don’t give food and drinks with a high sugar content - it will give them even more energy and make them even less able to sit still!

We'd love to hear your top journey games ideas!

Lisa & Tracey

Parent Support Awards 2011 - We won!!

A massive congratulations to our Stoke on Trent franchisee, Neroli Oakley, who recently won the Parent Support in a Pre-School Setting Award.

The Parent Support Awards have been introduced to celebrate good practice in parent support and parental engagement in learning.

The 2011 awards took place at Keele Hall, Keele University, Staffordshire on 16th June. This was open to schools and settings in the West Midlands areas.  From 2012 this will become a national event.

 Aims of the awards

• To celebrate and reward good practice in parent and family support in schools and settings
• To promote the value of high quality parent support and parental engagement in learning
• To gather case studies for other schools and settings to benefit from

Neroli was nominated for her passion and incredible energy for helping parents support their children's speech, language and communication development.

The person who nominated Neroli said 

"She delivers classes that help young children develop self esteem and social confidence, great listening and attention, turn taking and sharing skills, confidence communication, imagination and story telling and good pre-literacy skills."

Neroli is "Approachable and friendly and constantly goes beyond the call of duty."

We're very proud of you Roly ... keep up the good work!

Find out more about what we do at Talking Tots here.