Don't Let this post get by....

Mo Willems has done it, time and time again! Author and illustrator of the "Don't let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" (caldecott honor) and many others.

I love this interactive book.  My kids love to yell "NO!" when the pigeon asks to drive the bus.  My strong willed preschoolers occasionally are swayed when the pigeon offers them $5 bucks...but are easily redirected when reminded, "The bus driver said, don't let the pigeon drive the bus!" They then enthusiastically yell, "NO!"

**Hello labial-facial control!**

Best yet, there's an app for that! "Don't let the pigeon run this app".  This allows the user to create their very own pigeon story! The "chick" makes up a different story every use, "little pigeon" allows the user to choose different items from a field of three and "big pigeon" allows the user to answer questions using their own words/voice!  The author Mo Willems even teaches you to draw the pigeon in a step-by-step!

PROMPT:
Labial-Facial control: no, mo

Language:
Answer "Wh" questions, simple sequence

Don't let this book and app pass you by!

Hungry for Summer!

Here's a few activities that keep my clients compliant and engaged throughout the entire session! Read the book, make some art and of course play on the iPad!

READ THE BOOK:
I've been on a "Hungry Caterpillar" kick!  First I read the story to my clients and tell them they will read the story.  All my Pre-Schoolers tell me, "But I can't read!" I assure them they can!  Then using felt pieces I made (A.C. Moore sells iron on paper! I just scan and iron onto white felt) my clients "read" the story.  It's great to see how proud they are when they finish and I get to tell them they read the story!

*Leave a comment with your e-mail address and I can send you a copy of the pieces so you don't have to scan!*

ART PROJECT:
A fun companion activity we do after is we make our own symmetrical butterflies.  Using scented dot markers (Wal-mart!) we make dots and designs and fold our paper in half to make symmetrical designs.  The kids think it's neat, I love the dot markers cause they don't make a mess and we get to explore some sensory integration with smell!

*Remember those great markers your elementary art teacher let you use! Check out all their products*

INCORPORATE THE BELOVED iPAD:
I was able to grab this app during a free app sensational sale (Check it out)! I have my kids follow directions and practice counting!

ARTICULATION
need, dot, more, me, same, mmmm, one, two

Mandibular control: dot, need
Labial-Facial control: more, me, same, mmmm
Lingual control: one, two

LANGUAGE

sequence; first/next/then/last, labeling (food items), counting, answering/asking "WH?", predicting ("What do you think yellow will smell like?"), follow directions

Smell ya later!

APP-Y HOUR: Glowcoloring

Glowcoloring

I love to use this with one of my school aged clients.  We practice writing spelling words, and she loves to pick a color to write in (one only, otherwise we would be picking colors ALL day!)

This is a great app not only for free-hand drawing, but for coloring/worksheets! Yes. You can import any picture from your photo album and bam! Boring old sheet because super fun and exciting with colors and stamps.  I use Dropbox to store all my exciting papers.

What are you waiting for. "Glow" and download it!

APP-Y HOUR: Lazoo

LAZOO: let's color (FREE!)
LAZOO: squiggles (FREE!)

That's right folks. Free. This is another triple threat: articulation. language, pragmatics.

Tell your occupational therapist friends! Drawing shapes/lines to create a picture that is put into motion.  Wonderful app to work on a variety of goals.

Articulation: Tons of pictures with many possible words to work on.  At the end of drawing you press the "go" button and your picture is animated!

Language: WH? (What's coming out of the hose? What color? yada yada yada)

Pragmatics: Turn taking, **spoiler alert** there is a picture of a toliet, and you can flush whatever you'd like down.  It tells you to "draw poops".  Personally, I avoid this one picture.  But there are certain situations where this would work (i.e. potty training, fear of pooping).

Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch? What about an app!?