Did you know??

• The brain weighs approximately three pounds. So, can we deduct this from what we weigh so everyone feels better when getting weighed at the doctor....since it's the same for everybody- fair is fair! Men's brains are slightly larger than women's by only a few grams. There is no evidence that men are smarter than women because of their larger brains. Did you really need to ask if they were???
• Studies show that fifty minutes of exercise per day improves the executive skills of the brain. These skills include planning, organizing and multitasking. Does this mean that now I'm only smart every other day when I work out???
• In 2003, over one hundred violent crimes were perpetrated by children under sixteen who testified that they had difficulty distinguishing between reality and what the were playing in a video game. Video games are a $10 billion industry in America. I remember seeing this as a problem in the classroom with my older students that could easily be absorbed or obsessed into video games instead of socializing with their peers.
• Singing to yourself is a sign of a healthy brain. Classical music played in the nursery improves the health of a preemie, causes weight gain faster, and lowers the anxiety of the preemie's parents. I play baroque music in my classroom and it is unbelievable the difference I see in the children when it is not playing. The students and I had to get used to having this play in the background at first, but then we knew something was off or different if I forgot to turn it on. Can you picture teenage boys and girls asking for Bach or Mozart in the class??? They did!

Menu Planning Themes

Meatless Monday

Breakfast for supper

Souper Saturday

Crockpot Fridays

Pasta Tuesdays

Sandwiches Wednesday

Monday- chicken

Tuesday-beef

Wednesday-slowcooker

Thursday-sandwich

Friday-out to eat

Saturday-grilling

Sunday-Roast

• Monday – Meatless Monday, Red Beans & Rice (traditional Monday meal in Louisiana)

• Tuesday – Italian Tuesday, Picnic Tuesday

• Wednesday – Crockpot Wednesday, Casserole Night

• Thursday – Leftover Night, Breakfast Night

• Friday – Pizza Night, Fiesta Friday, Fish Friday

• Saturday – Grill Night, Baked Bean Supper (a tradition in New England)

• Sunday – Soup Sunday in fall/winter, Salad Sunday in spring/summer

Meal Ideas

Week 1

Sunday - Roast, Carrots, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli and Cheese, Rolls

Monday - Leftovers

Tuesday - Spaghetti and Green Beans

Wednesday- Leftovers

Thursday - Chicken Stew with red potatoes and Veg-all in stew

Friday- Order out

Saturday- BBQ Chicken, baked beans, potato salad

Week 2

Sunday - Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Monday- Leftovers

Tuesday - Minute Steak Sandwiches

Wednesday - Lemon Pepper Chicken with Provolone on French Roll

Thursday - Meatball Marinara Sandwiches and Green Salad

Friday - Order out

Saturday - Ribs, shells and cheese, baked beans, garlic bread

Week 3

Sunday - Spicy shredded pork with tortillas and pico de gallo

Monday - Leftovers

Tuesday - Sloppy Joes and chips

Wednesday - Leftovers

Thursday - Pan Fried Pork Chops with smash potatoes, blackeyed peas

Friday- Order Out

Saturday- Hamburgers and fries

Week 4

Sunday - Chicken Spaghetti

Monday - Leftovers

Tuesday - Tacos and mexican rice

Wednesday- Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

Thursday- Leftovers

Friday- Order Out

Saturday- Fried Fish and french fries with coleslaw

Must Reads for Interventions

The Out of Sync Child Has Fun

My favorite book with good old-fashioned activities that anyone can do, regardless of where they are or who they are with. I had forgotten about playing "airplane" until I read this book and remembered how much fun it was to play when I was little. Not sure if you remember playing it, but its when the adult lays on the ground, lifts the child in the air with their legs so the child gets the feeling they are flying like an airplane. I love using this in therapy with my 3 year olds. You also get a great leg work-out as an added benefit :0

I always recommend this book to my parents so that they get some useful ideas for play at home or elsewhere. Each chapter is based on the sensory systems and activities you can use with your child.

The New Language of Toys

This is an updated version of the book I currently have. So glad they wrote a new version, but the older one was great using older toys that some of us penny-pinching teachers still use in therapy. The book is broken down into developmental ages and provides language-rich vocabulary the caretaker can use when playing. Basically, it helps those of us who get stuck with ideas of what we can say when playing with the kids. And yes, I struggle with my own son as to what I say when playing Star Wars or the other imaginative games an 8 year old boy enjoys playing. Never fear though, Logan loves to direct the play by telling me exactly what to say, do, and how to let him end up being the hero!

The Late Talker

This is a great book for parents who are concerned that their child could have apraxia. I have borrowed this book, and yes I need to return it to one of my awesome parents ASAP! It walks the parent through every aspect of getting help, what works best, insurance, and characteristics to watch for.

Engaging Autism

Based on the Floortime Approach by Dr. Stanley Greenspan, this book gives caretakers a wealth of information to use with children to develop an engaging program for therapy. I love the Floortime Approach because it is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Each program is based on the individual child and identifying his developmental stage so that therapy is tailored to meet his needs. This approach uses bits and pieces from some of the well-known therapy techniques used to get our kids talking and interacting with others. I could go on and on, but will say this book is just the beginning of being introduced to Dr. Greenspan's approach. You would want to check out the ICDL site for more info.