On November 10th, Stephanie Sigal, a New York City speech – language pathologist spoke to a group of over 20 early childhood teachers, directors and special needs coordinators about how speech and language develop over the first five years of life and strategies to promote children’s speech and language skills.
image courtesy of www.sayandplayfamily.com
Stephanie spoke about the benefits of eliminating habits that encourage poor oral motor skills (e.g., sippy cups, bottles, pacifiers) and the importance of encouraging language skills through the right level of modeling for each child. She discussed the importance of not only reading to children every day, but how important it is to choose books that will encourage speech and language skills. Stephanie pointed out how crucial it is for babies, toddlers and even school age children to be read to face-to-face so that they can observe facial expressions. Our faces, and especially our mouths should always be visible to children in conversation.
Staff left the training excited and referred to the workshop as “eye opening.” Many of the participants, who are parents themselves, spoke about how they would immediately begin to incorporate Stephanie’s tips into their work with children at home and at school.
Stephanie Sigal MA CCC-SLP offers speech, language and oral motor therapy for babies, toddlers and school age children in Manhattan. She specializes in assessing and treating articulation disorders from an oral motor perspective. Stephanie’s methods improve speech clarity and resolve problems such as tongue thrusting and drooling. Stephanie also has family-friendly language programs to help young children maximize language skills.
You can learn more about Stephanie and her Manhattan-based speech therapy company Say and Play, at: http://www.sayandplayfamily.com/
Tags: Children, children's aid new york, Healthy Habits
By Children's Aid Society
The Children’s Aid Society’s Drew Hamilton Learning Center runs an arts-based after-school program, with a special focus on music. The overarching goal of music instruction at the Drew Hamilton Learning Center is to develop musicianship, discipline, and self-esteem; the program pursues this goal in various ways.
The 70 students enrolled in the program participate for an average of 2-6 hours per week. Students are taught music fundamentals –reading music, history, theory and related skills.
A keystone of the program is instruction in a variety of instruments: percussion, violin, bass guitar, trumpet, saxophone, keyboard and flute. Teaching artists instruct the students in a small group setting, ultimately seeking to enable youth to create their own original music through improvisation. This DHLC after-school music program creates specific opportunities for instruction leading up to performances, promoting self-confidence and poise in each student.
The music program connects parents and other community members to the center by providing them with occasions to listen to and celebrate music though performances both within the center and in the surrounding community. Students in the performing groups, 
such as the Drew Drummers and the Harmony in Harlem Jazz Ensemble, share their talents throughout the community.
This past year, the students performed at the CAS 8th Annual Children’s Art Show, Make Music New York, and Harlem Week. We look forward to another year of jamming in Harlem and the inspiration that music brings to our youth.
-Mary Newcomb
Tags: Chiildren's Aid New York, Children, Healthy Habits, What is Children's Aid
By Children's Aid Society
The East Harlem Head Start program partnered with the Mexican Consulate and hosted a family Health Fair this morning.
Representatives from neighborhood hospitals, clinics, and health agencies provided information and free screenings for the families.
Information tables were set up in the gym and a mobile health van was parked out in front of the Center.
In addition, short workshops focused on topics such as women’s health, nutritious cooking, and health care access for immigrants. It was a very healthy day!
Tags: Children, children's aid new york, Health Care, Healthy Habits, What is Children's Aid
By Moira
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