Reading to your child is the best predictor of successful school outcome.

Plan book time into your daily schedule.

The memories will last a lifetime.

Have YOU read these to your child?

The Book Review’s 10 Best Illustrated Children’s Books for 2011, in alphabetical order, are: “Along a Long Road,” written and illustrated by Frank Viva (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers); “A Ball for Daisy,” written and illustrated by Chris Raschka (Schwartz & Wade); “Brother Sun, Sister Moon: Saint Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures,” written by Katherine Paterson, illustrated by Pamela Dalton (Chronicle Books); “Grandpa Green,” written and illustrated by Lane Smith (Roaring Brook Press); “Ice,” written and illustrated by Arthur Geisert (Enchanted Lion Books); “I Want My Hat Back,” written and illustrated by Jon Klassen (Candlewick Press); “Me … Jane,” written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers); “Migrant,” written by Maxine Trottier, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault (Groundwood Books); “A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis,” written by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Dial); and “A New Year’s Reunion,” written by Yu Li-Qiong, illustrated by Zhu Cheng-Liang (Candlewick Press). Next year, The New York Times Best Illustrated awards will celebrate its 60th anniversary.

There is no better language learning that reading to and with your child.

The best predictor of school outcome is how much a child reads and is read to at HOME.

Thoughts for Thanksgiving Hugs 

I love to hug children

They feel so good

I’d hug them every day

If only I should.

But hugs are for parents

Grandparents and such

Professionals should go with

High fives, knuckles, and thumbs up.

Today, on Thanksgiving

Give your family your best

Squeeze them with hugs

Save High Fives for the rest.

I just returned from the American Speech/Language Hearing Association National Convention in San Diego. I attended many wonderful sessions on autism/ASD/Aspergers syndrome. I worked in the exhibit hall and enjoyed the city with my husband.

Be sure to catch my Autism Spectrum Blogs on ADVANCE for the Speech Language Pathologist. The ASHA blogs are being posted at least twice a week. Lots of great information and tips for SLPs and parents.

I have also posted three collages On the Road with Humpty Dumpy. Mr. Humpty had so much fun at ASHA and of course, he’s always the center of attention.

The picture at the top is of several of my ASHA name badges. I’ve been attending since the 1980′s.

 Want JOINT ATTENTION ~ POINT

There is near POINTING and distant POINTING.

Children with autism especially, have difficulty following a distant point.

“Look at that dog on his bed.” (while pointing)

Pointing to a picture in a book is near pointing.

PRACTICE BOTH !

Life is filled with sequences.

Sequence for you child by naming 1, 2, 3 or

first – middle – last

I would like to announce, my soon to be launched, children’s book

Bayo the Boo Cow

from Ink and Quill Publisher, Henderson, NV

Bayo means to find joy in Nigerian.

Boo ~ Boo ~ Boo, Bayo could not say “Moo.”

Parents and Teachers – you will be thrilled to find a barn load of oral motor exercises at the end of Bayo to practice with your chilren for developmental articulation skills. 

These exercises are written by Kathie Harrington, M.A., CCC, SLP

Kathie has years of experience working with children with speech and language disorders as well as developmental milestones.  Let Kathie and Bayo show you and your child fun and empowering strategies for speech development that can be successful individually or in a classroom environment.

Bayo the Boo Cow will be available shortly.

E-mail me for pre-orders and I’ll give you a “cowabunga” of great deal.

kathieh2@cox.net

Be sure to check out and “Like” me on my new Facebook   page, KATHIE HARRINGTON’S AMAZING AUTISM PAGE.

This is another new way of presenting information and inspiration to the autism/ASD community.

Share with your family and friends.

After all – life is AMAZING!