Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - 2023

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a leader of the civil rights movement, fighting to end racial discrimination and segregation in the United States. Those are big ideas for preschoolers and elementary kids to understand, but it's never too early to begin teaching them to follow Dr. King's example by treating people fairly and kindly. Whether you hit the road for a community celebration or stay at home to make some crafts together, you have lots of options on January 16!

LEARNING ABOUT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was once a kid - just like you! Kid President tells you all about the man he became, and what he did for our country.

Source: Kid President on YouTube

A list of children's books that teach kids about MLK and celebrate his life and legacy.

Source: The Conscious Kid

HOW TO CELEBRATE MLK DAY

Area communities are offering plenty of family-friendly events and activities in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. and all he accomplished.

Source: Metro Parent

From books to movies to parades, here's how to bring hope and meaning to your Martin Luther King Day holiday.

Source: NBC News

It’s more important now than ever to have healthy, ongoing conversations with our children about race and racism in our country.

Source: Metro Parent

MLK-THEMED ACTIVITIES & CRAFTS

Information about MLK, ways to celebrate, activities, projects, games and trivia.

Source: Family Education

Celebrate the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with these educational resources.

Source: Education.com

A fun and learning and anti-racism activity. Practice letters while learning and discussing the different and beautiful shades of all people.

Source: Happy Toddler Playtime

21 fun and easy to crafts and activities to help the next generation of kids understand and learn about the message of love, peace and respect for all peoples that MLK tried to promote during his life.

Source: Happy Toddler Playtime

Free PDF pages are super easy to download and print.

Source: Primary Games

MLK VIDEOS FOR KIDS

Elmo and his friends are making a Peace Tree to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. They each draw pictures on leaves to show how they will carry on Dr. King’s wish by treating people fairly and kindly, but Elmo doesn’t know what to draw.

Source: Sesame Street

This cartoon version of Martin Luther King is fun and easy for young artists.

Source: Art for Kids Hub

Sing along with this super fun educational Martin Luther King lyric video for kids.

Source: The Kiboomers (YouTube)

"I am the Dream" will help kids feel inspired and believe that they can achieve anything that they want to no matter the color of their skin. Kids will learn about the historical and modern day inspirational black figures that paved the way for them to succeed.

Source: Mr. Pete's Playhouse (YouTube)

KCC Awards Grant for K-SLP Clinical Research

March 11, 2021

The Kaufman Children’s Center is pleased to announce the award of a new clinical research grant to Aravind Namasivayam, Ph.D., Reg. CASLPO, S-LP(C) from the Speech Research Centre Inc. in Toronto, Canada. Dr. Namasivayam will conduct research on the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol (K-SLP) over the next 18 months.

In 2018, Dr. Namasivayam founded the Speech Research Centre Inc., which is a knowledge translation and implementation science group with the aim of making evidence-informed practice accessible to frontline clinicians worldwide. He is also the cofounder of Hear2Speak.org, a non-profit organization for improving speech pathology and audiology services in majority countries.

Dr. Namasivayam is a research associate in the Oral Dynamics Lab at the University of Toronto and routinely teaches speech physiology, research methods, and speech sound disorders courses at the University.

A 2008 Ph.D. graduate of the University of Toronto, Dr. Namasivayam is the recipient of many awards at the national and international level, including both the prestigious National Award for Excellence in Applied Research and the Mentorship Award from Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC). He has published 40 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and has presented at over 60 international conferences and workshops.

 

Nancy's Parent Presentation on CAS

Nancy Kaufman recently gave a virtual presentation to a group of over 100 parents. The event was hosted by the Parish School and Carruth Center in Houston, TX where Nancy normally visits once a year to consult. This year she was grounded due to COVID-19 restrictions, but that didn't stop her from connecting online for an instructive and entertaining presentation on childhood apraxia of speech.

Good news for everyone - our friends at Parish and Carruth recorded the session so you can watch too!

K-SLP Research & Clinical Excellence

A Message from Nancy R. Kaufman, MA, CCC-SLP

Parents understandably want the very best for their children, and they are inundated with information about different types of therapy. In the search for the best approach, we often look for proof, and I am often asked about the research behind the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol (K-SLP). We’d like to take some time to address this.

I value research and respect the professionals whose intentions are to determine what constitutes best practices for those with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). However, it is important to consider the expertise of the clinician who is on the front lines, working with children daily, yielding years of experience with what we know works. Clinical experience is just as important as research.

The best evidence informed practice consists not only of researched evidence, but also of clinical expertise and the parent’s satisfaction of their child’s treatment:

Research on Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Here are some thoughts about research from our friends at Apraxia Kids.

Most of our treatment research with children who have CAS is based on small sample sizes (i.e., small numbers of patients). That said, this research has still given some answers about the best approaches for working with children who have CAS. By looking at the “evidence” a speech/language pathologist can determine which approaches are most likely to work and which approaches to avoid.  

Apraxia Kids

We also must ask ourselves, since research is an ongoing process how do we address the needs of children who may not be benefiting from a protocol with a higher level of research.  This is a real concern and one that needs to be addressed.  Here is Apraxia Kids’ position on this matter.

Sometimes clinicians have to use professional experience and opinion combined with the available research to try something slightly different, particularly if the approaches with the strongest “evidence-base” aren’t working for a child. Clinicians have to monitor progress and adapt when a child is not meeting her/his goals and objectives. The approach should still have some evidence base – even if it’s minimal. Evidence base includes knowledge of theoretical foundations of how children learn, how speech production works. Based on this knowledge, clinicians can generate ideas/hypotheses (sophisticated educated guesses) about what might work for a given child.

Apraxia Kids

With that in mind, we must understand that just because an approach has been researched with positive results does not mean approaches that have not been researched are at all inferior. What is important is that the approach follows best practices found within the most-current research.

The K-SLP was developed in the early 1980’s. This was during the time when research was just beginning regarding CAS. However, it is exciting to find that the K-SLP has been following the most current research on CAS since its inception. The K-SLP has never been a stagnant method. It continues to evolve whenever new research calls for changes or updates in how techniques are implemented.

The K-SLP is rooted in the principles of behavior learning, which have existed since the 1950s and mirror current research for the principles of motor learning:

  • Establishing a behavior that doesn’t exist
    Example: gaining vocal imitation or gaining an increase of isolated vowels or consonants
  • Improving upon a behavior that does exist
    Example: helping children to have improved speech clarity to use functionally for expressive language
  • Extinguishing behaviors that are interfering to the process
    Example: adding schwa, adding extra vowels or syllables
  • Behavior management
    Example: eliminating behaviors interfering with progress in therapy

Specifically for CAS, the K-SLP methods include the following:

  • Choosing target words on the basis of the child’s vowel and consonant repertoire and determining best approximations toward perfection of words that will provide the child with functional communication, starting with single words
  • Implementing and fading multisensory cues (visual, auditory, tactile/proprioceptive)
  • Implementing different practice schedules (massed, distributed, etc.) to facilitate target words and phrases
  • Implementing errorless teaching (cueing before failure)
  • Mixing and varying tasks to avoid teaching overgeneralization
  • Using reinforcement strategically, according to the child’s interests and needs
  • Coaching parents and caregivers through play and natural environment teaching

The K-SLP materials were created out of a necessity arising from clinicians who have been implementing these methods. Although the materials were originally created for clinicians, they have been found to be effective for parents when instructed by the SLP. Coaching parents through play and the natural environment is inherent to the K-SLP.

Children from the United States and over a dozen other countries have become effective vocal communicators with the K-SLP methods. While we continue researching treatment approaches, we are all attempting to clearly define CAS.  As a clinician I have looked at speech-motor skills on a continuum and do feel there are levels of severity for CAS.  I maintain that this will be validated.

K-SLP Success Stories

Below you can watch videos of children with varying degrees of CAS who have made significant progress. This is due to the team effort between me and their SLP teams, parents, family members, and caregivers…as well as the children's own hard work!

Jason’s Progress

VIEW VIDEOS

John O’s Progress

VIEW VIDEOS

John S’s Progress

VIEW VIDEOS

Josie’s Progress

VIEW VIDEOS

 

View More Videos

Click below for the before-and-after videos of more kids!

Child Progress Library

We will be posting a few additional videos per month. If you have not seen your child’s videos, it is possible that they are scheduled to be showcased at a later time, or we may not have been able to locate early videos.

We would love to hear about your child's success with the K-SLP methods. Please contact us.

Email the KCC

A Statement on Racial Equality

All of us at the Kaufman Children’s Center are grateful for these eloquent words from the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence and extend our feelings of solidarity with their statement. Always choose kindness!

 

Parent Education Program (PEP) Talk on CAS & the KSLP

PRESENTED BY NANCY R. KAUFMAN, MA, CCC-SLP

Nancy R. Kaufman, the KCC's director and a well-known specialist in childhood apraxia of speech, is excited to offer this complimentary one-hour course for parents! Included is a wealth of information of what Nancy has learned to be effective therapy for CAS from over 40 years of experience.

Don't miss the links on this page that provide lots of extra information mentioned in the video, including a printable list of fun, therapeutic activities you can do at home with your child.

Resources for Home-Based Fun & Learning

While keeping ourselves and others healthy by social distancing and staying home is a necessity, it's not always easy, especially with restless kids at home for the foreseeable future! Here are some web-based activities we found that may provide some fun and learning over the next few weeks. Click for links and more information.

Master Lists of Activities - Many Free!

A constantly updated spreadsheet of education companies offering free subscriptions due to school closings from Amazing Educational Resources

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Companies and websites offering free subscriptions and resources during COVID. Pins from PediaStaff.

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A comprehensive list of educational companies offering free subscriptions due to school closings.

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These activities are free, except for the board games and some of the apps, and may even help keep skills up while your child’s school is closed.

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Virtual Field Trips

A list of more than 40 different places you can explore online with your kids!

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A long list of fun and wonderful websites that will show you different parts of the world, famous landmarks, beautiful works of art, historic marvels, science adventures and so much more! (Thanks to our friend Ella for telling us about this great page!)

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Kids can go from Ellis Island to Mars without leaving the couch!

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Check out the zoo's live streams, educational content and more!

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Learning & Movement Activities

Practice math and reading skills while playing games.

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Lessons on how to draw people, animals, and popular characters - perfect for any age, all you need is a few supplies!

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Yoga, mindfulness and relaxation designed specially for kids aged 3+, used in schools and homes all over the world.

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Author and illustrator Mo Willems will offer Daily Lunch Doodles from 1 PM – 1:20 PM through March 27. Learners worldwide can draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing by visiting Mo’s studio virtually once a day for the next few weeks. Grab some paper and pencils, pens, or crayons and join Mo to explore ways of writing and making together.

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Fluency & Fitness is typically used in classrooms for review purposes, but the company is giving families 21 days of free, unlimited access during school closures due to coronavirus. Your access to content will simply expire after that time period. The site includes easy online access to 60+ reading and math topics, video library with over 900 videos to review 365+ skills, access to all K-2 content, and ways to incorporate learning and movement while keeping your child engaged and having fun.

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Fun and free ways to learn at home, categorized by school subject.

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Offers a number of free online games for kids. Games touch upon a variety of topics, including vocabulary, grammar, reading, math and some that are just for fun! Check out Plural Girls, Grammar Gorillas or click on the reading tab for some great language activities.

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Fun songs and videos that are great for motor imitation and kids love!

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The program uses effective, interactive online episodes to teach K-5 students the reading fundamentals and comprehension skills they need to become successful readers. Also supports children with ASD.

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Read, play games, conduct science experiments.

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A a nonprofit with the mission to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.

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Jack Hartmann performs songs and educational videos will help your children learn counting, numbers, reading and language skills, nursery rhymes, science, physical fitness, dance and movement. Children actively participate in all the learning with lots of movement and fun. These songs for kids have a tremendous diversity of musical styles from pop, Hip-Hop, Latin, country and rock.

LINK

Learning A-Z is an education technology company dedicated to expanding literacy through thoughtfully designed resources.

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Online guided reading program with interactive ebooks, downloadable books, and reading quizzes..

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Many of your kids' favorite authors will be reading their stories online!

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Phonics and read-along stories.

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Children's digital learning library with lots of activities you can explore by theme.

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Watch, listen, and play games to learn about amazing animals.

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Speech & Language

This is a great site where children plan a variety of games to practice r’s, s’s, l’s, sh’s and ch’s.

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Several printable pages of speech and language activities to try at home with your kids.

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No or low ink, FREE activities and handouts that parents can carry out at home, from the Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) website

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A fun collection of tongue twisters to practice speech sounds and giggle at the same time!

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Sensory & Play Ideas

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 4tsp cream of tartar
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 tbs. vegetable oil
  • Add food coloring and any scented extract you prefer

Mix all in a sauce pan with a wooden spoon until combined.  Turn on heat to medium low.  Continue stirring occasionally as consistency becomes thicker and be sure to scrap bottom sides.  When dough starts to form, and create a ball remove from stove and dump onto counter and “knead” well.  Should be soft, easy to use play dough.  Store for weeks in airtight bag or container.

Use cookie sheets lined with paper. Put small vehicles in small bowls of paint and “drive them” onto the paper making roads with the wheels. Put marbles or small balls of different sizes into the paint and roll them around on the cookie sheet to make patterns.

At least 13 different scavenger hunts you and your kids can do around the house and yard.

LINK

Use shoe boxes or other containers and add rice, small objects, letters, numbers, etc. for kids to find. Consider themed sensory bins (vehicles, animals, etc.).

Easy, fine motor, occupational therapy activities at home that parents can do with their children. Activities are simple to carry out, use materials from around the house, and are motivating to the kids.

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Self-Care & Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

Refer to the VB-MAPP self-care checklist to identify areas to target at home

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Share this online training video with your kids!

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Specifically for Kids with ASD

Local resources

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Camp Discovery is an app specifically for children with autism. It uses behavior analytics strategies within the app (errorless learning, within stimulus prompts, error corrections, etc) and offers a variety of skills to work on (sight words, color id, letter id, body parts, emotions, matching, categories. Free and only requires an email to set up.

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Facebook page that shares behavior tips via live videos.

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COVID-19 for Kids

Who is Covid? What is it doing in town? And how can we keep it away?  This visual story was created for kids to better understand the 2019 novel coronavirus and the COVID-19 illness it causes.

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"Time to Come in, Bear" is a very cute story explaining the importance of social distancing to young kids.

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Learn the best hand-washing techniques with Baby Shark and friends!

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Here are some tips for talking to anxious kids about coronavirus:

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Resources for Parents

An ongoing list of COVID-19 related resources.

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Free downloads by topic.

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A free webinar on how to stay sane when you're home with your kids all day. It's scheduled live for Wednesday, March 18 and will be posted to YouTube after that.

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Fun things to do at home with your kids while you're observing social distancing.

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Share Your Links!

If you've come across other resources, please let us know!

Email the KCC

 

Therapist Tips

Info from our staff on speech, OT, ABA, and general topics

Visit page

 

Helpful Handouts

Click for full, printable copies.

Fun Activities for Home

Keep It Simple & Real

Tips During Times of Crisis

Tips to Keep Healthy

KCC's ABA Program Earns Prestigious BHCOE Accreditation

Recognized as Behavioral Health Center of Excellence

The Kaufman Children’s Center is thrilled to be recognized as a Behavioral Health Center of Excellence! The accreditation comes at the end of a lengthy process and acknowledges the center as a provider dedicated to continuous improvement in applied behavior analysis (ABA).

Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCOE) accreditation recognizes behavioral health providers that excel in the areas of clinical quality, staff qualifications, and consumer satisfaction and promote systems that enhance these areas. These areas are measured via a wide-ranging audit, including interviews with agency clinical leadership, in-depth on-site observation, a detailed staff qualification review, anonymous staff satisfaction survey, and anonymous consumer satisfaction survey.

“At the Kaufman Children’s Center, we are excited to be recognized for our commitment to highly effective and ethical behavioral care that is both evidence-based and personal,” said Director of Autism Programs Kerry Peterson. “Our team strives to provide services that create positive and meaningful change for our clients and their families. We are excited to continue to provide comprehensive behavior analysis services of the highest quality years to come.”

BHCOE accreditation is the only ABA-specific accreditation. It provides feedback regarding clinical best practices, staff satisfaction and turnover, and consumer protection. Acting as a third-party, the organization systematically measures and reports on existing quality criteria in the behavior analysis community using standardized methods and practices and accredits only those service agencies that meet these standards.

Learn more below!

BHCOE Accreditation

BHCOE Accreditation is a trusted source that recognizes behavioral health organizations committed to continuous quality improvement. BHCOE offers a third-party measurement system that differentiates and provides independent feedback on clinical quality indicators. The BHCOE criterion features standards that subject-matter experts developed to measure effective applied behavior analysis services.

Kaufman Children's Center ABA Program

The KCC’s intensive early ABA program has enjoyed a reputation of excellence for over 10 years. Our ABA program is unique in that it includes an emphasis on communication (verbal behavior). Children benefit from the coordination of ABA, speech-language, and occupational therapists who work together daily under one roof. This includes highly trained speech-language pathologists who provide input on a daily basis to successfully address the unique needs of children with autism who also struggle to produce speech. Our team approach ensures support of all of the child’s goals to the maximum extent across all settings. Children may receive ABA treatment here within our beautiful, state-of-the-art clinic, in their own homes, or in both settings for a combined approach.  Home-based programs are staffed with the same technicians who provide services in our clinic setting.

"Unbabbled" Podcast Features Nancy Kaufman

Nancy Kaufman was a guest on Unbabbled, a podcast from The Parish School, a Houston, TX school that focuses on communication skills, social learning, and independence. During their chat, Nancy explained the unique characteristics of childhood apraxia of speech, while discussing her treatment approach and steps parents can take toward diagnosis and treatment.

About Unbabbled:

Navigating the world of special education, communication delays and learning differences can be a challenge. Tune in twice a month to hear Stephanie Landis and Meredith Krimmel, two speech-language pathologists at The Parish School, interview guests from parents to industry professionals with the goal of providing guidance, insight and hope to those touched by children who are differently wired. Each episode will cover a different topic related to education or child development. Whether you’re the parent or caregiver of a neurodiverse child who has autism, a speech-language delay or a learning disability, or you’re an educator who works with special needs children, this podcast is for you.