Volume 7, Issue 1
Spring 2016
Family Faculty
Mountainside x5346
Nancy Panarese
Josanne Pearsall
Linda Waddell
New Brunswick x7576
Kathleen Garriques
Luciana Mendes-McGuire
Pat O’Hanlon
Shanette Pereira
Carrie Snyder
Uma Solaiyappan
Hamilton x2816
Sharon Clarken
Megan Fennelly
Toms River
Stevens Road x3757
Deidre Genovese
Michele Tomaino
Toms River
Lakehurst Road
Egg Harbor x 3961
Jessica Krill
Warren x8897
Lori Velasco
To reach us, please call
888-Children and use the
Extension listed
Bring Music into your Home
By Josanne Pearsall
Music in the home is wonderful for
children but did you know that it
helps them in school as well.
Builds Listening Skills- Try all
kinds of music- classical, salsa,
jazz, and folk. Chat about the music you like: "I really like the jazz
because it helps me relax”. Ask
questions: "I hear horns. What
instruments do you hear?” Listen
for details. Ask your child to focus
on the sounds of different instruments, the rhythm of the music,
and the words of new songs. This
will help your child learn to be a
good listener in school. Expand
Their Vocabulary- As you listen to
music together, introduce and talk
about new words
like rhythm and note. Listen for
new words in
song lyrics and
talk about what
they mean.
Rhyming is fun
and Develops
Reading Readiness skills-When
children listen to, repeat, and create rhymes, they learn to match
the sounds of language. And what
could better inspire rhyming than
playful children’s songs? As you
listen together, repeat the rhyming
words and encourage your child to
do the same. Take turns making
up your own rhyming verses. Make and Play instrumentsJust have fun
with the music. Try making a simple
shaker, put
dried beans
between two
paper plates
and staple the plates together.
Find rhythm sticks outdoors. Use
pan lids as cymbals, and march
around the house. Try a slow
march first, then a faster one.
Have fun and enjoy the music.
Hand in Hand
By Sharon Clarken
As we approach the summer
months most of us as parents are
thinking about camps and where
my child can best fit in! Look no
further as Camp Chatterbox,
sponsored by Children’s Specialized Hospital, is a weeklong overnight camp for children and young
adults, ages 5-22, who use synthesized Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. The camp offers two
unique programs – a family program for children ages 5-14 and
an independence and self- advo-
cacy program for
teens and
young
adults
ages 1522.
swimming pool, a ball field,
campfire site, natural trails,
gymnasium computer lab
and so much more to support our program activities.
For more information on
the camp including
Camp Chatterbox
camp fees, sponsorThe camp uses the
ships and registration
facilities of Camp
please visit:
Oakhurst in Monmouth County ,
childrens-specialized.org or email
NJ and is a 15-acre facility that
campchatterbox@gmail.com
includes 12 entirely accessible
buildings to accommodate all program activities. There is a heated
Parent Tips
•
Do a Helmet Check: If your child is on anything with wheels, he or she should wear a
helmet. A well-fitted helmet sits just above the eyebrows and the fastening straps create
a V-shape that surrounds the ears and then is fastened under the chin.
•
Check Playground Padding: After a long winter, playgrounds can look a bit worn. Safety
is at stake, especially underneath the slide area, which is the one place where the
'landing' cushioning lessens over time.
•
Protect Skin from the Sun: With the warm weather bringing us outdoors, don’t forget to
apply sunscreen. Use a sunscreen over 30 SPF that protects against UVA and UVB rays,
and reapply after 30 minutes.
Healthy and Happy
By Pat O’Hanlon
We are all bombarded with advice to
exercise more, eat healthier, and sleep
well. Personally, although I try my best,
I haven’t been able to accomplish those
healthy goals. Having the privilege of
raising a special needs child has taught
me so much. What he has taught me
along with the various lessons learned
in my lifeme is that having a posive
a tude is one of the most important
keys to overall happiness and health.
Principles that I try to live by are:
Keep a roune and a schedule: I look
forward to planning and enjoying each
day. I love my morning shower, ge ng
dressed, wearing something pre$y,
caring for my family, going to work, and
all the simple and hard things I face
each day. Realiscally knowing what to
expect gives me courage and helps be
embrace all the good and somemes
Did You Know?
By Dee Caruso
Did you know that Children’s
Specialized Hospital has a Benefit
Fund?
difficult
surprises
that may
come.
Look for
goodness:
I have
found it is
all around
us.
Someone
smiles as
they walk
by. My son’s health care providers give
my family their all and I thank them. I
acknowledge my grocery store
checkout person for working so quickly.
They smile in appreciaon.
Perfecon is out of the queson: I like
being a regular person. I keep learning
new things about
my family, myself,
those I interact
with every day. I
never want to
stop learning.
Surround yourself
with happy
people: Posive
energy drives
passion and
joyfulness. I love
my family, friends
and those that inspire thought
provoking conversaon.
Li yourself and others up: Recognize
how good you are. Let others know
how much they mean and how amazing
they are. For me being grateful is key
to being happy and healthy.
Did you know that Children’s Specialized Hospital has a
Benefit Fund?
locations. Amount provided is based on family
size, household income, and assets.
The hospital can provide free or reduced costs for
healthcare services as a benefit to our families.
The CSH Benefit Fund is not funded through the
state and not limited to lower income families. All
families should apply, even those with Medicaid or
private insurance. Qualifying Families can receive
up to 100% of financial coverage per child for
inpatient and outpatient services at all of our
Please take advantage of this wonderful
opportunity to see if your family is eligible for
these Benefits.
For more information call 908-233-3720 ext. 5193
or visit www.childrens-specialized.org/BenefitFund
Family Fun
By Uma Solaiyappan
Yippee spring is here!!! I love
this time of the year to spend
some quality time together as a
family. Here are a few springtime
family-friendly outing ideas.
Local Animal Farm:
Take your creature-loving child
to your local farm to learn all
about the wonders of new life.
Many farms also offer petting
zoos and fun activities,
Take a Hike: Whether you climb
a mountain or just stroll through
the woods, your
kids will love the
fresh air and
exercise. As an
extra activity, go
on a scavenger
hunt for leaves,
rocks, and other
objects found in the wilderness
and use them to create nature
crafts when you get home.
Community Garden:
Freshly grown produce
will get even the pickiest
eater to eat his veggies.
A community garden is
a great way to show
kids how fruits and
vegetables are grown,
and working together to
maintain a garden
teaches responsibility.
The fresh vegetables
you reap will make a yummy
reward.