The Digital Divide

There are fabulous teachers educating our children but there may be some techniques that you may want to question. For example, are high school teacher's relying too much on parents to make sure the work gets done? Is it really helping the child when you allow them to opt out of doing a presentation? Should teachers be relying so much on technology to educate our high schoolers? Too much of anything can be bad and utilizing these approaches may be impeding our children's ability to grow into adults with problems solving, social, and critical thinking skills.  

Should our schools be implementing communication skills training? I took a survey to get an idea of which communication skills  parents thought should be taught in school because an important skill  that is missing and should be included in their curriculum to help them. Take a listen and see if you agree with the survey on what communication  skills our schools should be focusing on and  teaching our children.

Are young adults ready to use their communications skills in the work environment? Do they know the Communication Do's and Don'ts to get hired or to maintain employment? Before entering the workforce, you need to be aware of what is expected of you vs. what you may actually be doing. In this episode I review a survey taken from FB Business Groups of the communication  expectations and red flags when hiring new employees.   You always want to communicate you're the best person for the job and that is difficult to do if you have poor communication skills. 

In this fun episode I am lucky to have 3 special guests who are all educators for different grade levels.  Alison, Jen, & Nancy discuss with me the importance of communication for life readiness.  How are the communication skills for our teens different no compared to years ago as we grew up, what has caused the change, and how it is hurting our students and young adults.  We also discuss ways to engage students in age appropriate communication activities, what parents can do to help, and what are some red flags parents need to be aware of.  

It is during their school years that your child learns the basic skills needed to communicate with others.  When they graduate they need to be able to implement the communication skills they've learned in order to progress .  The  way your child communicates beyond school, at work and with others, can make or break their growth and success. In this episode you will learn some activities to keep your teens talking. Don't leave all the conversations at school, help your children be confident in their communication skills so they will be able to interact with anyone, anywhere, for any reason.  Your consistent input, guidance, and support is crucial.   

Do you know if your child's use of technology is helping or hurting your child's communication development? Today's episode discusses the positives and negatives of technology  use.  While technology is necessary in today's society, it is something that you need to be prepared to deal with and put limits on when it comes to your young children. 

Get an inside look at an Early Educators expectations and perspective on communication development. In this fun interview with my dear friend Jen; an early education teacher with over 20 years experience, you will learn what your child is expected to be able to accomplish at different grade levels. We also discuss activities in the classroom that provide opportunities to expand language and communication, the importance of  providing your child  with language rich experiences and how, as well as,  the importance of seeking  early intervention if warranted.

What should your child be doing by the time they are 5?  Their understanding of the world is much more consistent along with their ability to express themselves more clearly.  You may notice some dysfluent moments when they speak but don't worry yet.  Know and understand the difference between typical developmental disfluencies vs. what is not typical so you can seek help when needed. Be aware of how to support your child's development and when to seek professional advice/intervention. 

Do you know what your child should be able to understand and say by age 4? Do you know what you can expect from them socially and how to help them grow their overall communications skills?  At this age, you may want to think about letting them take the lead a little bit.  Give them the opportunities to interact and express themselves with others.  You are your child's biggest role model, be the best example of a great communicator as much as you can.  Be aware of the definite red flags at this age to seek professional advice and early intervention if necessary. 

What should your 3 year-old be doing?  At this age they are understanding more and you need to start to be careful about what you say around them because they are repeating things like crazy!! Your ability to understand them when they speak has also progressed and you should understand your child approximately 75% of the time when they speak.  At this age you need to think about getting rid of a pacifier if he/she is still using it.  While it is very beneficial for infants at this stage prolonged or overuse of the pacifier can put your child at risk for speech/language delays. 

Should you understand everything your child says between the age of 24-30 months?  While your child's understanding is expanding day by day, his/her ability to express his/her self has not quite caught up.  Speech sounds are developing however, not all speech sounds are perfected and you should expect to hear errors.  While your child is developing language skills,  he/she is becoming more independent as well.  Participateing in  pretend play and playing  with other children is a great way to help your child develop communication skills, among other things.  What red flags should you be aware of during this time frame?  Remember Early Intervention is Key. 

Did you know that by age 2 your child will understand anywhere from 150-300 words?  Between the age of 18-24 months your child is like a sponge and  learning new things each day.  They will become more independent and start using that glorious word parents love, "no."   Your child will be making gains not only with their language skills but also with their social skills and understanding of the world around them.  Learn how to encourage their development during this stage of growth. Be aware of the red flags in their development process to address any questions or concerns and seek early intervention if necessary.

Do you know what toys are best to help your children develop their communication skills?
While the holidays are upon us and your children will be inundated with toys, not all toys are equal in how they can help your child grow.  It may surprise you to hear what toys are truly best for your child's development.  In todays episode listen to what kinds of toys are best and why.  I will provide you with examples of some really great toys and advice on what to do with those that may not be the best at encouraging development. 

Have you noticed how different your baby is at 1.5 compared to how he/she was as an infant?  They are growing in their development by leaps and bounds.  At this age they are not only absorbing all the information around them but they are also starting to express themselves more with clarity and meaning.  This episode reviews those communication milestones you will see between 1 & 1.5.  Not only are they developing receptively & expressively but you will also see their social development become more evident.  Take a listen and understand not only how they are developing but also how you can help in the process. 

Did you know your baby is learning conversation skills as an infant? From 6-12 months your babies communication is becoming more consistent. His/her understanding of the world  is expanding and helping them develop intentional communication.  While your child is is starting to understand more, you will see he/she is starting to make a variety of gestures, sounds, and even a few words by age 1.  In this episode you will learn some of the milestones to expect, how to stimulate communication, how important it is to encourage and engage in conversation, and what are some of the red flags to be aware of during this stage.   Remember you are the best communication role model for your child, every child develops differently, and there is wide range of what's considered "normal" development.  

Did you know your child is communicating from the time he/she is born?  Communication is a 2 way street even before your baby speaks.  This episode reviews the developmental communication milestones that occur between 0-6months.  You are also provided with tips on how to help your child develop their communication skills, from what you can be doing during daily routines to how to use your voice to get and keep your child's attention. 

Calling all parents, child care providers, preschool teachers, or anyone who influences a child's development!!! This season I am embarking on the importance of developing communication skills early in children.  What areas of Speech, Language and Social Development should you be aware of? What's typical Development? What's a Red Flag and should be looked into further?  This episode is the introduction to each area of communication development and what it includes.  This season I will dig into what to be aware of and how to help the children around develop their communication.

Join Lynda on the Digital Divide as she discusses a few difficulties encountered by so many when communicating primarily through social media and during face-to-face encounters.  Lynda reviews the problems she has observed and experienced herself as well as by many others who have claimed the same difficulties.  She also examines how/why each difficulty may be experienced/avoided and the negative impact of social media on our personal interactions with others. 

How and Why is your appearance so important What do you want people to think when they first meet you. How do you want to be perceived? How do you perceive yourself?
Your appearance can make the difference.

Lynda gives an overview of what nonverbal communication is and lets you know why it's important. She also informs you of how it can positively and negatively impact your interactions with others.