Something to talk about

The preschoolers who visit Neighbor to Neighbor in Concordia have something new to talk about. Speech pathologist Tori Ehlers has been visiting the playgroup every Wednesday morning in April to entertain and interact with the children.

“Do you guys like Pete the Cat?” Ehlers asked the assembled kids and parents in the playroom. Responses were quick and positive. Ehlers presented the “I Love My White Shoes” book with the use of music, video and printed book. After the presentation the children worked on completing coloring books to reinforce the identification of the different colors that Pete the Cat experienced with his white shoes. As Pete the Cat would say, “It’s all good.”

Previous sessions have featured “Pete’s Pizza” and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”
Ehlers, who now works for Cloud County Health Center, has 18 years of experience working with children in school systems. She began work at CCHC at the end of October 2016.

While reading the book, Ehlers often used sign language to help get the message across to her young audience.
“Signing is just another modality to convey language,” Ehlers said. “Especially in the zero to 5 age group when speech might be delayed, signing can help them to not be so frustrated.”
 
Ehlers said she also talks to the mothers in attendance to help the signing carryover into regular life. She will return to Neighbor to Neighbor at 10 a.m. April 26. The interactive book “Push Here” will be featured.

All children from infants to 5 years of age are invited to attend this free event.

For more information about the speech pathology services Ehlers offers, contact the hospital’s rehabilitation department at 243-8514 or email tehlers@srhc.com. For more information about programs offered at Neighbor to Neighbor, call 262-4215, or email neighbortoneighbor@csjkansas.org.