This weekend I attended a speech and language therapy course called Kids’ Express Train. The speaker was a Speech and Language Pathologist from the States, Rachel Arntson. Rachel gave a lecture on strategies for teaching children to express themselves through music, interaction and play and demonstrated the use of her 3 CD sets. Rachel gave a literature overview and spoke about the effects of music on memory (for vocabulary, grammar, reading and sentence construction), interaction (answering questions and greetings), motor movements (including oral-motor and speech sounds) and emotions (e.g. music to relax or excite). Most of the songs on her CD sets were written with specific children in mind and to target specific speech or language goals. Other songs were written to encourage spontaneous singing throughout the day (e.g. during daily routines and when following directions) using familiar tunes, like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, This Old Man and even Military Chants. All 3 CD sets include a CD Rom with over 200 reproducible sheets to help develop language concepts and/or target speech sounds, music lyrics and picture sheets.

The KET (Kids Express Train) SET 1 CD has Imitation Songs for young children and reluctant communicators. Songs about animals, in/out concepts, making noises and doing actions are included on this CD. This CD set also has Vocalocomotion Raps focusing on early speech sounds (b,m,w,t,d,n), two-syllable combinations and two-word phrases.

The KET SET 2 CD set is fantastic! Rachel used Rock and Roll music to teach children vocabulary, about transitions (i.e. standing in line – sung to ‘Stop in the Name of Love!’), asking for help, environmental noises and many other ‘rocking and talking tunes’.

The KET SET 3 CD is a very good resource for children with dyspraxia and/or articulation difficulties as it focuses on speech and language drills.

The CD sets are available from www.expresstrain.org for €40 per CD set. Mention Down Syndrome Centre when you place your order, and Express Train will return 5% of your sale back to us. 

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Got a question for Marinet vanVuren? If so, drop her an email here.