[Source:  Medical X-Press]

Moving birth a day early triggers an early start to widespread neuron death, according to new research in mice published in eNeuro.

Right before and after birth, about half of the neurons in the developing brain die. Scientists have known about this normal process for half a century, but no one knows what controls it. Is it an external signal like birth, or an innate developmental mechanism?

[Source:  NPR]

Scientists have found a clue to how autism spectrum disorder disrupts the brain's information highways

The problem involves cells that help keep the  traffic of signals moving smoothly through brain circuits, a team  reported Monday in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

The team found that in both mouse and human brains affected by autism, there's an abnormality in cells that produce a substance called myelin.

That's a problem because myelin provides the "insulation" for brain circuits, allowing them to quickly and reliably carry electrical signals from one area to another. And having either too little or too much of this myelin coating can result in a wide range of neurological problems.

[Source:  Science Daily]

Used in virtually all of the world's languages, parentese is a speaking style that draws baby's attention. Parents adopt its simple grammar and words, plus its exaggerated sounds, almost without thinking about it.

But if parents knew the way they speak could help baby learn, would they alter their speech?

A new study from the Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, or I-LABS, at the University of Washington suggests they would, to baby's benefit. Researchers examined how parent coaching about the value of parentese affected adults' use of it with their own infants, and demonstrated that increases in the use of parentese enhanced children's later language skills.

Editor's Note:  A low temp glue gun is great hand strengthening therapy!

[Source:  No Time for Flashcards]

Although we cut our paper into hearts to make this simple open ended art project into a Valentine's Day themed art project there is no reason you can't just do it on paper. Or cut it into any shape you want! Being a big kid is a big deal at our house right now, showing my daughter I trust her with more and more responsibilities from cleaning her own room to helping with the cooking also extends to creative time. I have allowed her to use the low temp glue gun before but it wasn't working well today, she said he could handle the full temp one and I trusted her. She did great and LOVED this art project.

[Source:  Inspired Treehouse]

One of our favorite Valentines ideas last year was our  free printable Heart Jump game.  It was such a hit that we felt compelled to come up with a new  gross motor game this Valentine's Day!

When I saw a bunch of $3 yoga mats at the store, I knew that they would be perfect for creating a new activity for the kiddos I work with at school.   Yoga mats are great for cutting into shapes that can be used on the floor as targets for jumping, hopping, throwing, etc.  The resistive rubber keeps them from sliding underfoot!

SLP Freebie of the Week:   Pack of Pronouns - Winter & Valentine's Day Edition!