By Leslie Lindsay
Adorable lift-the-flap books designed by a pediatric SLP helping develop
speech and communication skills in children, plus the added adventure of
travel.
~APRAXIA MONDAY|ALWAYS WITH A BOOK~
Spotlight: Dr. Tinita Kearney
LOLA KOALA ADVENTURE KITS: EGYPT
2020 National Parenting Products Award Winner
It’s hard to believe that we are in month eleven of this pandemic. While
hope—in the form of a vaccine—is on the horizon, many of us have been confined to our homes (and our local region). If you’re anything like me, you might be feeling a little stir-crazy. And kids are no exception!
I spoke with Dr. T back in September 2020 and wanted to invite her back
because she has a new product that pairs nicely with her LOLA KOALA’S TRAVEL ADVENTURES book #1: Egypt—themed Koala Kits!
But first a bit about the book–
Lola Koala is an explorer who loves to travel the world. Join her on many
adventures as she helps your child to develop foundational language skills along the way!
Hi! I’m Lola Koala and I LOVE to have fun learning new things! I’m also an explorer and I’m always looking for great friends who want to travel and learn with me! There are so many fun things to learn and new places to see- won’t you come along? Open up your favorite Lola Koala book and join me on a great adventure today!
Each “Lola Koala’s Travel Adventures” book is designed to teach children
(ages 2-6 years) a specific language skill. You can be sure that you are supporting your child’s communication and language skills with each read because these books were developed by a pediatric speech-language pathologist. Plus, Dr. T is a busy mom—she gets kids.
Each book centers around a new and exciting travel adventure—this first one
is all about Egypt. Here, your child is also introduced to travel concepts that only enhance their learning experience! It’s a 2-for-1 AMAZING adventure!
Pair Lola Koala books with Koala Kits and you’ve got a fun, interactive,
hands-on way of bringing travel home, all while incorporating important
speech-language skills.
The Koala Kit: Egypt is based on the adventure in book 1 of the Lola Koala’s
Travel Adventures book series, and features hands-on activities and
communication tips that will make learning fun for all!
APRAXIA MONDAY
Please join me in welcoming the lovely & fun Dr. T to the
author interview series:
Leslie Lindsay:
Tinita, it’s so wonderful to chat again. Thank you for taking the time. I am
thrilled to discover your books—and this activity kit is so my jam. Can you
talk about this new addition to the Lola Koala family?
Tinita Kearney:
Thanks for having me again Leslie, it’s always awesome speaking with you! I am super-excited about my Koala Kits and I think families with young children will love them! As a speech pathologist, I encounter all types of little learners – visual, tactile, auditory, etc.- so it was very important for me to create a learning experience that engaged as many children as possible, no matter their learning style. That’s where the Koala Kit: Egypt comes in! There’s something for all types of little learners to enjoy in each kit. It’s really such a fun way to expand on Lola Koala’s Egyptian adventure in Book 1! Children will learn a bit more about Egypt while also increasing their communication skills in versatile ways.
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com
Leslie Lindsay:
So what’s in the kit? And how can it be used with kiddos to help develop
speech and language skills?
Tinita Kearney:
Great question! Each kit includes four hands-on experiences designed for children ages 2-6+ to complete with a caregiver. Kids will dig for lost treasure, create sand art, stencil-paint a tote bag, and design an Egyptian nameplate in this Koala Kit. PLUS, each kit includes a bonus activity that brings an authentic piece of Egyptian history to life! Koala Kits also come with a beautifully designed instruction booklet that provides fun ways to easily grow specific language skills for each activity.
Leslie Lindsay:
The pandemic is tough on all. Kids, included. Parents are running out of
ideas of things to do at home. I think this Koala Kit will satisfy the need for
novel experiences while expanding a child’s world. What are some other
extension activities a parent may do to incorporate travel and adventure,
but still stay home and stay safe?
Tinita Kearney:
As a parent who is also in constant danger of running out of ideas in the midst of this pandemic, it was SUPER important for me to create something that checked my most important boxes: fun, educational, hands-on, and practical. The ‘practical’ aspect of each Koala Kit is found in the easy-to-do-at-home extension activities that are included in each instruction booklet. So even after the hands-on activity is complete, kids can continue the fun and extend their learning with the suggested activities and games that are found in each booklet! Families can also get tons of ideas on how to create in-home
adventures by visiting http://www.lolakoala.com and checking out my ‘Newsletter Archives.’ They can also sign up to receive new and useful communication tips & tricks each month.
Photo by Polesie Toys on Pexels.com
Leslie Lindsay:
Lola travels to Egypt in this first book, where do you foresee her going in
the future?
Tinita Kearney:
You know, I get this question all the time, but… it’s a surprise! Lola’s destination is always a secret until the book is actually released. But I will say that no location is off limits and I’m 100% open to input from Lola Koala lovers, so I invite your followers to leave their destination suggestions in the comments section!
Leslie Lindsay:
Tinita, this has been so fabulous! Thank you for taking the time. Is there
anything I should have asked, but may have forgotten?
Tinita Kearney:
I’ve had an amazing time chatting with you and I’m so glad that you invited me back. As always, your questions were wonderful and I look forward to getting together again!
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com
For more information, to connect with Dr. Tinita Kearney via social media, or to purchase her products, please visit:
Website|Facebook|Instagram
Get the Egypt kit HERE.
[Hint: sign up for Dr. T’s newsletter and get 10% off!]
Join us every Monday throughout February right here!
featuring Sunflower Speech Therapy Dr. T’s Lola Koala Adventure Activity Kits, The Sensory Studio and TalkYoga.
Join the SPEAKING OF APRAXIA Facebook Community.
For more resources, Q&As, podcasts, more, see the SPEAKING OF APRAXIA page on this website.
ABOUT THE SLP:
Tinita O. Kearney, Ph.D., CCC-SLP/L
Discovering her passion early in life, Dr. Kearney began working with children with autism in high school. She pursued this passion in her college years, attaining a Bachelor of Science as well as a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology.
Dr. Kearney soon found that she also had a passion for research and earned her Doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology with a specialization in autism. She is a published author, a member of many professional organizations and honor societies, and currently serves on both local and state professional boards. She has taught at Howard University, been awarded the Award for Continuing Education (ACE) by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) for demonstrating a commitment to lifelong learning, and currently strives to advance the interests of those in the autism community as an Autism Speaks Volunteer Advocacy Ambassador for the state of Maryland.
ABOUT YOUR HOST/AUTHOR:
Leslie Lindsay is the creator and host of the award-winning author interview series,“Always with a Book.” Since 2013, Leslie, named “one of the most influential book reviewers” by Jane Friedman, ranks in the top 1% of all GoodReads reviewers and has conducted over 700 warm, inquisitive conversations with authors as wide-ranging as Robert Kolker and Mary Kubica to Helen Phillips and Mary Beth Keane, making her website a go-to for book lovers world-wide. Her writing & photography have appeared in various print journals and online. She is the award-winning author of SPEAKING OF APRAXIA: A Parents’ Guide to Childhood Apraxia of Speech. A former psychiatric R.N. at the Mayo Clinic, Leslie’s memoir, MODEL HOME: Motherhood, Madness, & Memory, is currently on submission with Catalyst Literary Management. Leslie resides in the Chicago area with her family.
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Leslie A. Lindsay| Writer & Creative 