Congratulations to the 2011 PAL Award Winners
May 3, 2011 by guruofnew
Filed under Featured Friends
Sherry Artemenko’s PAL AWARDS are not your usual beauty contest. Yes, they are often given to the gorgeous (Zylie the Bear) and the colorful (Chuggington Traintastic Cargo). But the awards’ raison d’etre is simple –to be of service to parents and their kidlets.
Sherry Younger Artemenko, Speech-Language Pathologist, has worked with children for over 30 years, in the schools and private practice, building language skills through play. Since early language proficiency correlates with later performance in school—reading, writing, and critical thinking—and influences emotional, cognitive and social growth, choosing the best toys and books is critical to practice and develop these skills.
But here’s my favorite part of Sherry’s bio:
ARTEMENKO’S DAILY ON-THE-FLOOR PLAY WITH KIDS PLUS 30+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE in the schools and private practice empowers her popular blog, playonwords.com, a trusted resource for parents, teachers, and toy manufacturers.
I vividly remember Sherry’s considerable skills at “On The Floor Play” from way back when at Bayside School. Also from Brownie Scouts, various camps, Sheboygan and “Capture the Flag” tournaments. So I was not in the least bit surprised when she grew up and morphed into a frequently quoted expert, turning up in news outlets like the Chicago Tribune, Time to Play, and News12 Connecticut. She’s also been a contributor to Parents’ Choice Foundation.
Here’s where our grown-up worlds intersect: Like me, she’s advising start-ups for children’s toys and media. Next week, I am moderating a BayAngels event, which features as one of the presenting companies, Hopscout, a new online store devoted to simple, classic and timeless children’s products. I have a feeling that Sherry and Founder Deap are a good match.
I like to catch up with this Play Guru every chance I get, but certainly when the PAL Award Winners are announced. These “Play Advances Language” awards came about because over the years, parents have continuously asked Sherry for recommendations. Her unique reviews from an expert’s perspective, provide tips on how to use the product for maximum language building. In other words, the PAL Awards are that rarity. Each carefully-researched choice is a tool meant to coach and comfort. (Check out the Testimonials’ page)
Do you have a candidate for the PAL AWARDS? Learn more about the PAL Award.
