Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP. Over 33 years experience in AAC. OMazing Kids AAC and app consulting. Creator of several AAC Feature Matching resources (https://omazingkidsllc.com/omazing-kids-aac-resource-links/). Includes info about unique features to support Gestalt Language Processors
I just realized that today is my 2nd blogiversary!
I started the OMazing Kids blog & Facebook page two years ago as a way to share info with 55 participants at a workshop I was scheduled to present at. I had no idea that it would grow into so much more! It was fun to see the OMazing Kids Facebook page pass the 3,200 mark today. I love networking and sharing ideas. My hope for this upcoming year of blogging and social media is that OMazing Kids will continue to grow as a community of folks who exchange ideas, connect & support each other in our work with kids.
Feel free to ask a question, share ideas, share links for fun things, share your kids yoga Facebook page, blog posts, etc…. Anything related to kids yoga, kids wellness, education, special needs, etc. is fine. Feel free to post on the OMazing KidsFacebook page or send me a Facebook message and I’ll be glad to share it with the group. If you post logged in as your FB page, please give your name & if you post logged in as yourself, please “tag” or include the link to your kids yoga FB page if you have one. It will help folks get to know each other & build connections. It’s also one of the main ways I find new FB pages to “like” 🙂
The only things that I ask in return are that you post a comment on that brainstorming session thanking folks who took the time to share ideas, that you consider “liking” each other’s kids yoga Facebook pages & that you consider inviting a couple of friends to come join us on OMazing Kids.
Feel free to share ideas that you see on OMazing Kids. Thanks in advance for tagging my page or mentioning that the OMazing Kids blog, Facebook page or other social media sites were the source. I go to great lengths to share original sources, give credit and to help promote other pages…. so I would appreciate the kindness in return 🙂
Be watching for lots of fun reviews & giveaways over the next few months…. at last count I had about a dozen on the “to do” list. The JD McCarty Center, where I work full-time as a Speech-Language Pathologist, is a non-profit pediatric rehab hospital for kids ages 0-21 years with developmental disabilities. So budgets are always tight. Doing reviews & giveaways on my own time in the evenings & on weekends is the primary way I get kids yoga & wellness materials to use with our patients. Plus it’s a fun way to spread the word about great products and provides an opportunity for you to win great items to use with your kids!
Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2
Speech-Language Pathologist at the JD McCarty Center for Children with Developmental Disabilities (http://www.jdmc.org/)
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities
OMazing Kids LLC is an organization that promotes inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities. The blog and social media pages share information about books, DVD’s, CD’s, games and other products specifically designed for kids wellness, mindfulness and relaxation, product reviews & giveaways, lesson plan & activity ideas, research, kids wellness in the news and a connection corner with listings of individuals doing adapted yoga and those offering trainings.
NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the crayons divider bar. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here.
Product Description: Nurture Cards – affirmation cards for children is a box of 40 positive affirmation cards designed with warm colorful drawings that children can relate to and will help them to create their own inner self belief, self love and learn positive self talk. Includes a card with suggestions for using the cards. The company is based in Sydney, Australia.
These cards made my heart smile as soon as I opened them! Here’s what I love about them:
includes a wide variety of feelings & situations that kids can relate to (forgiveness, thoughtfulness, anger, doing your best, manners, sharing, learning from mistakes, jealousy, truthfulness, being in nature, trying new things, helpfulness, kindness, gratefulness, creativity, having a love for learning, etc…)
the instruction card has some great suggestions. Roxanne’s passion for fostering loving & caring kids shines through!
beautiful hand drawn illustrations. The back of the cards has a lovely rainbow illustration.
nice 4″x6″ size with large bold font that is easy to read
sturdy storage box
I am passionate about including affirmations in my work. Often children, especially those with special needs, get the message that something is wrong or needs to be “fixed” in them. It is important that all children know that they are special, important and loved just for “being” and not because of something they “do”.
Here’s a “sneek peek” at four of my favorite cards:
Disclaimer: I received a free sample of this product to facilitate my review. Opinions expressed are my own.Starting in 2013, a new component of reviews & giveaways hosted on OMazing Kids is that a review will be added on Amazon.com (for products sold on that site). See my Amazon profile at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1JKVLELLSX7FD?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_aya_bb_pdp.
How to enter the giveaway:
Required Entry Method: Enter via the “Giveaways” tab on the OMazing Kids – Contests & Giveaways Facebook page (http://a.pgtb.me/plpbTf) & mention why these cards would be helpful to you (details will count in selecting the winners) (comments must be in English; must include full first & last name; must use respectful people-first language, 1 entry per person).
Bonus Entry Option: Like both the Nurture Cards~ Affirmation cards for children & the OMazing Kids Facebook pages (comment here on this blog post to let me know you did). Facebook fans of both pages are then entitled to the following bonus entry options:
Invite some friends to “like” the OMazing Kids Facebook page (comment here on this blog post to let me know you did)
Share this review on Facebook & include a @OMazing Kids to tag my page – (comment here on this blog post to let me know you did)
Tweet the #kidsyoga #giveaway on Twitter with a @amoorad link – (comment here on this blog post to let me know you did)
Helpful Info & Tips: I use the “Giveaways” tab because it saves me the step having to obtain your mailing address – the info you complete on the tab comes directly to me via an e-mail. FYI…. I use a free app from Shortstack for that tab and have no control over technical difficulties either on their end or on Facebook. The Facebook tab may not work on a cell phone. If you experience that, try again on a computer. Make sure you are logged in as yourself (not a page) when using the tab. In the event that you experience difficulties with the FB entry tab, please e-mail me specific details so I can attempt to fix it. E-mail to: amoorad1@juno.com . The entry deadline may be extended at the sole discretion of OMazing Kids in the event of prolonged entry tab problems
Must be 18 years or older with a valid e-mail address.
International entries are being allowed for this particular giveaway.
Employees or family members of OMazing Kids, LLC or the product’s company are not eligible.
No purchase required.
Comments submitted via the Enter Giveaways Here…. tab on Facebook may be copied & pasted into the blog post.
Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received.
Four (4) winners will be chosen via a drawing of valid entries on April 2, 2013.
The winner will each receive one (1) set of the Nurture Cards – affirmation cards for children
The winners will be notified via e-mail, will be posted on the blog post & will be posted on the OMazing Kids Facebook page. The company offering the prize may also post the winner’s name on their website, blog, Facebook page and/or other social media sites at their discretion.
The winner’s address will be forwarded to the company and they will be mailing the prizes directly to the winners. Any questions about the prize should be directed to the company.
Prize Value: ~$37.00 (including shipping cost)
Other Legal Stuff: I know it’s just a set of cards but just to be safe here is all the legal stuff…
This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. You are providing your information to OMazing Kids, LLC and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for our internal purposes in relation to the administration of the giveaway. Your information will NOT be sold to any outside parties.
Indemnification/Hold Harmless: By participating, entrants agree: (a) to the decisions of OMazing Kids, LLC, which shall be final in all respects; (b) to release, discharge, and hold harmless OMazing Kids, LLC and its respective representatives and agents from all liability, injuries, losses or damages of any kind to persons or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the acceptance, possession, misuse or use of a prize, or from participation in and/or entry into the Contest or any Contest-related activity and for acceptance, delivery, or use of any prize; (c) that the foregoing parties have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation or guaranty, expressed or implied, in fact or in law, relating to any prize.
Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities
OMazing Kids LLC is an organization that promotes inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities. The blog and social media pages share information about books, DVD’s, CD’s, games and other products specifically designed for kids wellness, mindfulness and relaxation, product reviews & giveaways, lesson plan & activity ideas, research, kids wellness in the news and a connection corner with listings of individuals doing adapted yoga and those offering trainings.
NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the crayons divider bar. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here.
Looking for ideas for Spring themed activities? Check out these albums of pics on the OMazing KidsFacebook page!
We will be doing Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes in OMazing Kids Yoga next week….. such a simple great book for Spring! See this pic on the FB page for a discussion of fun ideas for a kids yoga class based on this book, links to some free printables & coloring sheets, etc: http://tinyurl.com/brqmrpt
More favorite books for this time of year (links are to pics on the OMazing Kids FB page…. lots of great discussion & sharing of ideas there. Feel free to join in on the “brainstorming” fun):
OMazing Kids LLC is an organization that promotes inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities. The blog and social media pages share information about books, DVD’s, CD’s, games and other products specifically designed for kids wellness, mindfulness and relaxation, product reviews & giveaways, lesson plan & activity ideas, research, kids wellness in the news and a connection corner with listings of individuals doing adapted yoga and those offering trainings.
NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the crayons divider bar. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here.
One of the things I love most about the Move with Me™ Action Adventures DVD’sis the “Adventure Skills” they include in each story. As I watched each DVD, I remember thinking that having a card for each skill would be especially helpful for the kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD, anxiety & other special needs that I work with as a Speech-Language Pathologist and even had the idea of taking “screenshots” off the DVD’s to make my own cards. Of course I never had the time to do that with my busy schedule. So imagine my pure delight when I saw that the company had come out with a flash card set!
Product Description: It is a 13 Flash Card Set that includes all the “Adventure Skills” (health lessons and self-regulation techniques) from the Scooter & Me video series
5.5” x 8.5” cards with colorful illustrations on the front and directions on the back.
Easy-to-use visual aid to teach/reinforce the use of Adventure Skills to improve well-being, focus, learning, impulse control and emotional resilience and intelligence.
Effective teacher tool for behavior management.
Engaging activities that support social-emotional learning.
Adventure Skills are short exercises that help children relax and connect with inner strengths when frustrated, confused, angry, sad or scared. Each technique is simple to do, can decrease stress, contribute to increased focus, coordination and self-control and improve social skills and emotional intelligence. All movement and self-care techniques are inspired by yoga, creative movement, PE standards, mind-body research and Brain Gym.
I love that each card includes information about why, when & how to use the Adventure Skill. Eleven of the cards also include a short rhyming “chant”.
Here’s a “sneek peek” at the front & back of one of the cards:
While you’re on their website, check out all the fabulous free printable Coloring & Activity Pages& Parent / Teacher Guides! The Parent/Teacher Guides provide you with basic info about the connection between movement, the brain and learning, as well as activity suggestions and detailed information with pictures of all Adventure Skills.
There are also full-page size coloring pages for each of the Action Adventure Skills
Disclaimer: I received a free sample of this product to facilitate my review. Opinions expressed are my own.Starting in 2013, a new component of reviews & giveaways hosted on OMazing Kids is that a review will be added on Amazon.com (for products sold on that site). See my Amazon profile at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1JKVLELLSX7FD?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_aya_bb_pdp.
How to enter the giveaway:
Required Entry Method: Enter via the “Giveaways” tab on the OMazing Kids – Contests & Giveaways Facebook page (http://a.pgtb.me/plpbTf) & mention why these cards would be helpful to you (details will count in selecting the winners) (comments must be in English; must include full first & last name; must use respectful people-first language, 1 entry per person).
Bonus Entry Option: Like both the Move With Me & the OMazing Kids Facebook page (comment here on this blog post to let me know you did). Facebook fans of both pages are then entitled to the following bonus entry options:
Share this review on Facebook & include a @OMazing Kids to tag my page – (comment here on this blog post to let me know you did)
Tweet the #kidsyoga #giveaway on Twitter with @amoorad & @Move_with_Me links – (comment here on this blog post to let me know you did)
Helpful Info & Tips: I use the “Giveaways” tab because it saves me the step having to obtain your mailing address – the info you complete on the tab comes directly to me via an e-mail. FYI…. I use a free app from Shortstack for that tab and have no control over technical difficulties either on their end or on Facebook. The Facebook tab may not work on a cell phone. If you experience that, try again on a computer. In the event that you experience difficulties with the FB entry tab, please e-mail me specific details so I can attempt to fix it. E-mail to: amoorad1@juno.com . The entry deadline may be extended at the sole discretion of OMazing Kids in the event of prolonged entry tab problems
Entry Deadline: Enter by any of the methods listed above by 11:59pm CST on March 19, 2013 .
Rules of Participation:
Must be 18 years or older with a valid e-mail address.
Only USA entries are being allowed for this particular giveaway.
Employees or family members of OMazing Kids, LLC or the product’s company are not eligible.
No purchase required.
Comments submitted via the Enter Giveaways Here…. tab on Facebook or e-mail may be copied & pasted into the blog post.
Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received.
Two (2) winner will be chosen via a drawing of valid entries on March 20, 2013.
The winner will each receive one (1) set of the Move With Me Adventure Skills Cards.
The winners will be notified via e-mail, will be posted on the blog post & will be posted on the OMazing Kids Facebook page. The company offering the prize may also post the winner’s name on their website, blog, Facebook page and/or other social media sites at their discretion.
The winner’s address will be forwarded to the company and they will be mailing the prizes directly to the winners. Any questions about the prize should be directed to the company.
Prize Value: $24.95
Other Legal Stuff: I know it’s just a set of cards but just to be safe here is all the legal stuff…
This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. You are providing your information to OMazing Kids, LLC and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for our internal purposes in relation to the administration of the giveaway. Your information will NOT be sold to any outside parties.
Indemnification/Hold Harmless: By participating, entrants agree: (a) to the decisions of OMazing Kids, LLC, which shall be final in all respects; (b) to release, discharge, and hold harmless OMazing Kids, LLC and its respective representatives and agents from all liability, injuries, losses or damages of any kind to persons or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the acceptance, possession, misuse or use of a prize, or from participation in and/or entry into the Contest or any Contest-related activity and for acceptance, delivery, or use of any prize; (c) that the foregoing parties have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation or guaranty, expressed or implied, in fact or in law, relating to any prize.
Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities
OMazing Kids LLC is an organization that promotes inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities. The blog and social media pages share information about books, DVD’s, CD’s, games and other products specifically designed for kids wellness, mindfulness and relaxation, product reviews & giveaways, lesson plan & activity ideas, research, kids wellness in the news and a connection corner with listings of individuals doing adapted yoga and those offering trainings.
NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the crayons divider bar. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here.
Put on your thinking cap & come join the fun brainstorming sessions we have been having on the OMazing KidsFacebook page!
{Brainstorming & Networking Invitation} I love networking and sharing ideas! Feel free to ask a question, share ideas, share links for fun things, share your kids yoga Facebook page, blog posts, etc…. Anything related to kids yoga, kids wellness, education, special needs, etc. is fine. Feel free to post on the OMazing KidsFacebook page or send me a Facebook message and I’ll be glad to share it with the group. If you post logged in as your FB page, please give your name & if you post logged in as yourself, please “tag” or include the link to your kids yoga FB page if you have one. It will help folks get to know each other & build connections. It’s also one of the main ways I find new FB pages to “like” 🙂
The only things that I ask in return are that you post a comment on that brainstorming session thanking folks who took the time to share ideas, that you consider “liking” each other’s kids yoga Facebook pages & that you consider inviting a couple of friends to come join us on OMazing Kids.
I have been using the “schedule post” feature to schedule the brainstorming posts for 7:00am CST and we have had wonderful participation!
Check out the fabulous questions & ideas shared so far:
3/5/13 {Brainstorming Question} Rebecca Villa asks: Have you come across any resources or ideas for western/cowboy/girl themes? I was asked to teach a kids yoga class at an event where this is the theme and could use some ideas. It is a class for toddlers. Any good book ideas??? Thanks in advance for any help! See the ideas shared on this Facebook post
3/7/13 {Brainstorming Question} Carrie Sheffield asks “I am running a manners workshop this Saturday for kids ages 5-12. Any great ideas?” See the ideas shared on this Facebook post
3/8/13 {Brainstorming Question} Susan McGarrah Bonanno asks “Any suggestions on managing a large group? I’ve been recruited to teach the yoga portion of a fitness series for 32 six-to-nine year olds in my local public school. Excited to get yoga into the schools, petrified about managing 32 kids who may not have had exposure to yoga! I will have adult helpers but no yoga instructors. Can’t split it into smaller groups. Thanks!” See the ideas shared on this Facebook post
OMazing Kids LLC is an organization that promotes inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities. The blog and social media pages share information about books, DVD’s, CD’s, games and other products specifically designed for kids wellness, mindfulness and relaxation, product reviews & giveaways, lesson plan & activity ideas, research, kids wellness in the news and a connection corner with listings of individuals doing adapted yoga and those offering trainings.
NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the crayons divider bar. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here.
Does your child have a difficult time getting to sleep? Is bedtime your least favorite time of the day? You are not alone, the National Association of School Psychologists believe that 30% of all school aged children have some type of sleep disorder. The American Academy of Family Physicians reports sleep problems as one of the top concerns among parents. Check out this great downloadable multimedia training from My Peaceful Playground!
Peaceful Bedtime: Establishing a Yoga Bedtime Routine is a downloadable multimedia training for Parents and Caregivers by Jackie Morrison, RYT, CYKT, LMT that includes:
Peaceful Bedtime Playbook Manual (in 11-page PDF & 17-page ebook format)
What I loved about the multimedia training package:
includes info about the effects of sleep problems (ex: The National Sleep Foundation reported new findings in October 2012 that reports the important role sleep plays in the brain mechanisms at work during sleep shape our memory, learning and behavior. Dr. Ted Abel, reports a loss of less than half a night’s sleep can impair memory and alter the normal behavior of brain cells. Sufficient sleep for our children is vital to allow their body to grow, repair and function at its highest. During sleep their bones, muscles and tissue grow as well as their immune system is rejuvenated to be able to fight off infections and illness. If our children are sleep deficit over a prolonged period of time, serious consequence may occur, such as, attention disorders, depression, anxiety, and loss of memory.)
includes things you can do to improve your child’s sleep
includes details about establishing a Peaceful Bedtime Routine (bath, brush teeth, read a book, relaxing yoga poses, guided visualization, then sleep)
includes rationale behind why each yoga pose was chosen. (note: for safety purposes with the kids with special needs I work with, I will be sticking with Legs up the Wall vs. a Shoulderstand)
love that she talks about being flexible & meeting kids where they are.
the “Peace Breath” is a fabulous idea…. combining a relaxing breath with an affirmation!
love that it comes in formats for visual & auditory learners. I read the manual first & then listened to the audio. I’m usually more of a visual learner but in this case the audio helped really reinforce the concepts. The audio portion elaborates on the content in the manual. The video of the yoga routine will be especially helpful for parents & caregivers who may not be familiar with yoga.
the guided visualization mp3 will be great to use during a bedtime yoga routine or during Savasana in a kids yoga class.
the eye pillow looks fun to make! (note: please keep in mind any allergies or sensory sensitivities before selecting what to fill it with and whether or not to use any essential oils)
Purchase this online training package on their website. As part of National Sleep Awareness Week 2013, they are offering a $10.00 discount on this online training. Use discount code: Sleep10.
Upon purchase you will receive three e-mails (an e-mail confirming your purchase, a shipping confirmation (even though nothing is being shipped in this case) & a third e-mail providing you with downloading instructions and your personal link. It took about 20 minutes to receive the third e-mail when I took the course. Their website states “On occasions it may take a few minutes to hours to receive your personal downloadable link. Thank you for your understanding. In the meantime, join us in Peace Breath – take a deep breath in through your nose and allow your soft exhale breath to tickle across your lips as you whisper “peace.” Take a few Peace Breaths and your downloadable instructions will arrive in your email box.”
Disclaimer: I received free access to the online course to facilitate my review. Starting in 2013, a new component of reviews & giveaways hosted on OMazing Kids is that a review will be added on Amazon.com (for products sold on that site). See my Amazon profile at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1JKVLELLSX7FD?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_aya_bb_pdp.
How to enter the giveaway:
Required Entry Method: Enter via the “Giveaways” tab on the OMazing Kids – Contests & Giveaways Facebook page (http://a.pgtb.me/plpbTf) & mention why this training package would be helpful to you (comments must be in English; must include full first & last name; must use respectful people-first language, 1 entry per person).
Bonus Entry Options: Like both the My Peaceful Playground & the OMazing Kids Facebook page (comment here on this blog post to let me know you did). Facebook fans of both pages are entitled to the following bonus entry options:
Share this review on Facebook & include a @OMazing Kids to tag my page – limit 1/day
Tweet the #kidsyoga #giveaway on Twitter with @amoorad & @MyPeacefulPlay links – limit 1/day
Helpful Info & Tips: I use the “Giveaways” tab because it saves me the step having to obtain your mailing address – the info you complete on the tab comes directly to me via an e-mail. FYI…. I use a free app from Shortstack for that tab and have no control over technical difficulties either on their end or on Facebook. The Facebook tab may not work on a cell phone. If you experience that, try again on a computer. In the event that you experience difficulties with the FB entry tab, please e-mail me specific details so I can attempt to fix it. E-mail to: amoorad1@juno.com . The entry deadline may be extended at the sole discretion of OMazing Kids in the event of prolonged entry tab problems
Entry Deadline: Enter by any of the methods listed above by 11:59pm CST on March 11, 2013 .
Rules of Participation:
Must be 18 years or older with a valid e-mail address.
Only USA & Canada entries are being allowed for this particular giveaway.
Employees or family members of OMazing Kids, LLC or the product’s company are not eligible.
No purchase required.
Comments submitted via the Enter Giveaways Here…. tab on Facebook or e-mail may be copied & pasted into the blog post.
Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received.
One (1) winner will be chosen via a drawing of valid entries on March 12, 2013.
The winner will receive a code for free access to the downloadable training package. Any questions about how to download the training should be directed to the company at livingmyyoga@gmail.com.
The winner will be notified via e-mail, will be posted on the blog post & will be posted on the OMazing Kids Facebook page. The company offering the prize may also post the winner’s name on their website, blog, Facebook page and/or other social media sites at their discretion.
Prize Value: $39.00
Other Legal Stuff: I know it’s just a downloadable course but just to be safe here is all the legal stuff…
This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. You are providing your information to OMazing Kids, LLC and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for our internal purposes in relation to the administration of the giveaway. Your information will NOT be sold to any outside parties.
Indemnification/Hold Harmless: By participating, entrants agree: (a) to the decisions of OMazing Kids, LLC, which shall be final in all respects; (b) to release, discharge, and hold harmless OMazing Kids, LLC and its respective representatives and agents from all liability, injuries, losses or damages of any kind to persons or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the acceptance, possession, misuse or use of a prize, or from participation in and/or entry into the Contest or any Contest-related activity and for acceptance, delivery, or use of any prize; (c) that the foregoing parties have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation or guaranty, expressed or implied, in fact or in law, relating to any prize.
Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities
OMazing Kids LLC is an organization that promotes inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities. The blog and social media pages share information about books, DVD’s, CD’s, games and other products specifically designed for kids wellness, mindfulness and relaxation, product reviews & giveaways, lesson plan & activity ideas, research, kids wellness in the news and a connection corner with listings of individuals doing adapted yoga and those offering trainings.
NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the crayons divider bar. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here.
Want to help kids understand that they are remarkable & powerful individuals? Kathryn the Grape books & music encourage kids to shine who they uniquely are and dwell joyfully in their own magnificence.
Through the award winning books & music of Kathryn the Grape, children learn important self-esteem building life lessons that affect change on their core level and inspire them to ripple loving kindness and compassion into the world.
Just Like Magic:This book helps children learn about:
• Being fearless, courageous, and adventurous in trying new things.
• Accountability in doing the right thing and helping others.
• Discovering their own inner magic and using it for doing good things.
• Being friendly to someone who is lonely, and being open to making new friends.
Colorful Adventure:This book helps children learn about:
• What it feels like to trust themselves and their intuition.
• Respecting themselves by using their words to say how they feel.
• The colors and symbols associated with their chakras so they can shine in their uniqueness.
• How negative thoughts make everything gloomy, but loving thoughts make everything beautiful.
Piece of Love: This book helps children learn about:
• Contributing their piece to creating peace.
• How their thoughts, words, and actions have a ripple effect.
• Being loving, kind, and accepting of themselves and others.
• Removing worried thoughts to be in the flow.
Here’s what I love about the books:
The books build on themselves so you get to see how Kathryn the Grape learns skills & becomes more empowered.
Each book includes practical strategies kids could use when facing real life situations (handling feeling nervous or worried, paying attention to who might need help around you, being a friend, being fearless, trying new things, being helpful, the ripple effect of kindness, etc…)
Love that affirmation & empowerment are the theme throughout the series of books.
Disclaimer: I received a free sample of these products to facilitate my review. Opinions expressed are my own. Starting in 2013, a new component of reviews & giveaways hosted on OMazing Kids is that a review will be added on Amazon.com (for products sold on that site). See my Amazon profile at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1JKVLELLSX7FD?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_aya_bb_pdp.
How to enter the giveaway:
Required Entry Method: Enter via the “Giveaways” tab on the OMazing Kids – Contests & Giveaways Facebook page (http://a.pgtb.me/plpbTf) & mention how you will be using the books & CD (be specific, details will count in picking the grand prize winner) (comments must be in English; must include full first & last name; must use respectful people-first language, 1 entry per person).
Bonus Entry Options:Like both the Kathryn the Grape & the OMazing KidsFacebook page (comment here on this blog post to let me know you did). Facebook fans of both pages are entitled to the following bonus entry options:
Share this review on Facebook & include a @OMazing Kids to tag my page – limit 1/day
Tweet the #kidsyoga #giveaway on Twitter with @amoorad & @KathrynTheGrape links – limit 1/day
Helpful Info & Tips: I use the “Giveaways” tab because it saves me the step having to obtain your mailing address – the info you complete on the tab comes directly to me via an e-mail. FYI…. I use a free app from Shortstack for that tab and have no control over technical difficulties either on their end or on Facebook. The Facebook tab may not work on a cell phone. If you experience that, try again on a computer. In the event that you experience difficulties with the FB entry tab, please e-mail me specific details so I can attempt to fix it. E-mail to: amoorad1@juno.com. The entry deadline may be extended at the sole discretion of OMazing Kids in the event of prolonged entry tab problems
Entry Deadline: All entries & bonus entries must received by 11:59pm CST on March 8, 2013.
Rules of Participation:
Must be 18 years or older with a valid e-mail address.
Only USA entries are being allowed for this particular giveaway.
Employees or family members of OMazing Kids, LLC or the product’s company are not eligible.
No purchase required.
Comments submitted via the Enter Giveaways Here…. tab on Facebook will be copied & pasted into the blog post.
Odds of winning will depend on the number of valid entries received.
Three (3) winners will be chosen via a drawing of valid entries on March 9, 2013.
One (1) winner will receive a “Grand Prize Package” of all 3 books + CD. To insure that the prize goes to the place where it will have the biggest impact on helping kids, I will be reviewing the details in each entry and hand-selecting the grand prize winner.
Two (2) additional winners will be chosen via a random drawing out of the remaining valid entries and will receive one copy of the book or CD that they chose via their FB tab entry.
The winners will be notified via e-mail, will be posted on the blog post & will be posted on the OMazing Kids Facebook page. The company offering the prize may also post the winner’s name on their website, blog, Facebook page and/or other social media sites at their discretion.
The winner’s address will be forwarded to the company and they will be mailing the prizes directly to the winners. Any questions about the prizes should be directed to the company.
Other Legal Stuff: I know it’s just a book & CD but just to be safe here is all the legal stuff…
This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. You are providing your information to OMazing Kids, LLC and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for our internal purposes in relation to the administration of the giveaway. Your information will NOT be sold to any outside parties.
Indemnification/Hold Harmless: By participating, entrants agree: (a) to the decisions of OMazing Kids, LLC, which shall be final in all respects; (b) to release, discharge, and hold harmless OMazing Kids, LLC and its respective representatives and agents from all liability, injuries, losses or damages of any kind to persons or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the acceptance, possession, misuse or use of a prize, or from participation in and/or entry into the Contest or any Contest-related activity and for acceptance, delivery, or use of any prize; (c) that the foregoing parties have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation or guaranty, expressed or implied, in fact or in law, relating to any prize.
Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities
OMazing Kids LLC is an organization that promotes inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities. The blog and social media pages share information about books, DVD’s, CD’s, games and other products specifically designed for kids wellness, mindfulness and relaxation, product reviews & giveaways, lesson plan & activity ideas, research, kids wellness in the news and a connection corner with listings of individuals doing adapted yoga and those offering trainings.
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caterpillar (group happy baby pose – lay side by side with arms & legs up and wiggling)
sun stretch & breath (http://wp.me/p1t7TU-1T, includes link to a video clip & free sun printables)
apple picking stretch (in easy pose stretch one arm up & across to “pick the apple”. Engage kids imagination by asking “What color is your apple?” Repeat on other side. For all of the “food” items you can use toy food items or copies of the story prop printables. Whether or not I do this depends on the kids I have in the group. Some kids get overstimulated with too many props & others need the props to keep their attention)
wiggle like caterpillars on tummy around the circle to the next mat to pick the next fruit (pears). Repeat for the rest of the fruits (plums, strawberries & oranges)
cake (we did a bake the cake sequence similar to what I used for baking a pie in Apple Farmer Annie)
ice cream scoops partner pose
pickle (tense face like eating a sour pickle & relax)
swiss cheese (gyan mudra at eyes to look through the holes)
salami (woodchopper pose to slice it)
lollipop (mountain pose like a staight lollipop stick)
pie (seated angle pose)
sausage (rock & roll on back like a plump sausage)
cupcake (blow out the candle breath. For safety, we do not use a real candle….. just pretend)
watermelon (triangle pose – like the shape of the watermelon slice)
leaf (tree pose)
big caterpillar (use Hoberman sphere or hands with Balloon Breath to show the caterpillar getting bigger & bigger)
cocoon (roll up each child in their mat for Savasana – Note: it’s important to ask each child’s permission & be mindful of their sensory needs when doing this)
butterfly + affirmation “I am beautiful!”
could also do some butterfly breathing during Savasana with this prop (or a butterfly beanie baby or small stuffed animal). Place it on the child’s belly so they can watch it “fly” up and down slowly with their breath. (see pic of prop in this album on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/cl8v7wo)
for added fun, have colored scarves and explore “flying” fast and slow using the scarves as butterfly wings.
Butterfly on the I Grow with Yoga CD by Childlight Yoga
Butterfly by Lisa Loeb & Elizabeth Mitchell (great for relaxation)
Butterfly – on the Musical Yoga Adventures World Journey CD (instrumental with an Asian flair)
Butterfly (Wings of Light) by Bradley Kirkpatrick (lovely instrumental music)
Butterfly on the Relax Kids Nature: Enchanting Meditations For All Ages CD (guided relaxation)
Butterfly Relaxation on the Meditation for Girls CD by Sada (guided relaxation)
The Goodnight Caterpillar on the Indigo Dreams CD by Stress Free Kids (guided relaxation)
Healthy Eating tunes: Fabulous free tunes from the Eat Like A RainbowCD by Jay Mankita. My faves are Eat Like A Rainbow, My Food Is Made From Sunshine & Sun, Wind, Soil, And Rain. This award-winning 10 song children’s album about healthy fruits and vegetables is a great teaching tool for kids and families, and is free to download from this site. The songs were originally commissioned by a grant for a joint project of the NY Coalition for Healthy School Food, and the NYC Board of Education (Dept of School Foods): http://eat-like-a-rainbow.bandcamp.com/
When we do Very Hungry Caterpillar yoga this year I will be adding a fun fruit mindfulness activity.
Have a real piece of fruit for each child (Note: it’s important to know about any food allergies or dietary restrictions before using food in kids yoga. We will be using small seedless clementines for their “kid-friendly” size. Young kids may not be familiar with the word “clementine” so I will call it an “orange”).
Hold the orange in your hands with your eyes open. Look at the orange. Is it big or small? What color is it? Does it have any other colors or spots?
Close your eyes. Hold the orange up to your nose. How does it smell?
Feel the orange in your hands. Is it heavy or light? Is it bumpy or smooth?
Hold the orange in your lap. Imagine the tiny orange seed in the ground. Imagine the sunshine that helped the orange to grow on the tree. How does the sunshine feel? Imagine the rain as it fell. How does the rain feel? Imagine the tree where this orange grew. How tall was the tree?
Imagine all the energy that went into this orange. Imagine the farmer who took care of the orange trees. Imagine all the workers who picked the oranges, who delivered them to the store and who work in the store where we bought the oranges.
Open your eyes and look at your orange again. Can we eat it like this or do we need to take off the outside peel?
Let’s take the peel off. And peel off a small orange wedge. (Note: be mindful of kids sensory issues when doing this. Some kids may be hesitant to touch the fruit unpeeled and may prefer to watch. After you unpeel the clementine you can put it in a small ziploc bag or bowl if needed for kids who would be more comfortable experiencing it that way).
Take a small bite. How does the orange taste? Cool? Sweet? Juicy?
Close your eyes and take another small bite of orange. Listen to the sound it makes as you chew it in your mouth.
Take your time. Be curious about this orange and how it is feeling as you eat it.
The Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck has a wonderful “Eat Smart” card with tips about healthy & mindful eating and a “Tasty Focus” activity on the “Mindful Meditations” card.
The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook for Kids: Help for Children to Cope with Stress, Anxiety, and Transitions by Lawrence E. Shapiro & Robin K Sprague has a “Mindful Eating” activity.
The MindUP Curriculum: Grades PreK-2: Brain-Focused Strategies for Learning-and Living by The Hawn Foundation has a “Mindful Tasting” 8-page lesson with great ideas for curriculum connections.
I made story props so kids can interact with the story and experience making the caterpillar eat “through” all the food items. I also created picture symbols to use in a Picture Exchange Communication (PECS) activity or as Aided Language Stimulation. The kids I work with benefit from tapping into those many different learning styles and kids with Autism in particular do well with having visuals to go with a book. Learn more about story props
Kids LOVE filling in the repeated line “But he was still ________ (hungry)”! I always have a BIGmack or other single message voice output communication aide available for kids who have limited verbal skills to be able to participate. I record the repeated line & they “say” it by pushing the button with their hand, foot, head, etc…..
In addition to the therapeutic yoga group, I also teach a weekly adapted storytime at the JD McCarty Center. One of our current inpatients is deaf so I am brushing up on my sign language so I can sign key words in the story. Here are a few signs for this story:
Beautiful:http://www.babysignlanguage.com/dictionary/b/beautiful/ starting with your dominant hand open, thumb pointing at your chin and fingers pointing up. You complete the sign by rolling your fingers across the front of your face.
Core Vocabulary: The Very Hungry Caterpillar has lots of opportunities for: eat, more, all done (as he eats through each item)
Free coloring sheets for several Eric Carle books, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar: Eric Carle coloring sheets (31 page PDF)
Butterfly Butterfly: A Book of Colors by Petr Horacek is another favorite. The peek through die-cuts encourage kids to checkout the next page a the surprise pop-up at the end is beautiful! Love to pair this with The Very Hungry Caterpillar for a butterfly extravaganza 🙂
Have a discussion about healthy food choices: Download a copy of the Eating Healthy. Growing Strong. that contains information about healthy eating for young children, as well as ideas for discussing healthy active living using the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Download a very special growth chart developed in collaboration with The Alliance for a Healthier Generation and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Update 4/23/13: Oh how I love this painted rocks idea from Thrive 360 Living!!!! Wish I had the skills to make a set. Creativity isn’t my issue…. I just don’t have the artistic ability to have them come out this beautiful.
Feel free to share any requests you have for kids yoga lesson plan ideas in the comments below or on the OMazing Kids Facebook page!
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