Monthly Archives: November 2014

Review & Giveaway: “Seven Little Monkeys” by Joanie Woodward

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Seven Little Monkeys book giveaway

Check out the fun new addition to OMazing Kids… “Seven Little Monkeys” by Joanie Woodward! Lots of the kids I work with have significant anxiety & sleep disturbances so I’m always looking for more resources in this area. Almost all kids in the USA are familiar with 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed so this will build easily on a familiar theme. The book has a great repeated line, colorful illustrations & incorporates subtle use of colors that tie into chakras. There are no religious connotations in the body of the book so it could be used in a variety of settings. Here are a few pics inside the book since there isn’t currently a preview inside online:

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All these pics are also in the album on the OMazing Kids Facebook page if you want to see larger ones: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga/photos/pb.174264525957894.-2207520000.1417304159./846729015378105/?type=3&theater

Price (at the time of this post): $19.95

Purchase on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Little-Monkeys-Joanie-Woodward/dp/0975467646 or the author’s website: http://monkeymindbellybreath.com/book

The author’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Monkey-Mind-Belly-Breath/315181351974429?ref=br_tf

This book is definitely joining my growing collection of monkey-themed items & materials for relaxation. See more ideas on these posts:

In case you wanted to know, I bought the blue zig-zag chevron monkey on Amazon but the price has gone up a lot since I got him in July 2013. You may be able to find a good deal by checking other colors of it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RIAR5Y/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

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.

giveaway

International entries allowed for this giveaway.

1 USA winner & 1 international winner.

This giveaway is now CLOSED. Congratulations to the winners: Meagan Lawson (USA) & Tanya Beresford (United Kingdom).

Easy Entry Form:

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  • Only entries with all required information will be valid. The info comes to me directly via e-mail & is ONLY used for the purposes of selecting winners and distributing prizes.

  • Helpful Info & Tips: Folks had requested a simpler entry option. I tried Rafflecopter but most folks did not enter an address so now I’m trying this online contact form instead. I will be hand selecting winners to insure products end up in the hands of folks who will put them to the best use. Briefly tell me how winning this would help you & the kids. I take the time to read each entry so details count. It doesn’t have to be lengthy…. just heart-felt.
  • If you experience any problems with the entry form in this blog post, 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 problems.
  • Each “giveaway” is handled separately on OMazing Kids. So there are no rules prohibiting previous winners from entering this or future giveaways. I really do read every entry in every giveaway carefully to insure that the products end up in the best hands to impact kids lives.

Entry Deadline: 11:59pm CST on December 2, 2014.

Rules of Participation:

  • Must be 18 years or older with a valid e-mail address.
  • One entry per person.
  • International entries are 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 entries may be copied & pasted into the blog post.
  • Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received.
  • Only entries with all required information will be valid.
  • The winner will be chosen from valid entries on December 3, 2014 .

2 winners will each receive 1 copy of the book described above. (sorry…. my sock monkey is not included in the giveaway)

  • 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.
  • The prize will be mailed to the winner using the address submitted in the entry form. OMazing Kids is not responsible for items lost in the mail or for inaccuracies in the mailing address. I copy & paste the info directly from what you submit << so PLEASE proof read your entry for accuracy before submitting it…. in the era of iPhone auto correction these errors happen pretty frequently>>
  • The winner’s address will be forwarded to the author and she will be mailing the prizes directly to the winners.  After I e-mail the winner’s info to the company, it is their responsibility to mail out prizes. Please contact them first if you are concerned about not receiving a prize. If that does not resolve the problem, then feel free to e-mail me and I will glad to assist in whatever way I can.

Prize Value: $19.95

Other Legal Stuff: I know it’s just kids book 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.

grass-green-divider-bar

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2

Speech-Language Pathologist

Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities

Radiant Child Yoga Certified – Levels 1 & 2

E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga

Contests & Giveaways on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsContestsandGiveaways

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/#omazing-kids-yoga

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741

Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad

Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com

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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 wavy blue divider bar or any ads or unusual hyperlinks that may appear above. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here. I have attempted to remove the CouponDropDown but no luck so far…. DO NOT click on any hyperlinks unless you hover above them first to insure they are valid. Ones I included should appear in blue font.

Review & Giveaway: How to be a Cloud: Yoga Songs for Kids vol. 3 by Kira Willey

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How to be a Cloud: Yoga Songs for Kids vol. 3 by Kira Willey

How to be a Cloud by Kira Willey CD giveaway

Ready for more amazing music? Kira Willey, award-winning Kindie singer/songwriter and certified children’s yoga teacher, has come out with her much-anticipated 3rd CD!

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What I LOVE about this CD:

  • I am a huge fan of folk music for kids and Kira’s vocal and musical style makes you smile inside  🙂  …. I enjoy listening to it just as music as well as using it in my work with kids as a Speech-Language Pathologist & in OMazing Kids Yoga.
  • The songs would be great to use in any classroom, therapy clinic & yoga studio….. the songs have universal appeal.
  • Songs can tie in to specific yoga poses & the instructional book with lyrics and pics of each yoga sequence for each song is attached to the inside cover of the CD case. There are 13 music tracks + 9 bonus yoga tracks. The yoga tracks include detailed instruction from Kira with the music playing softly in the background. The pace of the yoga tracks is a little fast so I’d definitely listen to them and practice before trying them out with kids. If you are playing them on an iPad or iPhone, you could use the SlowTunes app to slow it down without distorting the song (see info in “Tip” below)
  • The music will appeal to a wide age range of kids (and even those of us who are “kids at heart”!).
  • Love the positive & upbeat message in each of the songs. Listen to the lyrics and you will hear many great built-in self-affirmations, positive social interactions & messages of taking care of our world!
  • A nice mix of upbeat/energizing & calming songs. The slower and mid-tempo songs tend to be my faves.
  • You gotta hear the 2014 remix version of her famous song Colors! So precious with all the kids singing along.

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Hear a preview of Kira Willey‘s new CD: https://soundcloud.com/kira-willey-music/sets/kira-willeys-new-album-how-to. Be sure to grab your free download of “Gotta Lotta Happy”—it’s all about gratitude, perfect for this time of year.

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About the Artist: In the Kindie music world, Kira Willey breaks through with her unique, two-in-one albums that blend upbeat, danceable music with get-up-and-move yoga inspiration. Willey is a nationally acclaimed kindie artist and children’s yoga expert, and the creator of Fireflies Musical Yoga for Kids. In September, Willey led sessions with hundreds of teachers at the National Kids Yoga Conference in Washington DC. Kira’s pure, sweet, and soothing voice resonates with kids. Parents of special-needs children say they find their kids captivated by her songs, and preschool teachers, occupational therapists, and other youth workers regularly use Kira’s songs in their work. Her fun and easy-to-follow yoga instructions teach self-awareness, improve balance and strength, and build confidence.
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Also check out Kira’s Soundcloud page for a few more song previews & occasionally free downloads: http://soundcloud.com/kira-willey-music

Price at the time of this post: varied depending on the website – $9.99 to $14.99. Compare shipping costs to determine the best option for you.

CD available for purchase on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Cloud-Yoga-Songs/dp/B00P44Y7II or CD Baby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kirawilley1. These days I usually prefer digital downloads but in this case I’d recommend getting the real CD so you can have the instructional book with lyrics and pics of each yoga sequence for each song is attached to the inside cover of the CD case.

Digital download on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/how-to-be-cloud-yoga-songs/id932162914 & her website: http://kirawilley.com/music

See info about the 2nd CD in this series in this review: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2012/02/18/review-giveaway-kings-queens-of-the-forest-cd-by-kira-willey/. I have included Kira’s music in many lesson plans. Find them via this search: https://omazingkidsllc.com/?s=kira.

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I put a lot of thought into the music I use in kids yoga classes in order to meet the sensory needs and avoid overstimulation. See important tips here: https://omazingkidsllc.com/music/

slow tunes
Tip: Many of the kids I work with have difficulty following quick instructions in action songs or are overstimulated by fast songs so I use the SlowTunes app on my iPhone or iPad to import many of the songs I use in OMazing Kids yoga & my work as a SLP. From there I have the option to play them in “slower” & “slowest” modes without changing the pitch or distorting the songs in any way (one of my new favorite apps! well worth the $1.99 price).
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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.

giveaway

Only USA entries allowed for this giveaway.

 << This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winner – Amy Laurent >>

Easy Entry Form:

.

  • Only entries with all required information will be valid. The info comes to me directly via e-mail & is ONLY used for the purposes of selecting winners and distributing prizes.

  • Helpful Info & Tips: Folks had requested a simpler entry option. I tried Rafflecopter but most folks did not enter an address so now I’m trying this online contact form instead. I will be hand selecting winners to insure products end up in the hands of folks who will put them to the best use. Briefly tell me how winning this would help you & the kids. I take the time to read each entry so details count. It doesn’t have to be lengthy…. just heart-felt.
  • If you experience any problems with the entry form in this blog post, 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 problems.
  • Each “giveaway” is handled separately on OMazing Kids. So there are no rules prohibiting previous winners from entering this or future giveaways. I really do read every entry in every giveaway carefully to insure that the products end up in the best hands to impact kids lives.

Entry Deadline: 11:59pm CST on November 24, 2014.

Rules of Participation:

  • Must be 18 years or older with a valid e-mail address.
  • One entry per person.
  • Only USA entries are allowed for this particular giveaway (due to international shipping costs).
  • Employees or family members of OMazing Kids, LLC or the product’s company are not eligible.
  • No purchase required.
  • Comments submitted via entries may be copied & pasted into the blog post.
  • Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received.
  • Only entries with all required information will be valid.
  • The winner will be chosen from valid entries on November 25, 2014 .

1 winner will 1 copy of the CD described above.

  • 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.
  • The prize will be mailed to the winner using the address submitted in the entry form. OMazing Kids is not responsible for items lost in the mail or for inaccuracies in the mailing address. I copy & paste the info directly from what you submit << so PLEASE proof read your entry for accuracy before submitting it…. in the era of iPhone auto correction these errors happen pretty frequently>>

  • Prize Value: approx $13.99

Other Legal Stuff: I know it’s just kids music with an instructional booklet 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.

grass-green-divider-bar

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2

Speech-Language Pathologist

Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities

Radiant Child Yoga Certified – Levels 1 & 2

E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga

Contests & Giveaways on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsContestsandGiveaways

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/#omazing-kids-yoga

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741

Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad

Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com

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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 wavy blue divider bar or any ads or unusual hyperlinks that may appear above. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here. I have attempted to remove the CouponDropDown but no luck so far…. DO NOT click on any hyperlinks unless you hover above them first to insure they are valid. Ones I included should appear in blue font.

Review: Imaginations Fun Relaxation Stories and Guided Imagery for Kids 2

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Imaginations: Fun Relaxation Stories and Guided Imagery for Kids 2

Imaginations 2 cover

Book Description

The second book in the Imaginations series, Imaginations 2: Relaxation Stories and Guided Imagery for Kids is an essential resource for every parent and teacher who wants to help children learn to calm their bodies and relax their minds.

The benefits of relaxation for kids include:
*Reduced stress
*Better concentration and focus
*Enhanced ability to learn
*Improved behavior and sleep
*Increased self-esteem

Learning to relax is important for people of all ages, and children who can relax are more prepared to handle big changes in their lives. Relaxation stories and guided imagery can also help ease symptoms associated with ADD, ADHD, autism, depression, and sleep disorders.

Wildly imaginative and beautiful illustrations accompany the whimsical stories of Imaginations 2, which teaches children a fun way to relax that makes their minds calm and their bodies feel good.

  • Series: Imaginations
  • Paperback: 58 pages
  • Publisher: Bambino Yoga; 1 edition (September 15, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0990732207
  • ISBN-13: 978-0990732204
  • Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.1 x 11 inches

Relaxation Story Titles:

  • Tight and Soft (Progressive Relaxation)
  • A Fall Day
  • Wintertime
  • Springtime
  • Summertime
  • Rainbow Flower Garden
  • The Thunder Drum
  • The End of the Rainbow
  • Nighttime Animal Adventure
  • Lavender Fields
  • Rainbow Bubbles
  • Butterflies
  • Mandalas
  • Sunset
  • Dinosaur Friend
  • In the Desert
  • Making Chocolate
  • More Loving Kindness

What I LOVE about this book:

  • Includes 18 relaxation scripts specifically written for kids. The scripts are short and based on kid-friendly themes. Most of these are themes commonly used in kids yoga classes so this book is sure to become a loved & well used resource!
  • These relaxation scripts will also be helpful in my work as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Many of the kids I see have high levels of anxiety and often have difficulty sleeping. I often incorporate relaxation techniques into my sessions, especially for kids with Autism, Asperger’s, ADHD & Stuttering.
  • The scripts are free of any wording that have religious connotations which makes them easy to use in any setting.
  • Each 2-page spread has a script & a full page illustration. The illustrations capture the essence of the script and many have a “retro” feel to them. I love having a picture to show kids before I read a relaxation script. Many of the kids I work with have special needs and relate well to visuals.
  • Large easy to read text.
  • Great additional info in the introduction sections. Love the simplified intro written specifically for kids!
  • Includes pictures & instructions for four yoga poses as prep for relaxation (knee hug, happy baby, legs up & starfish savasana) and five breathing games (Hoberman Sphere, heart breath, yawning breath, humming breath & buzzing bee breath)

A sneek-peek inside the book. Since there were not any pics on Amazon of any of the actual relaxation stories, I scanned this but masked out most of the text. It will at least give you a “feel” for what the stories are like:

i2 sample

You can also get a “feel” for what these relaxation stories are like by looking at screenshot from Amazon on the review for the first book in this series (see link below) .

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Lots of great info about the benefits of relaxation & ideas for times to incorporate brief relaxation breaks throughout the day:

Info for adults

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Info for adults 2

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I love both of the author’s books and hope she continues to add more in the series! Also looking forward to the audio versions coming soon 🙂

Be watching the author’s social media sites for fun kids yoga lesson plans & relaxation ideas.  Audio versions of Imaginations: Fun Relaxation Stories and Meditations for Kids are coming soon!

Price at the time of this post: $19.99 (Amazon on sale for 28% off – $14.39. Also a Kindle version for 65% off – $6.99)

Available for purchase on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Imaginations-Relaxation-Stories-Guided-Imagery/dp/0990732207

Both books and a few individual relaxation stories PDFs can also be purchased on the author’s website: http://bambinoyoga.com/shop/. A couple of “freebies” are still available as PDFs on her old website: http://www.imaginationsforkids.com/freebies/

See info about the first book in this series in this review: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2012/08/26/review-giveaway-imaginations-fun-relaxation-stories-and-meditations-for-kids/

Disclaimer: I received a free sample of this product to facilitate my review.  Opinions expressed are my own.

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2

Speech-Language Pathologist

Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities

Radiant Child Yoga Certified – Levels 1 & 2

E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com

NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the wavy divider bar. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here.