{Product Review} Q’s Race to the Top Bundle: Boardgame, On the Go Pack, Read-Along Storybook & CD, Coloring & Activity Book, and Q-Time Buddy weighted plush doll

OMazing Kids Review - Q's Race to the Top Bundle

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I am SUPER excited to have these amazing products to use in  OMazing Kids speech-language therapy and kids yoga classes! EQtainment generously sent me the Q Toys Bundle to try out and review. They have been a HUGE hit with my patients. The bundle includes the Q’s Race to the Top Boardgame, Q’s Race on the Go Pack, Q’s Wild Ride Read-Along Storybook & CD, Q’s Coloring & Activity Book, and the Q-Time Buddy weighted plush doll. [price: $59.99 (an $8.00 savings over purchasing all of the items separately): http://shop.eqtainment.com/products/q-toys-bundle].

Here’s what I LOVE about these amazing products:

  • The Q’s Race to the Top Boardgame has an oversized dice and game pieces (both nice for younger kids or for those with fine motor challenges) and a sturdy colorful game board that is easy to understand and short enough to get to the end within a typical speech-language therapy session.
  • The cards in the game have a wide degree of difficulty and social skills targeted. The game was designed and tested with kids ages 3-12 years old. Younger kids or those with special needs may need the therapist or parent to preselect cards before the start of the game to best suit their kids needs. The adult could also simplify the wording as they read the cards. The “Do” cards contain a mix of physical actions ranging from simple to pretty challenging. Some also incorporate emotions and facial expressions. Again I would suggest preselecting the ones that will best suit your kids physical abilities and developmental level. The adult may need to simplify these activities or modify them for kids with special needs. For kids that need a visual support to help them understand what the motion would look like, I will incorporate video modeling and pictures. The selfie camera mode on my iPad will also come in handy.
  • The Q’s Wild Ride book included with the game is fun to read to introduce kids to the loveable yet quirky character Q before playing the game. (Q is “a dusky leaf monkey”…. thanks for including the specifics! The first question my patient with ASD asked was “what kind of monkey is that?”). The Read-Along Storybook & CD is exactly the same story but  in a larger book format and includes a CD with two tracks (with and without page turn signals). The narration and sound effects are very well done in the CD and the illustrations in the book depict emotions well through exaggerated facial expressions and body language. I took a couple of pics of interior pages since none seemed to be available online and this will help folks make purchasing decisions.
  • The Q’s Race to the Top – On the Go Pack are the same cards as contained in the board game but are sized a little smaller and are in a durable metal tin.
  • The Q-Time Buddy weighted plush doll is super soft, is wearing a cute green hoodie and is the perfect weight and size to be used in belly breathing. I had several patients who immediately relaxed, closed their eyes and began belly breathing when laying on their back with the Q-Time Buddy on their belly. The instructions are printed on the back of the box. My only suggestion for improvement would be to include a separate card with the belly breathing instructions since most folks usually don’t keep the box when they get a stuffed animal. I am including some pics below that I found on the Kohl’s website so I will be able to share the instructions with parents later.
  • The Q’s Coloring & Activity Book is filled with great tie-ins to the book & game. It also includes several pages that are unique to just the coloring book and also includes fun activity pages (dot-to-dot, finish the picture, maze, find the same, drawing emotions on faces, etc…). I scanned a couple of interior pages since none seemed to be available online and this will help folks make purchasing decisions.
  • All of the products are very well designed and of high quality materials. Is is very obvious that a lot of thought went into the design of these products. I love that they offer them as individual items so parents and therapists can pick and choose the ones to best fit their needs or get the entire set as bundle.

These are definitely destined to become “faves” in OMazing Kids speech-language therapy and my kids yoga classes!

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Q's game board with book set

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Q's game board

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q-time buddy

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Breathing activity instructions for Q-Time Buddy plush doll

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Q-Time belly breathing pic (from the Kohl's website)

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See this video for more info about this relaxation technique.

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Interior page samples from the storybook:

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Interior page samples from the coloring book:

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See this video for info about the game:

 

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Where can I purchase these amazing products? (plus a discount code!)

All of the products are available for purchase on their website at: http://shop.eqtainment.com/ & they are offering a 20% off discount for OMazing Kids fans (the discount is only available only when purchasing directly through their website. Enter “QFRIEND20” when you checkout on their website. This discount code is set to expire one month from this post. Please contact the company directly with any questions you may have about the discount code: http://eqtainment.com/contact-us/ or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/eqtainment/)

A few additional purchasing options:

I’m including links from Amazon.com for those who like to take advantage of free shipping through their Amazon Prime membership and for Kohl’s for those who may have some Kohl’s cash they’d like to spend…..

Board game with book:

http://www.amazon.com/Race-Educational-Board-Game-Book/dp/B00NH9E4LW

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-2465260/qs-race-to-the-top-board-game.jsp

Q-time weighted plush buddy:

http://www.amazon.com/Q-Time-developing-attention-emotional-control/dp/B00ZQ2J9M2

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-2466048/q-time-buddy-plush-monkey.jsp

Coloring book:

http://www.amazon.com/Qs-Coloring-Activity-Book-behavior/dp/B00ZPYAK3S

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teach EQ

For more ideas for fostering emotional intelligence and teaching social skills, be sure to check out their social media sites:

Website: http://eqtainment.com/

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

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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
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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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads nor do I profit from them}

 

Fabulous FREE printables on the Art of Social Work blog

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Fabulous FREE printables over on the Art of Social Work blog! Refreshing to find a kindred spirit dedicated to sharing free printables to help kids. I just subscribed to get her blog posts via e-mail 🙂

Shared on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/22Vwn3t

Added to this album “Social Emotional Learning”: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.457605837623760.124099.174264525957894&type=3

https://kristinamarcelli.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/mindfulness-cue-cards/
https://kristinamarcelli.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/feelings-check-in/
https://kristinamarcelli.wordpress.com/2014/03/02/feelings-check-in-wheel/
https://kristinamarcelli.wordpress.com/2015/04/11/feeling-faces-printable-coloring-sheet/
https://kristinamarcelli.wordpress.com/2014/05/28/safe-place-color-bubble/
https://kristinamarcelli.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/in-my-heart/
https://kristinamarcelli.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/growing-hearts-of-kindness/
https://kristinamarcelli.wordpress.com/2013/12/14/positive-thinking-for-the-little-ones-too/
https://kristinamarcelli.wordpress.com/2014/03/29/teaching-children-meditation/
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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
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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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 25 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.

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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. this is a free blog and I have no control over ads nor do I profit from them}

Glitter Bottle Calming App ~ currently FREE

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 This glitter bottle calming app is currently FREE. I used it in a session this week along with guided relaxation to quickly help a patient calm. The child had a panic/anxiety attack in the middle of a session over the fear that they would fail state testing -> flunk -> be held back a grade…. bless their hearts…. kids experience way too much stress in schools these days.

Calming Bottle by eSolution
https://appsto.re/us/_fqy9.i

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{note: Price was verified in the Apple App Store at the time of this post but can change at any time.}
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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist 

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

Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com 

Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789

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

AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/ 

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

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

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

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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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 25 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is a kids book reviewer with a focus on great picture books, a kids toy / product reviewer with a focus on those that are helpful for kids with special needs & an app beta tester for educational and therapeutic app developers. She loves sharing info about great things to use with kids of all abilities.


2 Amazing “Must Have” Books for Teaching Kids Self-Regulation Skills

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I absolutely LOVE both of these books! Great for teaching kids self-regulation skills. I love the illustrations, kid-friendly language and analogies used to make the concepts easy to understand and to implement. The concepts are therapeutically sound. I highly recommend both books as “must haves” in the library of anyone working with kids with special needs.

I bought my copies on Amazon. Check out the reviews for yourself…. 100% 5-star rave reviews:

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* The Kids’ Guide to Staying Awesome and In Control: Simple Stuff to Help Children Regulate their Emotions and Senses

Hardcover – July 22, 2014
http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Guide-Staying-Awesome-Control/dp/1849059977

About the book:
Packed with simple ideas to regulate the emotions and senses, this book will help children tackle difficult feelings head-on and feel awesome and in control!
From breathing exercises, pressure holds and finger pulls, to fidgets, noise-reducing headphones and gum, the book is brimming with fun stuff to help kids feel cool, calm and collected. They will learn how to label difficult feelings, choose the perfect strategies and tools to tackle them, and use these correctly whether at home or at school. The strategies and tools are accompanied by cartoon-style illustrations, and the author includes useful tips for parents and teachers as well as handy visual charts and checklists to track learning and progress.

Armed with this book, kids will be well on their way to managing difficult emotions and feeling just right in whatever situation life throws at them! Suitable for children with emotional and sensory processing difficulties aged approximately 7 to 14 years. (Note: With modifications I’ve used the strategies with kids as young as 4 1/2 years old)

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Free printables from the book:
https://bit.ly/3OMG9BI

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* How to Be a Superhero Called Self-Control!: Super Powers to Help Younger Children to Regulate their Emotions and Senses

Hardcover – November 21, 2015
http://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Superhero-Called-Self-Control/dp/1849057176

About the book:
Meet Self-Control, a superhero who wants to teach young children his super powers of self-control! Anxiety, frustration, anger, and other difficult feelings won’t stand a chance against their new-found powers.

Self-Control teaches children with emotional and sensory regulation difficulties aged approximately 4-7 how to calm themselves using self-massage, deep pressure, breathing exercises, and activities such as making an imaginary list and finding their own peaceful place. This illustrated book also features an appendix with photocopiable super power charts, reinforcers, and reminder tools to ensure that parents, teachers, and other professionals can support children in upholding superhero strategies even after the book has been read.

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Free printables from the book:
https://bit.ly/3yGeQU0
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The author, Lauren Brukner, is a pediatric OT: https://twitter.com/brukner_lauren?s=21&t=JN4N-ms77XgvaxEmobXCEQ

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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
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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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 25 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is a kids book reviewer with a focus on great picture books, a kids toy / product reviewer with a focus on those that are helpful for kids with special needs & an iOS app beta tester for educational and therapeutic app developers. She loves sharing info about great things to use with kids of all abilities.

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{Note: please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I have no control over the ads nor do I make any profit from them}

12 Calming Apps for Teens

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Holidays can be also be stressful times for teens with Autism & other special needs. Here are a dozen calming apps geared towards teens that can help:
 
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{note: Prices were verified in the Apple App Store at the time of this post but can change at any time. I only included iOS apps since I don’t have any Android devices and have only included apps that I have and use}
These can be incorporated with other strategies such as keeping some predictable routines, use of visual supports, being in tune with the teen’s sensory needs & knowing when they need a break to chill out. There is a high incidence of clinical levels of anxiety in teens with ASD so it is important to also seek out the help of a trained mental health professional when dealing with these issues.
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Looking for 12 apps for calming (mostly geared towards younger kids)? See this post: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2015/12/28/12-calming-apps/
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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist 

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

Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com 

Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789

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

AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/ 

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

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

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

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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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 25 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is a kids book reviewer with a focus on great picture books, a kids toy / product reviewer with a focus on those that are helpful for kids with special needs & an app beta tester for educational and therapeutic app developers. She loves sharing info about great things to use with kids of all abilities.


12 Calming Apps

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Holidays can be stressful times for kids with Autism & other special needs. Here are a dozen calming apps that can help:

  •  Wellbeyond Meditation for Kids by Wellbeyond Inc.

https://appsto.re/us/-65Iab.i, free

Very nicely done! Great hand painted illustrations, short guided relaxations with pleasant voiceovers & gentle music. It is worth it’s weight in gold! I used it today with great success. I am a speech-language pathologist and kids yoga teacher who works with kids with severe disabilities. Many are nonverbal and have limited means of self regulating. One was so upset this morning that she was engaging in self injurious behaviors. I got her into a quiet room, laid her on a bean bag chair and turned on the “sleep” guided relaxation in this app. Within less than a minute she calmed down, quit banging her head and fell asleep. This app has earned a rare permanent spot in the valuable limited memory real estate on my therapy iPad. Definitely will be recommending this free app at OMazing Kids.

 

  • The Breathing Butterfly by Tip-Tok
  • Focus 1-2-3 by Oranda
  • Calm Kids with Mamaphant by James Golding
  • Smiling Mind by Smiling Mind
  • 1-Min Calm by For Jack and Jill, LLC
  • Super Stretch Yoga HD by The Adventures of Super Stretch, LLC
  • Super Yoga Bedtime by Cheeky Yogi Ltd.
    https://appsto.re/us/SGcGdb.i, $2.99 (see full review https://omazingkidsllc.com/2016/10/30/app-review-super-yoga-bedtime-by-cheeky-yogi/)
  • Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame by Sesame Street
  • fluidity HD by nebulus design
https://appsto.re/us/fUMZx.i, free (has IAP so be sure to disable the ability to download them in your iPad settings. Can also block out the area with Guided Access)
  • Zen Studio: finger painting to relax & focus by Les Trois Elles Interactive
https://appsto.re/us/2qNQ-.i, free (has IAP so be sure to disable the ability to download them in your iPad settings)
  • Wa Kingyo – Goldfish Pond by Masataka Hakozaki
  • Calm Talk by James Munro
https://appsto.re/us/deU1N.i, $1.99 (several built in features for visual supports & activities for self calming)
  • Chill Outz® by Mind-Out LLC
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{note: Prices were verified in the Apple App Store at the time of this post but can change at any time. I only included iOS apps since I don’t have any Android devices and have only included apps that I have and use}
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These can be incorporated with other strategies such as keeping some predictable routines, use of visual supports, being in tune with the child’s sensory needs & knowing when they need a break from the festivities.
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Looking for apps geared towards teens? See this post: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2015/12/29/12-calming-apps-for-teens/
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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist 

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

Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com 

Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789

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

AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/ 

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

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

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

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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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 25 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is a kids book reviewer with a focus on great picture books, a kids toy / product reviewer with a focus on those that are helpful for kids with special needs & an app beta tester for educational and therapeutic app developers. She loves sharing info about great things to use with kids of all abilities.


Book Review, Lesson Plan Ideas & Free Printable: Breathe by Scott Magoon

Breathe book review

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Check out this awesome new addition to the OMazing Kids collection of fabulous kids picture books: “Breathe” by Scott Magoon.

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I saw it mentioned by my friend Jenny at Happy Planet Yoga and got a great deal on a new hardcover copy for only $1.98 + shipping for a total of $5.97 on Amazon!  I always check out the options for purchasing a new or used in good condition book before purchasing to find the best deals.

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I love the calming illustrations & short text on each 2-page spread. Every few pages there is a reminder to “Breathe”.  This book would be perfect for a whole session devoted to various yoga breathing techniques or you could go with an arctic ocean-themed kids yoga class based on the opportunities in the illustrations (whale, fish, crab, puffin, jellyfish, sun, sea kelp (forward fold), sunken ship (boat), mountain,  mindful listening to ocean sounds, polar bear, etc..). The book also has several great messages that could be used as mantras:  Breathe. Explore. Make new friends. Fear not. Find another way up. Love and be loved. Dream big.

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The “Under the Sea” guided relaxation on page 38 in “Imaginations Fun Relaxation Stories and Meditations for Kids” will be perfect for this theme.

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Here is a free printable beluga whale & mantras coloring sheet:

beluga whales and mantras coloring page for Breathe by Scott Magoon

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Fun free printable craft:

Whales-Book-Printable

 

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http://scottmagoon.com/breathe/

https://www.facebook.com/scottmagoonbooks/

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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
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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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 25 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is a kids book reviewer with a focus on great picture books, a kids toy / product reviewer with a focus on those that are helpful for kids with special needs & an app beta tester for educational and therapeutic app developers. She loves sharing info about great things to use with kids of all abilities.

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{* Please ignore any ads that may appear below this sentence. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads *}

 

 

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

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 pagehttps://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.

Hoberman Sphere-Like App ~ grab it while it’s FREE

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This fabulous breathing app reminds me of a Hoberman Sphere…. app prices change quickly so grab it while it’s FREE (normally $3.99): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/breathing-zone-relaxing-breathing/id369838631?mt=8

#justbreathe #yoga #kidsyoga #app #relaxation

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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
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
App Reviews on The Appy Ladies: http://theappyladies.com/?s=Moorad
.
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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Note: Ignore any ads or links that appear below. This is a free blog and I have no control over the ads.

Mindfulness in Your Classroom: 4 Ways to FLOW ~ {Guest Post from GoNoodle}

 Mindfulness in your Classroom - GoNoodle

Mindfulness in Your Classroom: 4 Ways to FLOW

By Wynne Kinder BA Ed. (of Kinder Associates LLC and Wellness Works in Schools)

 

Meet guest poster Wynne Kinder— former classroom teacher (16 years), wellness educator, curriculum author, and teacher trainer—who has been using principles of mindfulness, social skills, and emotional balance in classrooms for 10+ years. Most recently, Wynne collaborated with GoNoodle to create Flow, the first-of-its-kind mindfulness brain break for classrooms.

 

Mindfulness Came into My Classroom

 

Jose was not having it.  He declared, with actions and words, that he was not going along with my hopes of quiet, calm or “just breathing” in our 5th grade classroom.

I had envisioned that my newly-discovered personal practice of mindfulness would naturally assimilate into this 28-student, urban, public school classroom.  Jose and friends responded, “You are just trying to calm us to death,” and “We’re not like that, Miss. We’re not like you.”  So, I stuck to the curriculum in the classroom.

That is until a mindfulness program, Wellness Works in Schools, came to our school to lead classroom sessions. I was hopeful, but still skeptical;  My wiggly nay-sayers?  My chatty, non-sitters? My separated from the group-ers? My Jose is going to try something new, quiet, calm? I think not.

I should have given him (actually, all of them) more credit.

 

Jose became the star student.  He reminded me when the mindfulness teachers were coming.  He helped set up our classroom. He even led a mindfulness activity in one of our final sessions, and I resisted the urge to tell him, “I told you so.”

Three years later, I retired from classroom teaching to help spread classroom mindfulness concepts around the district and the county through Wellness Works in Schools. Today, teachers like me who weren’t sure how, when or why to engage their students in mindfulness don’t have to wait for a mindfulness expert to save the day.

 

Mindfulness Goes Everywhere

 Mindfulness in your Classroom - GoNoodle 2

 

Last week, I received an emailed plea from a teacher-friend two hours away.  “How do I teach what you teach?  I need to try.  My kids are talkers.  They seriously won’t stop.  Help!”

 

I sent her straight to GoNoodle, an online suite of resources to engage students and teachers with physical activity breaks or “brain breaks,” that incorporate mindfulness practices.  I specifically recommended Flow, the newest online, centering, mindfulness brain break I created with GoNoodle.  I heard from her a day later.  “Success! Made me cry.”

Brain breaks are three to five-minute experiences that can change the tone of a classroom from high energy chaos to channeled productivity or even to focused, balanced readiness.

 

Taking my work from one-on-one classroom wellness consulting to collaboration with GoNoodle opens up the possibilities for classroom mindfulness and reaching classrooms everywhere. Teachers who never imagined practicing mindfulness are now discovering the benefits, and those who wanted to practice classroom mindfulness, but weren’t sure how, now have an accessible starting point.

 

4 Ways to Flow

Mindfulness in your Classroom - GoNoodle 3

Flow is designed as a “jumping off” point for mindfulness practice. While Flow does not represent the entirety of mindfulness practice, it serves as a way to guide students in short, repeatable mindfulness exercises without need for prior experience.

 

1. Morning Meeting offers an opportunity to set the tone for your day. Take note of the vocabulary used in the exercises and remind students how they can “bring down their balloon” when feeling out of control, or “chin up” when feeling discouraged or frustrated.

 

2. Class Meetings are an interjection of a needed shift for you and your students. Use Flow during such times: before a test, after a conflict, or as a break from a challenging or frustrating lesson (long division, anyone?).

 

3. Transitions are one of the most uncertain parts of classroom management, as they afford the most opportunity to “lose” the class. Make Flow a natural 3-minute transition aid.  Use Flow as a chance for students to be more present and to give yourself the opportunity to smoothly shift focus and manage energy.

 

4. Anytime.  Really, any time you or your students want to Flow! Once mindfulness becomes a regular part of your classroom routine, students will ask for a brain break when they need it. Follow their intuition (and your own) to offer Flow as a strategy to rearrange energy and attitudes.

 

To use Flow with your kids or students, create a free account at GoNoodle.com. GoNoodle also includes 3-5 minute brain breaks of varying energy levels from calming to high energy.

 

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Note from OMazing Kids: Be sure to check out the FREE Teacher’s Guide PDF on the GoNoodle website (http://inspiration.gonoodle.com/2014/05/a-teaching-guide-for-flow/)

GoNoodle Flow Teacher's Guide - PDF

and their social media sites for updates:

https://www.facebook.com/GoNoodleGames

https://twitter.com/GoNoodle

http://www.pinterest.com/gonoodlebreaks/

grass-green-divider-bar

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

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

App Reviews on The Appy Ladies: http://theappyladies.com/?s=Moorad

.

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 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.

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