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
“My Spots” is a sweet children’s book about finding our own unique “spots” and being okay with any birthmarks that nature gave us. The author gently guides children through a journey of acceptance and self-love by illustrating beautiful spots and markings found on animals in nature. This is a wonderful new addition to my OMazing Kids collection of children’s picture books on self-esteem! I like that it includes a page for the child to draw their own special birthmark spots & a page for them to answer the question “If you were an animal, what type of spots would you have?” and then draw it.
Excited to have a fun activity prepared for OMazing Kids speech therapy this week! Wild About Us! by Karen Beaumont has a wonderful message of diversity and loving who you are plus it’s full of lots of great descriptive language and animal vocabulary:
Warty Warthog
Toothy Crocodile
Wrinkly Rhino
Long-Nosed Elephant
Lanky Tall Giraffe
Pink Flamingo
Plump Potbellied Pig
Slow Tortoise
Spiky Porcupine
Spotted Leopard
Wiggly Hippo
Big-Eared Chimp
Huge-Footed Kangaroo
Tiny Pesky Fly
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I bought my new hardcover copy of the book on Amazon for less than $5.00: http://www.amazon.com/Wild-About-Us-Karen-Beaumont/dp/0152062947
{Update: It finally uploaded to the Online Gallery. Search for “wild” and you’ll find it}
Love using the GoTalk Now Plus AAC app to make communication pages to use with books! It’s amazing to have access to the PCS Boardmaker symbols, SymbolStix symbols, GoTalk symbols and easily search online for pictures all within one app. Plus it’s easy to export the whole page as a PDF to then print and cut apart the symbols to add to kids PECS books. Thanks Attainment Company, Inc.! The kids I serve at our non-profit hospital and I greatly appreciate it 🙂
. GoTalk Now Plus AAC app: GoTalk NOW PLUS by Attainment Company https://appsto.re/us/LlfpS.i
This app is super easy to program and is full of other great features such as being able to link buttons to music or videos on your iPad, link to YouTube videos, transmit pages over WiFi to another device, scanning, backup/restore with DropBox, upload/download pages via the GoTalk Now Online Gallery, each page can have a different grid size (choices of 1, 2, 4, 9, 16 or 25 buttons per page), and more.
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Check out the fabulous new Breathe In: Children’s Songs for Mindfulness and Awareness CD by Lianne Bassin! All early childhood teachers, special ed teachers, parents, child psychologists, speech-language pathologists, kids yoga teachers & anyone else working with young children will love it. Such a fabulous way to work with kids on emotions, social emotional intelligence, social skills, mindfulness, empathy & affirmations!
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What I love about this CD:
Unique catchy tunes, great beats, lovely vocals and harmonies & meaningful lyrics. Everything I love about Kindie music shines through in this CD!
Wonderful positive messages of affirmation, empathy & mindfulness. I wish every young child could have a CD like this to counteract all the negative messages they are exposed to in today’s culture.
“Peaceful Place” is especially calming. I have uploaded all the songs to my iPhone and will personally be listening to this one when I need a “peaceful place” break in the middle of my hectic schedule as a pediatric SLP.
I love the concept of “Hugging Words”….. definitely will be infusing this into my social skills sessions with patients!
The message of “Together We’re Beautiful” is especially powerful to share with kids with special needs.
There is a nice mix of upbeat & slower songs. From a sensory perspective, several of the songs have a strong calming drum beat that my patients with Autism Spectrum Disorders tend to respond well to.
Many of the songs have precious young kids vocals mixed in. Adorable!
All 21 songs are wonderful…. what a great bargain to have a CD packed full of this many fabulous songs and a free activity booklet with extension activities.
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Release Date: June 20, 2015
CD – 21 songs – 56:00, comes with a 12 page educational booklet that contains mindful activities, mindful moments or mindful questions for each song.
Bye, Bye Thoughts: Introduces children to the meditation technique of noticing their thoughts and letting
them go.
Together We’re Beautiful:Empowers children to embrace their uniqueness as well as the differences they find in others.
I Am:Helps children see that they are connected to the larger world. Furthermore, if they treat nature with respect and thoughtfulness, the world will be a better place to live in.
Trees: Encourages children to develop a relationship with nature and cultivate a curiosity about their surroundings.
Mr. Bear and Birdie: Helps to instill compassion for those who are not as fortunate. If we have more than we need, it is important to share what we have with those who do not have enough.
Monkey Brain: Encourages children to focus on what they are doing in the present moment. This is the most basic of mindfulness concepts.
Wishing Tree:Introduces children to the idea of sending good wishes to themselves and to others. This is the idea behind the practice of loving-kindness meditation.
Hugging Words:Helps children be more aware of the language they use toward others. Words can affect our feelings – positively or negatively.
Love Inside My Heart: Teaches children to think about the love within them and to express their love to themselves, others, and their environment.
Be Still: Shows children that keeping our bodies still will help us still our minds.
Chirp Chirp: Encourages children to be sensitive to the sounds in the environment around them.
All Our Voices: Encourages children to strengthen their teamwork and collaboration skills within their community.
What Do I Feel?: Reminds children to be conscious of how they feel during individual moments throughout the day.
Two of Us: Teaches children about the importance of supporting others and working together as a team.
Check In: Teaches children that taking time to notice their thoughts and feelings (‘checking in’) from time to time throughout the day can help them have more self-control.
10 White Doves:Encourages children to spread their love by doing kind things for other people.
Peaceful Place: Helps children create an internal or external place to go when they need to calm themselves. In their peaceful place, children should feel free to take all the time they need in order to fully relax.
Thank You: Reminds children to be thankful for what they have, and to express gratitude whenever they can.
Listening Within:Helps children realize that thoughts and feelings change over time. Being aware of this can help them cope with their thoughts and feelings throughout the day.
One Step at a Time: Encourages children to develop a mindful walking practice, noticing each step and feeling each part of their foot as it lowers to the ground.
Breathe In, Breathe Out: Introduces children to the idea that they can use their breath to help settle their bodies and minds, and to help control their emotions. In doing so, they can more fully appreciate and experience everything surrounding them.
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“Breathe In ought to be in every classroom. Playful, fun, and thoughtful, Lianne’s engaging collection of songs offer children simple ways to practice mindfulness and respect for self and others. Teaching moments such as self-regulation and recognizing emotions are beautifully woven throughout the CD. Don’t be surprised if you, too, find yourself singing and dancing along!”
– Victoria Gordon, Children’s Yoga and Mindfulness Instructor
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“Lianne’s music is like a guide to happiness and well-being for children. The heartwarming original and catchy songs are fun, encourage loving-kindness and positive behavior.”
– Deanie Melniker, Kindergarten Teacher
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“Lianne Bassin is not only an exceptional songwriter and musician, she is an expert teacher of young children. Her focus on mindfulness and meditation coupled with her fun and engaging music appeal both to children and their parents. Raising confident and thoughtful children is not easy in our fast-paced world, Lianne and her music are the perfect remedy. Listening to her music and songs is an enjoyable way to foster your children’s development.”
– Allyson Hentei-Koplin, Ph.D., Child Psychologist
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“Lianne’s songs are ideal for my special needs students. The social/emotional emphasis is aligned with the needs of the special needs K-5 population as well as general education students. The songs are fun, clear and sweet. Lianne’s songs have impacted me as much as Free to Be You and Me did some 40 years ago.”
-Marci Pepper, Special Educator
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About the Artist:
New York-based children’s musician Lianne Bassin is known as a bridge-builder between worlds. A singer-songwriter since the age of 5, she has used her background as singer, early childhood teacher, and yoga instructor to create opportunities for children to learn mindfulness. Understanding the importance of cultivating awareness and appreciation of self and others in children of all ages, Bassin started writing a few guided meditation songs. After witnessing the overwhelmingly positive effects they had on her students, she began to write more songs and share her music with other classroom teachers and parents.
In February 2014, Lianne was awarded a grant from Rodeph Sholom School to record a children’s album focused on mindfulness. Breathe In: Children’s Songs for Mindfulness and Awareness inspires mindfulness as a way of living, helping children to pay attention to themselves, others, and their surroundings. Teachers, counselors, and parents are already using Breathe In to teach children about mindfulness, in a fun and engaging way. She hopes that you too can internalize the messages conveyed in her music, and help pass them along to the next generation!
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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.
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Worldwide entries are allowed for this giveaway.
The artist specified one winner to be selected within the USA & one winner to be selected outside the USA.
This giveaway is now CLOSED. Congratulations to the winners:
USA: Jennifer Ziolko in Oregon
Outside USA: Hayley Sanderson in the UK.
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 June 19, 2015.
Rules of Participation:
Must be 18 years or older with a valid e-mail address.
One entry per person.
Worldwide entries are allowed for this 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 winners will be chosen from valid entries on June 20, 2015.
2 winners will each receive one copy of this CD.
The winner will be notified via e-mail, their name 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 or phone number. 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 & phone number will be forwarded to the company and they 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: $15.00
Other Legal Stuff: I know it’s just a kids mindfulness 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 Radiant Child Yoga Certified – Levels 1 & 2
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 love combining books, art & movement to inspire creativity in kids! Here are my “five faves” for this:
Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg[Hooray for mistakes! A mistake is an adventure in creativity, a portal of discovery. A spill doesn’t ruin a drawing—not when it becomes the shape of a goofy animal. And an accidental tear in your paper? Don’t be upset about it when you can turn it into the roaring mouth of an alligator. A singular work of imagination, creativity, and paper engineering, Beautiful Oops! is filled with pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, tears, holes, overlays, bends, smudges, and even an accordion “telescope”—each demonstrating the magical transformation from blunder to wonder. Opportunities for kids yoga or creative movement: alligator, dog, duck, elephant, penguin, pig, car, bunny, fish, worm, frog, gyan mudra looking glasses, flower. Plus lots of opportunity for discussion about the power of creating something beautiful out of what appears to be an “oops”; Ideas for open-ended art exploration: torn paper collage, ink or paint blots, origami, newspaper creations, fingerprint pictures, stamping with paper towel rolls, hole punching, crumpled paper creations. More ideas in this free event kit(5-page PDF).]
The Dotby Peter H. Reynolds[Art class is over, but Vashti is sitting glued to her chair in front of a blank piece of paper. The words of her teacher are a gentle invitation to express herself. But Vashti can’t draw – she’s no artist. To prove her point, Vashti jabs at a blank sheet of paper to make an unremarkable and angry mark. “There!” she says. That one little dot marks the beginning of Vashti’s journey of surprise and self-discovery. Opportunities for kids yoga or creative movement: chair, polar bear, jabbing with the marker (woodchopper), Hmmm? breath, writing name (air writing, back writing partner activity, doing poses that start with the letter of each child’s first name), swirls (lazy 8’s from Brain Gym), “paint the room” activity with props,grow bigger (child’s pose – kneeling – mountain – standing star); Plus lots of opportunity for discussion about the power of one person’s encouragement, starting with what we “can” do and growing it into something bigger & “paying it forward”. Lots of fun art & extension activity ideas in this free classroom guide for The Dot & Ishfrom the publisher (8-page PDF). Need more inspiration? Pinterestis full of ideas for open-ended art exploration for The Dot!]
Ish by Peter H. Reynolds [Follow the little boy inspired by Vashti in the book “The Dot”. Drawing is what Ramon does. It’s what makes him happy. But in one split second, all that changes. A single reckless remark by Ramon’s older brother turns his carefree sketches into joyless struggles. Luckily his little sister, Marisol, sees the world differently. She opens his eyes to something a lot more valuable than getting things just “right.” The power of “-ish”. Opportunities for kids yoga or creative movement: lay on tummy, bed, “Ewww” breath (painting by trash cans), chair, flower, tense/relax fists (like crumpling paper), stomping feet (I’m done!), standing forward fold (as Marisol picks up a crumpled drawing), Toe-ga (to pick up small crumped balls of paper), stretch up & side to side as Marisol tapes the drawing in the gallery on her wall, gyan mudra looking glasses, ish-poses (make up “ish” variations on poses: tree, house, boat, fish & sun and the poses that make them “feel” peace-ish, silly-ish & excited-ish …. if time allows keep the creative ish-pose process going. Kids could work in pairs – one creates a pose, the other draws it (and of course signs it like in The Dot) & then trade roles. Their art could be copied so the whole group could have a set of yoga-ish pose cards), poem / journaling, mindfulness activities to experience savoring the moment; plus lots of opportunity for discussion of the power of our words to discourage or encourage others.]
Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds [The third book in the Creatrilogy series. Marisol, the little sister from the book “Ish”, loves to paint. So when her teacher asks her to help make a mural for the school library, she can’t wait to begin! But how can Marisol make a sky without blue paint? After gazing out the bus window and watching from her porch as day turns into night, she closes her eyes and starts to dream. Opportunities for kids yoga or creative movement: cat, fruit picking stretch, flower, fish, palming or mudras (for the handprint painting), whale, bumpy bus ride, mindfully noticing colors in the sky, moon, stars, bed, guided “Colors” relaxation; plus lots of opportunity for discussion about thinking outside the box & mindfully experiencing things. Lots of fun art & extension activity ideasin this free classroom guidefrom the publisher (6-page PDF)]
(Looking for more ways to explore feelings through color? Check out the My Many Colored Dayspost)
The Museum bySusan Verde, with art by Peter H. Reynolds (it’s cool that Susan was an elementary school teacher and is now a certified kid’s yoga instructor!) [As a little girl tours and twirls through the halls of an art museum, she finds herself on an exciting adventure. Each piece of art evokes something new inside of her: silliness, curiosity, joy and ultimately inspiration. When faced with an empty white canvas, she is energized to create and express herself. “When I see a work of art, something happens in my heart”. Opportunities for kids yoga or creative movement: mountain w/ Namaste hands at heart, Warrior I, Warrior II, dancer, crescent moon, standing star, standing forward fold (looking through legs at world upside down), chair, sitting down (a variety of seated poses – lotus, half-lotus, easy pose, seated twist, etc…), seated apple picking stretch, flower (incorporate real flowers into the class – inspired by this postfrom Carolyn at Imaginations: Fun Relaxation Stories and Meditations for Kids), make up silly poses, laughter yoga, blank canvas mindfulness activity; Also lots of opportunity for discussion about our lives being a “blank canvas” and being empowered to “paint/create” your own future. Any open-ended art exploration activities would be fun to incorporate (remember it should be about the “process” of exploring & having fun with arts/crafts & not the end “product”. Also put thought into kid’s special needs & sensory sensitivities when selecting activities. There are lots of great ways to adapt art to make it accessible to all! http://www.zotartz.com/, http://www.kinderart.com/special/). Fun printables on the author’s website(curriculum guide coming soon!). For more ideas, see this great post Book to Boogie: Dance Inspired by Artby Kerry Aradhya at Picture Books & Pirouettes]
Be watching for an update to this post this fall. A Little Bit of Oomph!, the sequel to Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg, is scheduled to release in September 2013 (I’ve already pre-ordered a copy through Amazon!).
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.
Great simple mindfulness books for kids…. these books are gems!
Product Description: “You Are Not Your Thoughts” was written to help children and parents become more aware of the present moment and to foster an environment of compassion and loving-kindness between all human beings. Mindfulness is a way of living each moment in a way that expresses kindness and respect for all. Mindfulness reconnects people to their senses, bringing them into moment-to-moment awareness. Research shows that mindfulness increases attention skills, reduces anxiety and improves emotional regulation. You can free yourself of destructive thoughts, emotions and behaviors by simply remembering to be present – right here, right now.
A 2nd edition of “You Are Not Your Thoughts” was created in 2013 as a version geared towards older children, teens & adults. Edition 1 is still available and is geared towards younger children.
Here is a “sneek-peek” at a few pages inside both editions of the book so you can see a side-by-side comparison:
Here’s what I love about the books:
The large photos, pictures of kids, large bold font and rhyming text are fabulous for younger kids in Edition 1 of the book
Although the text is essentially the same, the photos of nature, illustrations and font used in Edition 2 give it a more “grown up” feel.
The books capture the concept of the fleeting nature of thoughts & feelings. I especially love the message that all feelings are ok “However you are feeling, happy or blue, we all have many feelings, it’s okay to feel every hue”.
Simple tips for mindfully noticing how your body & mind feel, how things look, how sounds & silence sound, mindful breathing, cherishing the present moment & more. It’s amazing how much wonderful stuff is packed into 24-page books. These are true gems!
Brian generously donated both editions of his book to Rossana in Mexico as part of the “planting seeds” project. Here are a couple of pics of her yogis enjoying them:
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 A Way to Give – 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 books would be helpful to you. Also nominate a friend, relative, teacher, therapist, school, clinic, library, etc… it can be any individual (other than yourself) or setting that you feel could benefit from having the books & tell us why they would benefit from having them (details will count in selecting the 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:
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)
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
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.
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.
The winner will be chosen from valid entries on June 16, 2013.
The Grand Prize Winner will receive 1 copy of editions 1 & 2 of the book & the person they nominate for the “A Way to Give” portion will also receive 1 copy of both editions of the book.
(I know this is a bit out-of-the box & different than most typical giveaways where the person who enters wins all the “stuff”. This is the new “A Way To Give” portion of giveaways on OMazing Kids. I was inspired to make giveaways more meaningful after this experience. Think of it as a way to plant some seeds.)
A 2nd Place Winner will receive their choice of 1 copy of Edition 1 or Edition 2 of the book.
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: books $10.00 each
Other Legal Stuff: I know it’s just some books 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.
A perfect trio of products to promote positive virtues & values in kids!
The past few days have been devastating here in Oklahoma. Several communities were hit by large tornadoes. Many families lost loved ones, pets, homes, cars & all their belongings. Tragedies are not unique to Oklahoma. They happen everywhere and children are often exposed to a non-stop barrage of overwhelming images during these times. It is so important that parents, teachers & caregivers take mindful steps to provide positive images & messages to kids.
Product Description:
The Harmony Cards for Kids includes 30 two-sided brilliantly illustrated cards with a guidebook offering simple, effective and meaningful ways of encouraging and supporting virtues and values awareness. Simple and effective for schools…
• Teach values and virtues awareness
• Support anti-bullying programs
• Build relationships and school communities
• Support behavior management programs and strategies
large white font of the virtue on the front is easy to read
a kid-friendly definition of each virtue is on the back, including three ways kids can live out that virtue.
the topics are ones that are meaningful in the lives of kids and will empower them to make positive choices
the guidebook includes 12 pages of wonderful ideas and suggestions on using the cards with kids in a meaningful way
While I love all the cards, these are currently my four “faves” in light of the recent tornadoes & outpouring of support for folks here in Oklahoma: Compassion, Generosity, Gratitude & Optimism.
The Harmony Bliss CD is a combination of peaceful positive songs and visualizations to support and encourage self care, relaxation activities and lots of fun and creativity ways to find peace and harmony in your day. Hear song samples
Happy Songs and Relaxation Songs CD (2 CD set)
CD1 Happy Songs: Lift your spirits, play music, easy listening and movement to movement activities.
CD2 Relaxation Songs: Relaxation time can be a wonderful ritual for the entire family to share, choose an appropriate time when you can assist your child and relax yourself. The relaxation songs on this CD are interactive and brilliant for any environment – in the car, home, school and even sitting at a desk. You can stretch as tall as a mouse and curl up as small as a mouse… Hear song samples
Here’s what I love about the CD’s:
wonderful positive messages
fun themes that will work well in kids yoga
great mix of upbeat & calming tempo songs
It’s cool that both CD’s are also available in downloadable versions!
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 A Way to Give – 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 & CD’s would be helpful to you. Also nominate a friend, relative, teacher, therapist, school, clinic, library, etc… it can be any individual (other than yourself) or setting that you feel could benefit from having the cards + a CD & tell us why they would benefit from having them (details will count in selecting the winner) (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 of these Facebook pages: OMazing Kids & Harmony Cards for Kids (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)
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
Entry Deadline:11:59pm CST on June 2, 2013 (this particular giveaway is open for an extended period to allow plenty of time for entry by those affected by recent tornadoes).
Rules of Participation:
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.
The winner will be chosen from valid entries on June 3, 2013.
The Grand Prize winner will receive:
1 set of Harmony Cards for Kids
1 Harmony Bliss CD
1 Happy Songs and Relax Songs CD
1 Sheet of 30 Harmony Stickers
One set of Harmony Cards for Kids + one Harmony Bliss CD will also be sent to the person or place they nominated in their winning entry. (I know this is a bit out-of-the box & different than most typical giveaways where the person who enters wins all the “stuff”. This is the new “A Way To Give” portion of giveaways on OMazing Kids. I was inspired to make giveaways more meaningful after this experience. Think of it as a way to plant some seeds.)
A 2nd Place Winner will receive one set of Harmony Cards for Kids.
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.
Other Legal Stuff: I know it’s just some cards, CD’s & stickers 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.
Listen to & purchase their great music. This beautiful album honors kids of all abilities with themes that resonate particularly well for kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders or Sensory Processing Disorder:
April is Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month.Inclusion, acceptance & love should be practiced every day…. but months like this are a good opportunity to raise awareness & then go beyond awareness to building programs, services & communities that support individuals of ALL abilities and needs ♥
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.
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.
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.
Head over and “like” the OMazing KidsFacebook page (https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga) to get the link to a free printable Affirmations Mini-Poster. While you are there check out all the other kids affirmation ideas & items saved in these albums:
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.
My favorite animal is the Moose….. I literally have hundreds of moose items (plush, books, games, socks, T’s, PJ’s, art, figurines, dishes, quilts, music ….. the list goes on & on). The Moose “high interest/passion” started when I was a kid watching Bullwinkle.
My favorite moose book to use in kids yoga is “Agate: What Good Is A Moose?” by Joy Morgan Dey
Agate the Moose suffers from low self-esteem, always comparing himself to his sparkling friends, named for birthstones. In the end, they help Agate to see that he, too, is a beautiful gem, a secret jewel. I love, love, LOVE this book! It has wonderful illustrations, descriptive vocabulary, is full of animals that fit with yoga poses/activities, shows the power of kind words & friends, etc…
Here are the opportunities for yoga poses in the book: alligator, elephant, penguin (mountain – then waddle), giraffe, lion, monkey (chest taps), bear (bear crawl, waltzing to 1-2-3 beat, sleeping bear – child’s pose), porcupine (padma/lotus mudra – http://www.yogacheryl.com/images/m_padma_mudra.jpg), hippo (happy baby & rock-n-roll), racoon (gyan mudra at eyes – like the mask on a racoon – http://im.rediff.com/getahead/2009/may/29slide5-yoga.jpg), eagle, and bat (lay on back, legs up and crossed, arms crossed).
Depending on the class size & specific kids in the class, I either do coloring for relaxation and/or do belly breathing with small river rocks or polished stones. See free printable coloring sheets & mandala below. I found polished agate gemstone rocks at the Museum of Natural History gift shop and have also gotten some in gift shops in mountain towns on vacation.
I have lots of “moose music” and develop my playlist based on the sensory needs of the kids in the class. See Soundcloud playlist below.
I tie in affirmation mantras based on the meanings for the birthstones (see free printable below) & include a discussion about the beauty inside each of us and the power of positive words & friends.
A great short video from the author & illustrator:
I made this to use as an affirmation coloring activity for Camp ClapHans. After doing yoga along with the book, each child drew or wrote things that they were good at or liked about themselves in the middle of each gem. For kids that are not able to do that, this activity could be adapted by having small pictures or symbols that the child could choose from and glue onto each gem.
Playlist: Please be mindful of kids individual sensory needs when using music in a group setting (http://omazingkidsyoga.com/music/) 🙂
{Coloring Page Giveaway} Get a FREE copy of this awesome new detailed moose coloring page from PlayKites Designs. Here’s how to get your copy…. easy as 1-2-3:
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