Tag Archives: ADHD

Review & A Way To Give Giveaway: Body Songs & Stories for Children with Special Needs – Vol. 1 DVD

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body songs - A way to give giveaway

Product Description:  Body Songs & Stories™ was created by Stephanie Gottlob & Yuji Oka to help children with special needs including Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD, Down Syndrome & other developmental delays or emotional challenges.  Using easy-to-learn video instructions, parents, caregivers, teachers & therapists can learn how to perform different hand textures to accompany each body songs.  It is designed to foster emotional & physical communication between children & their caregivers. There are 5 original Body Songs on the Vol. 1 DVD.

This DVD features Welcome & Intro sections with fabulous info about setting up a positive environment & safety tips. There are 5 Body Songs included in both “Practice Mode” (the music & lyrics in karaoke style) & “Experiential Mode” (videos of Stephanie demonstrating doing each Body Song and the touch movements on kids while singing the songs).

  • 1-2-3 Song
  • Zoo Song
  • Seasons Song
  • Birthday Song
  • Up In The Hill Song

The 14-page DVD Booklet features:

  • Authors’ Note
  • Getting Started
  • Descriptions of the 6 hand textures movements (tapping, pounding, deep pressure, brushing, rocking & scratching)
  • Do’s and Don’t’s
  • Learning Body Songs
  • How to Use the DVD
  • When to Use Body Songs

The DVD also contains a 13 page PDF file that can be opened on a computer. It contains sheet music for each Body Song with lyrics & motions. Here’s a screenshot of the two pages for the Zoo Song:
zoo song sheet music
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Here is a “sneek-peek” at a few screenshots from the DVD:
Bodysongs intro
Be sure to watch the Welcome section & Getting Started (parts 1 & 2) for great info:
body songs welcome
body songs 3
From the 1-2-3 Song:
body songs 123
From the Zoo Song:
body songs zoo
From the Seasons Song:
body songs - seasons
From the Birthday Song:
body songs - birthday 2
From the Up In the Hills Song:
body songs - up in the hills
The “Meet the Parents & Kids Like You” section is powerful!
body songs parents & kids

Here’s what I love about the DVD:

  • Stephanie & Yuji’s passion for helping kids with special needs shines through! Even though I’ve never met them in person, I feel a connection with these kindred spirits. This DVD is definitely being added to my short list of “must have” faves for folks wanting to do adapted yoga / adapted movement with kids with special needs. They have more products in the works which I can’t wait to see!
  • The DVD is presented in a very easy to understand format.
  • The Body Songs & hand texture movements are easy to learn. These techniques will be great to incorporate into my OMazing Kids yoga classes & my work as a Speech-Language Pathologist!
  • The DVD booklet & intro section of the DVD provide info for creative use of each hand texture movement (ex: “deep press” to simulate elephants, stones or other heavy objects)
  • They provide very clear info about being sensitive to each child’s unique sensory needs and the sensory aspects of each hand texture movement.
  • They provide clear info about setting up a positive environment & safety precautions before getting started.
  • They encourage you to practice on another adult & have an adult practice on you before trying it out with kids. “The quality of your touch conveys the image of the song”.
  • While the DVD is designed for kids ages 2-9 years old, from my experience it would also be appropriate with older kids who are functioning at a lower developmental level.
  • The “Meet the Parents & Kids Like You” section is powerful! Hear stories from four parents about how using these techniques impacted their child’s motor planning, body awareness, self awareness, confidence, social skills, connections to siblings (& even pets), relaxation & more.

See a preview on YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1kdf6L8zA0

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Purchase: Available on the company’s website:   http://movementforkidswithspecialneeds.org/home/teaching-aids/. Also available on the Playtime Yoga website: http://www.playtimeyoga.com/bodysongsstories.html (** Note: they have an intro price sale on it through 12:00am PDT on July 6, 2013).

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Spiral-Praxis/173082326070416

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

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.

A Way to Give - Giveaway

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 this DVD 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 DVD & tell us why they would benefit from having it (details will count in selecting the winner). Only entries that include a nomination will be valid…. so take the time to think of someone besides yourself who would benefit from having this. (comments must be in English; must include full first & last name; must use respectful people-first language, 1 entry per person).
  • Bonus Entry Options:
    1. Invite some friends to “like” the OMazing Kids Facebook page (comment here on this blog post to let me know you did)
    2. 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.

Entry Deadline: 11:59pm CST on June 26, 2013.

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 27, 2013.

The winner & the person/place they nominate will each receive 1 copy of the DVD.

 (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.)

  • 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: $18.00 for each DVD

Other Legal Stuff: I know it’s just a DVD 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.

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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

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.

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Using Visual Supports in Yoga Groups for Kids & Teens – being inclusive of learning styles

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Looking for ways to include kids & teens with different learning styles in your yoga groups? Want to use positive ways to support participation and reduce problematic behaviors? Then you might want to consider using “visual supports”.

Many of the kids I work with in OMazing Kids Yoga have difficulty understanding & following verbal instructions. This can be due to a difference in learning style (visual vs. auditory learner), difficulty maintaining attention (ex: ADD/ADHD), difficulty tuning out extra sensory input to be able to attend (ex: Sensory Processing Disorders), focusing in too much on an area of high interest to the point that the child has difficulty attending to other information (ex: Autism Spectrum Disorders), specific learning disabilities, etc…

Regardless of “why” the child is having difficulty understanding & following instructions, this will make it difficult for them to participate in a meaningful way in activities, including a kids yoga class.

Adding “visual supports” (ex: pictures of the poses, pictures to depict the sequence of activities that will occur in the group, pictures to show the “steps” within an activity, showing “first ____ / then _______”, etc…) can make a BIG difference for many kids.

Here are a few examples of visual supports I created to use in OMazing Kids Yoga:

Some kids do well with a “Social Story” describing the expected behavior and how that makes other feel:

Some kids do well with a left-to-right schedule showing what will happen in the group (other kids do better with a top-to-bottom type schedule):

(this file is saved out on Boardmaker Share at: http://www.boardmakerachieve.com/Activity/1865866)

Some kids need extra visual cues to help them understand concepts:

(Note: These are just a few examples of the many different visual supports I use. Every child is unique so I often modify things or make new visual supports to meet those unique needs. Some kids do better with photos, black & white symbols or just words.)

Looking for PDF printable versions of some visual supports?  Here are a few: yoga breathing visual support (flower and candle), Social Story “Good Behavior in Yoga Group” with picture symbols, Peace Tree – guided visualization.

 How Do I Make These Visual Supports?  I use a combination of Boardmaker, MS Word, MS Paint, Google Images and the “snipping tool” in Windows 7. Boardmaker is a software program commonly used by Special Education teachers, Speech-Language Pathologists and other therapists to make communication boards, educational materials & visual supports for kids with special needs. Mayer Johnson offers a 30-day free trial of the program (http://www.mayer-johnson.com/downloads/trials/) and free online trainings on how to use it (http://www.mayer-johnson.com/training/recorded/details/id/2189/).

More About Visual Supports

Visual supports help many children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other special needs understand their world better.

Just as many adults need calendars, to-do lists, shopping lists and planners to remind them of their activities for the day, many children need visual schedules and other visual supports.

Visual supports enhance understanding of what is going to happen and clarify expectations during that specific time period or activity.

In addition, visual supports often help the child move from one activity to the next with less frustration and reduced behavioral outbursts because the symbols turn the unknown into something the child understands.

The consistency provided by a visual support is crucial in establishing an atmosphere of trust and
security. Visual supports can also provide motivation for the child to work through a less preferred activity knowing a preferred/reinforcing activity is coming soon.

The type of symbols used, number of activities and amount of time shown on a visual schedule depend on the individual child’s needs.

If you want even more info about “visual supports”, check out these websites:

http://www.autism4teachers.com/autism4teachers_028.htm

http://www.autism4teachers.com/autism4teachers_020.htm

http://cdd.unm.edu/swan/autism_course/modules/environ/visualschedule/index.htm

http://card.ufl.edu/content/visual.html

http://www.polyxo.com/visualsupport/

http://autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/content/visual-supports

http://www.usevisualstrategies.com/VisualStrategiesInformation.aspx

http://visualaidsforlearning.com/

http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/visual-supports.pdf 

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

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids Yoga, LLC – inclusive yoga for kids & teens of all abilities in Norman, Oklahoma
Radiant Child Yoga Certified – Levels 1 & 2
E-mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Blog: https://omazingkidsyoga.wordpress.com

Review & Giveaway: Namaste Kid Yoga Motion DVD

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  Looking for a unique kid’s yoga DVD with no distractions? Then the new Yoga Motion DVD by Namaste Kid would be a great one to get!

The unique thing about this kids yoga DVD is that it has no distractions in the background.

Just a kid-friendly yoga instructor on her yoga mat on a plain white background.

Lindsay McCoy’s positive, calm energy makes yoga fun and approachable. It’s like having a personal yoga instructor in your child’s living room, your classroom or your therapy clinic/office.

Yoga Motion helps kids develop core strength, balance, and confidence. You can even use the relaxation chapters as part of your child’s bedtime routine.

  • The DVD is organized into 10 chapters.
  • Each chapter is a complete 3-4 minute yoga routine, identified by a colorful icon.
  • You can mix-and-match chapters to create your own unique yoga experience.
  • This DVD can also be played from beginning to end as a full 35-minute yoga routine.

 

They have found that this format works well with young kids short attention spans and also works well with kids who have ADHD, Autism, etc…..

We have already found this to be true with some of the kids we work with at the JD McCarty Center. One of our Physical Therapists was reviewing the DVD and two children with special needs who happened to be in the exercise room at that time were immediately captivated by the DVD and started to follow along. Namaste Kid has generously donated 24 copies of the previous version of this DVD to give away at my presentation at the Oklahoma Autism Conference & to patients at the JD McCarty Center so I look forward to having more stories to tell about the kids responses to this cool DVD!

While the DVD was designed for young kids (2.5 to 8 years old), it also would be appropriate for older kids that need a simplified format with no distractions.

Why does a “distraction-free” background matter?….

(FYI… the blue painting in the background above is a portion of “Sensory Chaos” by Donna Proctor: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/sensory-chaos–autism-donna-proctor.html)

This is the “Warm-up” sequence from  the Yoga Motion DVD. Your child will learn “Rock-and-Roll”, “Zipper”, and “Cat-Cow”, as well as some breathing techniques.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=vSXvrO4M2lg&vq=large

 

Information about stores & websites that carry Namaste Kid products (they also have a great eco-friendly kid-sized yoga mat): http://www.namastekid.com/in-stores/

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

How to enter the Yoga Motion – Namaste Kid DVD giveaway:

  1. Leave a comment on this blog post. Must mention how you think a “distraction-free” kids yoga DVD would work well with your child or children you work with. (comments must be in English; 1 entry per person; must have a valid e-mail address)
  2. For one additional entry, enter via the “Giveaways” tab on the OMazing Kids Yoga FB page (https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga) & mention how you think a “distraction-free” kids yoga DVD would work well with your child or children you work with (posts must be in English; 1 entry per Facebook account).

Entry Deadline: Enter by any of the methods listed above by 11:59pm CST on October 12, 2011 .

Rules of Participation:

  • Must be 18 years or older with a valid e-mail address AND a mailing address in the United States of America OR Canada.
  • Due to the cost of mailing, only USA & Canada entries allowed. Sorry… no other international entries for this particular contest.
  • Employees or family members of OMazing Kids Yoga or Namaste Kid are not eligible.
  • No purchase required.
  • Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received.
  • One (1) winner will be chosen via a random drawing of valid entries on October 13, 2011.
  • The winner will get one (1) copy of the Yoga Motion DVD by Namaste Kid
  • The winner will be notified via e-mail.
  • In the event that the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be selected via a random drawing.
  • The winner’s mailing address will be obtained via e-mail and will be forwarded to Namaste Kid.
  • Namaste Kid will be shipping the DVD directly to the winner.
  • Prize Value: retail price $15.00.

Other Legal Stuff: I know it’s just a kids yoga DVD 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 Yoga 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 Yoga, which shall be final in all respects; (b) to release, discharge, and hold harmless OMazing Kids Yoga 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.

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

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids Yoga – inclusive yoga for kids & teens of all abilities in Norman, Oklahoma
Radiant Child Yoga Certified – Levels 1 & 2
amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1?feature=mhsn#p/u
Blog: https://omazingkidsyoga.wordpress.com