OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

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

http://vimeo.com/108540976 or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGolX77peH0

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 hearts divider bar. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here.

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Review & Giveaway: “You and Me” by Susan Verde, art by Peter H. Reynolds

Posted on February 11, 2015 by OMazing Kids

Check out the fun new addition to the OMazing Kids library… “You and Me” by Susan Verde! Then enter the giveaway below.

About the book:

You and Me is a loving tribute to how fate brought two best friends together. An adorable cat muses about the what-ifs in life: What if he had slept late that one special morning? What if he’d missed his train on that fateful day? Then he might never have met his favorite person in the world, and his entire life would be different! Two friends delight in the incredible power of serendipity in this charming tale. Illustrated by the bestselling Peter H. Reynolds, You and Me is the ultimate gift for the closest of friends on Valentine’s Day or any day of the year.

Age Range: 5 and up
Grade Level: Kindergarten and up
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; 1 edition (January 6, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1419711970
ISBN-13: 978-1419711978
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 0.2 x 8.5 inches

Here’s what I love about this book:

theme of lasting friendship
short rhyming text on each page
lots of descriptive language & unique vocabulary (ex: unfold, linger, fetch, serendipity, sublime, etc..)
fun use of cats with human-like qualities as the characters
lovely illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds (always a fave at OMazing Kids!)

The book has the following opportunities for kids yoga: rooftop partners pose, cat, dusting stretch, bed, flower, eyes around clock eye yoga, lingering mindfulness activity, thunder & rain, bicycle pedaling, clouds, blowing wind breath, standing star, two-as-one partner poses, rock (child’s pose). Use the “Special Friend” Imagination Vacation card from the Yoga 4 Classrooms Activity Card Deck as a lovely guided relaxation script during Savasana. Deepen the friendship theme by using several of the cards from the Harmony Cards for Kids or other character education materials to discuss the virtues that contribute to being a good friend.

A sneak peek at a couple of pages inside the book.

Check out the cool original watercolor of the two “You & Me” cats – signed and dedicated to the winner by Peter H. Reynolds! He created this with pencil, watercolor, ink, tea, gouache on his favorite Fabriano paper just for this giveaway on OMazing Kids : )

Book Trailer:

Price (at the time of this post): $14.95 hardcover book

Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/You-Me-Susan-Verde/dp/1419711970. Other links for purchasing are on the author’s website: http://www.susanverde.com/book/you-and-me/

About the Author: Susan Verde is the author of The Museum, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, which Kirkus described as “a sweet-natured and handsome celebration.” She teaches yoga to children and lives in East Hampton, New York.

You can connect with Susan on the following social media sites:

https://www.facebook.com/creativecollaboration

https://twitter.com/susanverde

http://instagram.com/susanverde

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See this post for info about Susan’s first book & other Peter H. Reynolds books: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2013/07/06/inspiring-kids-creativity-with-books-art-movement/

Check out this sneak peek at Susan & Peter’s next collaboration due out in 2016: http://www.susanverde.com/book/the-water-princess/

Best friends valentines printable (click pic to open PDF):

Looking for Valentine’s Day themed ideas? Check out this post:

https://omazingkidsllc.com/2012/02/08/give-love-a-valentines-day-lesson-plan-from-omazing-kids-yoga/

giveaway

Worldwide entries allowed for this giveaway

1 winner.

This giveaway is closed. Congratulations to Becky Dixon from the UK 🙂

Easy Entry Form:

.

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

Helpful Info & Tips: Folks had requested a simpler entry option. I tried Rafflecopter but most folks did not enter an address so now I’m trying this online contact form instead. I will be hand selecting winners to insure products end up in the hands of folks who will put them to the best use. Briefly tell me how winning this would help you & the kids. I take the time to read each entry so details count. It doesn’t have to be lengthy…. just heart-felt.

If you experience any problems with the entry form in this blog post, please e-mail me specific details so I can attempt to fix it. E-mail to: amoorad1@juno.com . The entry deadline may be extended at the sole discretion of OMazing Kids in the event of prolonged entry problems.

Each “giveaway” is handled separately on OMazing Kids. So there are no rules prohibiting previous winners from entering this or future giveaways. I really do read every entry in every giveaway carefully to insure that the products end up in the best hands to impact kids lives.

Entry Deadline: 11:59pm CST on February 14, 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 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 February 15, 2015.

1 winner will receive 1 copy of the book described above + 1 original watercolor of the two “You & Me” cats – signed and dedicated to the winner by Peter H. Reynolds

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: $14.95 + an original watercolor from Peter H. Reynolds

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

hearts 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

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

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

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Review & Giveaway: “Lucinda’s Magical Yoga Adventure” by Betty Larrea

Posted on January 1, 2015 by OMazing Kids

Check out the fun new addition to the OMazing Kids library… “Lucinda’s Magical Yoga Adventure” by Betty Larrea! Then enter the giveaway below.

About the book: Lucinda’s Magical Yoga Adventure is written for children, in the voice of a child. Lucinda loves yoga because she can pretend to become the animals and other things in nature that she meets along the way. On a deeper level, when Lucinda does yoga, she becomes aware of her connection to nature and all living things. This picture book is told in the spirit of traditional fairy tale and is written in free verse and rhyming poetry with beautiful illustrations that demonstrate the yoga poses.

ISBN # 978-0-578-15146-5

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: Be Yoga Be Love Press; 1st edition (December 2014) .

Here’s what I love about this book:

It’s written from a child’s perspective. This will help children be able to relate to the character and lends itself well to verbally repeating portions of the book as affirmations.
Gorgeous colorful illustrations.
Simple rhyming text in a large easy to read font.
Includes 10 kids yoga poses, 1 breathing activity & a relaxation at the end. All the poses included are appropriate for the targeted audience. I may use Upward Facing Dog in place of Down Dog and may modify Bridge pose depending on the diagnoses of the kids in my OMazing Kids therapeutic yoga classes. The poses are easy ones and depicted well in the illustrations. However, those who are new to kids yoga may want to get additional info about how to do the poses and balloon breathing & find ideas for a relaxation script to incorporate into Savasana relaxation at the end by checking out the info on Betty’s blog: http://www.beyogabelove.com/blog/. Love her simple Cloud Guided Relaxation Script: “Close your eyes and imagine that you are lying on a puffy white cloud. You’re all snuggled into the cloud, which is like a comfy blankie made of cotton balls. You can feel the sunlight on your skin, as the cloud takes you higher and higher into the bright, blue sky. With each breath, feel yourself sinking deeper into a state of peaceful relaxation. You feel a deep happiness and love in your heart for the people in your life and the world you are a part of. This feeling washes over you and radiates out to all parts of your body and mind and beyond…like a beautiful light shining out from your heart to the whole world…“

A sneak peek at a few pages inside the book. I scanned these pages so the colors are not showing up quite as vivid & rich as they are in the book but I wanted to at least give you a “feel” for the book: .

(Update: Well I guess you’ll just have to head to the author’s website. She indicated she’ll be adding a preview there)

Illustrator, Lorena Isabel’s, blog: http://www.loisabel.blogspot.com.ar

Price (at the time of this post): $16.99 hardcover book

Purchase on the author’s website: http://www.beyogabelove.com/books/

About the Author: Betty Larrea is a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher who has been teaching yoga to children since 2001. She founded Be Yoga Be Love and is currently providing her yoga curriculum, staff development training, and event services for children, families and educators in schools, libraries, and yoga studios throughout NJ and NY.

You can connect with Betty on the following social media sites: https://www.facebook.com/beyogabelove https://twitter.com/beyogabelove http://www.pinterest.com/beyogabelove/

giveaway

Only USA entries allowed for this giveaway due to shipping costs.

1 winner.

This giveaway in now CLOSED. Congratulations to the winner: Amanda Daley in Downingtown, PA.

Easy Entry Form:

.

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

Helpful Info & Tips: Folks had requested a simpler entry option. I tried Rafflecopter but most folks did not enter an address so now I’m trying this online contact form instead. I will be hand selecting winners to insure products end up in the hands of folks who will put them to the best use. Briefly tell me how winning this would help you & the kids. I take the time to read each entry so details count. It doesn’t have to be lengthy…. just heart-felt.
If you experience any problems with the entry form in this blog post, please e-mail me specific details so I can attempt to fix it. E-mail to: amoorad1@juno.com . The entry deadline may be extended at the sole discretion of OMazing Kids in the event of prolonged entry problems.

Each “giveaway” is handled separately on OMazing Kids. So there are no rules prohibiting previous winners from entering this or future giveaways. I really do read every entry in every giveaway carefully to insure that the products end up in the best hands to impact kids lives.

Entry Deadline: 11:59pm CST on January 5, 2015 .

Rules of Participation:

Must be 18 years or older with a valid e-mail address.
One entry per person.
Only USA entries are allowed for this particular giveaway due to shipping costs.
Employees or family members of OMazing Kids, LLC or the product’s company are not eligible.
No purchase required.
Comments submitted via entries may be copied & pasted into the blog post.
Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received.
Only entries with all required information will be valid.
The winner will be chosen from valid entries on January 6, 2015.

1 winner will receive 1 copy of the book described above.

The winner will be notified via e-mail, will be posted on the blog post & will be posted on the OMazing Kids Facebook page. The company offering the prize may also post the winner’s name on their website, blog, Facebook page and/or other social media sites at their discretion.
The prize will be mailed to the winner using the address submitted in the entry form. OMazing Kids is not responsible for items lost in the mail or for inaccuracies in the mailing address. I copy & paste the info directly from what you submit << so PLEASE proof read your entry for accuracy before submitting it…. in the era of iPhone auto correction these errors happen pretty frequently>>
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: $16.99

Other Legal Stuff: I know it’s just a kids yoga 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

. OMazing Kids LLC is an organization that promotes inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities. The blog and social media pages share information about books, DVD’s, CD’s, games and other products specifically designed for kids wellness, mindfulness and relaxation, product reviews & giveaways, lesson plan & activity ideas, research, kids wellness in the news and a connection corner with listings of individuals doing adapted yoga and those offering trainings. NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the wavy blue divider bar or any ads or unusual hyperlinks that may appear above. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here. I have attempted to remove the CouponDropDown but no luck so far…. DO NOT click on any hyperlinks unless you hover above them first to insure they are valid. Ones I included should appear in blue font.

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

Posted on November 29, 2014 by OMazing Kids

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:

10425124_846729752044698_4041262571326428301_n - Copy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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:

.

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

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

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

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

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

Posted on November 22, 2014 by OMazing Kids

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

How to be a Cloud by Kira Willey CD giveaway

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

What I LOVE about this CD:

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

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

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

Artist’s website: http://www.kirawilley.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kirawilley

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kirawilley

Also check out Kira’s Soundcloud page for a few more song previews & occasionally free downloads: http://soundcloud.com/kira-willey-music

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

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

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

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

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

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

giveaway

Only USA entries allowed for this giveaway.

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

Easy Entry Form:

.

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

Helpful Info & Tips: Folks had requested a simpler entry option. I tried Rafflecopter but most folks did not enter an address so now I’m trying this online contact form instead. I will be hand selecting winners to insure products end up in the hands of folks who will put them to the best use. Briefly tell me how winning this would help you & the kids. I take the time to read each entry so details count. It doesn’t have to be lengthy…. just heart-felt.
If you experience any problems with the entry form in this blog post, please e-mail me specific details so I can attempt to fix it. E-mail to: amoorad1@juno.com . The entry deadline may be extended at the sole discretion of OMazing Kids in the event of prolonged entry problems.

Each “giveaway” is handled separately on OMazing Kids. So there are no rules prohibiting previous winners from entering this or future giveaways. I really do read every entry in every giveaway carefully to insure that the products end up in the best hands to impact kids lives.

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

Rules of Participation:

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

1 winner will 1 copy of the CD described above.

The winner will be notified via e-mail, will be posted on the blog post & will be posted on the OMazing Kids Facebook page. The company offering the prize may also post the winner’s name on their website, blog, Facebook page and/or other social media sites at their discretion.
The prize will be mailed to the winner using the address submitted in the entry form. OMazing Kids is not responsible for items lost in the mail or for inaccuracies in the mailing address. I copy & paste the info directly from what you submit << so PLEASE proof read your entry for accuracy before submitting it…. in the era of iPhone auto correction these errors happen pretty frequently>>
Prize Value: approx $13.99

Other Legal Stuff: I know it’s just kids music with an instructional booklet but just to be safe here is all the legal stuff…

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

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

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

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

Posted on November 1, 2014 by OMazing Kids

Imaginations: Fun Relaxation Stories and Guided Imagery for Kids 2

Imaginations 2 cover

Book Description

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

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

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

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

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

Relaxation Story Titles:

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

What I LOVE about this book:

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

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

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

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

Info for adults

Info for adults 2

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

Author’s new website & blog: http://bambinoyoga.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BambinoYoga & http://www.facebook.com/imaginationsforkids

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bambinoyoga

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/bambinoyoga/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Speech-Language Pathologist

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

Radiant Child Yoga Certified – Levels 1 & 2

E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com

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

Review & Giveaway: Yoga For Children With Developmental Challenges DVD

Posted on October 17, 2012 by OMazing Kids

Yoga For Children With Developmental Challenges DVD

Description:

Five‐part comprehensive educational video designed to introduce the incredible benefits of a regular yoga practice to individuals with developmental challenges —educational, health, physical, sensory, social, and emotional.

Part 1: Introduction (1:54)

Part 2: Creating the Yogic Environment (2:17)

Part 3: Developing an Awareness of the Breath (12:24)

Part 4: Posture Benefits and Demonstration (31:14) – 18 poses – Sanskrit names for poses are used in conjunction with English.

Part 5: Yoga Class – A balanced practice including centering, warm-ups, breath work, postures and sequences including seated, standing, quadraped, supine, and prone postures as well as inversions, rotations and balances, and concludes with deep relaxation to a guided meditation. A brief group OM & Namaste is included at the end of the class section.(38:00)

The DVD Teacher Edition is specifically designed for classroom and large group practice. This edition includes many additional preparatory exercises and instructions for creatng the yogic environment and developing the breath.

(Language: English)

Mary Flynn is a Registered Yoga Teacher as well as a Special Education Teacher with over 30 years of experience teaching children of various ages, levels and degrees of developmental challenges, including autism. She teaches students with special needs at the elementary, middle school and high school levels, as well as the college level (Life Skills Program) and adult programs (Easter Seals of NJ and ARC of NJ). See more about her at: http://www.peacefulpathwaysyoga.com/about-us.html

What I LOVE about this DVD:

Easy to use menu & navigation will lend itself to more independent use by older kids & teens with special needs.
Older students with special needs being in the class on the DVD. There are lots of kids yoga DVD’s but not much geared towards older kids, teens or adults with special needs.
Lots of great info about the benefits for each activity or pose.
Detailed narration about proper form/alignment at a moderate pace. While the level of narration may be too much for very young children, it is excellent info for the teacher, parent or caregiver who will be helping the child, teen or adult with special needs learn yoga.
Love the inclusion of centering, call/response chanting, breathwork & guided relaxation in addition to a variety of poses.
Lots of great detailed info about a variety of breathwork activities! These not only are great for yoga but can also be used in my work as a Speech-Language Pathologist to help improve breath support for speech.
There are no props, statues or pictures with religious connotations. This is helpful for use in wide variety of settings.

A few screenshots from the DVD:

Other thoughts: While the DVD says “Suitable for All Ages”, based on my experience it would be most appropriate for older kids, teens & adults with special needs since younger kids tend to do best with a playful or storytime yoga approach. Instructions may need to be simplified to suit the individual’s cognitive & processing needs. Teachers, parents or caregivers need to be aware of any medical conditions that would be contraindications for particular types of poses or activities. I am especially cautious about any poses that could hyperextend the neck especially for kids with Down Syndrome due to the risk of them having Atlantoaxial Instability. Inversions are a group of poses I am cautious with. Info about contraindications for inversions: http://ezinearticles.com/?Yoga—Contraindications-For-Inversions&id=2104119.

A preview clips from the DVD:

See several other preview clips at: http://www.youtube.com/user/gardenpartyist

Price at the time of this post: $99.00

Available for purchase: http://www.peacefulpathwaysyoga.com/products-teacher-edition-dvd.html & on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Children-Developmental-Challenges-DVD/dp/B0064VMX54

(FYI: They also have a “Home Edition” DVD. Price: $39.00. Purchase at: http://www.peacefulpathwaysyoga.com/products-home-edition-dvd.html or http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Children-Developmental-Challenges-Edition/dp/B0065S59SO . It is a 3 part DVD and does not contain the “Creating the Yogic Environment” & “Developing an Awareness of the Breath” segments included in the Teacher Edition.)

Check out the Peaceful Pathways Yoga website & “follow” their social media pages for more info:

Website: http://www.peacefulpathwaysyoga.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/PeacefulYoga

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/gardenpartyist

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

How to enter the giveaway:

Enter via the “Giveaways” tab on the OMazing Kids – Contests & Giveaways Facebook page (http://a.pgtb.me/plpbTf) & mention how you would be using this DVD. Details about how you will be using the DVD count and will be used both in selecting the winners & in determining who will get the grand prize. (comments must be in English; must include full first & last name; 1 entry per Facebook account).
For one additional entry, leave a comment on this blog post. Must mention how you would be using this DVD. Details about how you will be using the DVD count and will be used both in selecting the winners & in determining who will get the grand prize.If you only enter via blog post comment, you must also send me an e-mail with your mailing address (send to amoorad1@juno.com. You will not need to do this if you also entered via the Enter Contests Here…. tab on Facebook since your address will be provided on that entry (comments must be in English; 1 entry per person; must have a valid e-mail address)
Helpful Info & Tips: You increase your odds of winning by entering via both methods. Entering via the “Giveaways” tab will save you the step of e-mailing me 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. In the event that you experience difficulties with the tab you can submit an entry via e-mail providing your full name, e-mail address, mailing address, how you would be using the book. E-mail to: amoorad1@juno.com. Unfortunately Facebook rules prohibit me from accepting entries directly from posts or comments on Facebook.

Entry Deadline: Enter by any of the methods listed above by 11:59pm CST on October 19, 2012.

Rules of Participation:

Must be 18 years or older with a valid e-mail address.
Only USA & Canada entries are being allowed for this particular giveaway.
Employees or family members of OMazing Kids, LLC or the product’s company are not eligible.
No purchase required.
Comments submitted via the Enter Contests Here…. tab on Facebook or e-mail may be copied & pasted into the blog post.
Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received.
Two (2) winners will be chosen via a drawing of valid entries on October 20, 2012. Details about how you will be using the DVD count and will be used both in selecting the winners & in determining who will get the grand prize.
The Grand Prize winner will receive one (1) copy of the Teacher Edition of the DVD. The second winner will receive one (1) copy of the Home Edition of the DVD.
The winners will be notified via e-mail and will be posted on the blog post.
Each winner’s address will be forwarded to the publishing company and they will be mailing the prize directly to the winner.
Prize Value: Teacher Edition DVD: $99.00, Home Edition DVD: $39.00.

Other Legal Stuff: I know it’s just a yoga DVD but just to be safe here is all the legal stuff…

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

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