{App Review} Big Break: The Acting Game by Emote Play Apps Inc.

 

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{App Review} Big Break: The Acting Game by Emote Play Apps Inc.

This app is a fun twist on video modeling for learning and practicing expression of emotions. There are 14 movies to choose from. They are color coded into 4 levels (easy, medium, hard & hardest). The themes currently included are primarily geared towards older kids & teens (Broadway, Sci-Fi, Rock Opera, Comedy, Bollywood, Superhero, Fantasy-Comedy, 50’s Musical, Time Travel, Western Musical, Shakespeare, Fosse Musical, Punk Show & Circus). The app uses the iPad forward facing camera to show the user alongside the video model.

About the app: Big Break Bobby needs actors for his movie production studios. That’s where you come in. Act out lines along with game characters, guess emotions of the characters, and even see yourself in a movie. Earn points based on your acting and observation skills. This game provides a fun way for kids to practice their social communication skills through modules that require listening, watching, acting, and singing.

App video: 

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Wishes for a future app update:

* For the app to rotate when you flip the iPad. I always use my iPad in landscape orientation with the home button to the right. This app is currently upside down if I have my iPad in that orientation.

* Add some even easier movie options with themes suited for younger kids.

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App Store: https://appsto.re/us/cre26.i, iPad only, $5.99

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Website: http://bigbreakgame.com
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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/174264525957894
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omazingkids
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
YappGuru: http://yappguru.com/user/omazing-kids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 27 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.

{App Review} Social Detective Intermediate

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{App Review} The new Social Detective Intermediate app is the next step after using the Social Detective Beginner app and a companion to the You are a Social Detective book By Michelle Garcia Winner and Pamela Crooke. This Social Detective Intermediate app picks up where the Beginner leaves off and focuses on decoding the thoughts and emotions of people students interact with. Using this information, students will make smart guesses to predict what those people might do or say next. Below are definitions for vocabulary used in this App:

Smart Guesses: This is when we use all of our tools (remembering, seeing, hearing, knowing and feeling) to figure things out and then make a guess based on what we know about the world. Smart guesses are “expected” and make others have good thoughts about us because they know we are trying to figure things out!

Social Detective Tools: We all have social detective tools that we can use all of the time to help us figure out people and places. These super important tools are: Eyes, Ears and Brains and of course, understanding feelings of others. (Often feelings are represented with a picture of a heart)

Social Thinker: Each of us is a “social thinker” every day, each time we are around other people. It means we are always aware that people are around us and having thoughts about each of our behaviors. We are social thinkers, even when people are not talking to or playing with us. All of us should be social thinkers each day.

Within The Social Detective Intermediate app:

* The Notebook Exercises-Allow students to practice being a social decoder, by making a smart guess on the thoughts, emotions, and guesses the characters in the social scenes are experiencing.
* The Flashlight Exercises-Allow students to practice being a social detective, and identify what is seen, or heard, to help character in the social scene make a smart guess, figure out what others are thinking and finally, predict what they will do next.

Video:

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App Store: Social Detective Intermediate by Social Skill Builder, Inc., https://appsto.re/us/UWVvab.i, $24.99, iPad only.

If you are wanting to purchase both Social Detective apps, take a look at this app bundle where you can save $10.00: Social Detective Bundle (Beginner and Intermediate) by Social Skill Builder, Inc., https://appsto.re/us/N013ib.i, $39.99, iPad only.
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More about “social thinking”:

https://www.socialthinking.com
https://www.facebook.com/socialthinking
http://www.socialskillbuilder.com
https://www.facebook.com/SocialSkillBuilders
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What I liked:
* this app is a nice “next step” after kids have learned about expected vs. unexpected behaviors in the first app
* the use of video modeling of kids in real life situations
* the ability to set up multiple users with different avatars
* dragging answers to the thought bubbles and heart was a nice way to depict thinking about what is in the scene
* periodic encouragement screen to show where you are towards finishing the app
* the difficulty increases as you work through the app
* the ability to resume a test that was started but not completed in a previous session

Wishes for a future app update:
* have a more pleasant sound for correct answers. The current one is abrupt, loud and bothered several of my patients. It would also be nice to have a choice of feedback for incorrect responses.
* update the videos in both apps in this series to reflect current technology & diversity and to have clearer images and clearer audio.
* offer a way to go directly to a specific video. A menu of videos with a short description would help therapists who have limited time in sessions and need to target skills most needed for that particular patient.
* offer a way to replay missed items in a later session.
* add a “pause” button so items can be discussed rather than automatically advancing.
* offer the option to select how many potential answers are presented. I have several patients that would have done better starting out with a field of 2 choices and then advancing gradually to 3 and then 4 choices.
* fine tune the drag and drop feature in the app. It occasionally took a couple of attempts to get answers to “stick” when placed. This became a little frustrating for a couple of my patients.
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FYI…. this is an app that should be used with a therapist or teacher. If for some reason a patient or student is using the app independently then I suggest using Guided Access to lock the unsecured links to the App Store and websites in the top right corner of the home page seen after picking your avatar. These links are helpful for adults but not appropriate for kids to navigate to on their own.


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Overall both of the apps in the Social Detective series are helpful and recommended for therapists or teachers working on social thinking skills with their patients or students. I’m glad to have these apps in my speechie toolbox 😃
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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/174264525957894
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omazingkids
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
YappGuru: http://yappguru.com/user/omazing-kids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 27 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.

{App Reviews} Three apps to help kids with Autism: Say It.. Or Not? Social Filter Skills, Fact & Opinion and Conversation Planner: Social Skills Basics for Special Kids

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{App Reviews} Three apps to help kids with Autism: Say It.. Or Not? Social Filter Skills, Fact & Opinion and Conversation Planner: Social Skills Basics for Special Kids

Most of the kids on my caseload have Autism or other similar special needs that make social skills very challenging for them. Do you work with kids who tend to think their opinion is a “fact”, have little to no social filter and struggle with having a conversation? Then I recommend taking a look at these three apps:

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Say It.. Or Not? Social Filter Skills: School Ed. by Janine Toole, https://appsto.re/us/p72kgb.i, $14.99

Say It… Or Not?” teaches children with Autism how to filter their thoughts and provide appropriate responses in awkward or frustrating social situations. Over 100 real-life social situations with more than 400 possible responses provide a wide variety of practice in dealing with challenging situations. Students learn perspective-taking when they consider how someone would feel after hearing a specific response. Students also practice identifying if a specific response is “okay to say”. Finally, learners identify which response choice is best in a given situation. Available in Free-to-try and School Edition.​

I am loving the content in this app! The scenarios provided are diverse and relatable. Although it takes a little longer for the app to load if you toggle on the “voice on” option, I highly suggest doing so. It will add the option for you to tap a speaker button on each item which then reads it to you. The voiceovers are very well done with great tones of voice. I appreciate that the developer included a way for the SLP to unlock all the content and go directly to an area they want to target.

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Fact & Opinion: Reading Comprehension Skills SE by Janine Toole, https://appsto.re/us/mhV86.i, $4.99

Fact or Opinion’ builds an important comprehension skill in a fun, game-like environment. All kids need to know how to interpret what they read — is it a fact, or is it someone’s opinion? This skill is especially important as they reach the age of accessing information from the internet. This vital skill is built incrementally. Early levels focus on thinking about how to prove and fact/opinion and also how to identify the clue words that are indicative of a fact or opinion. Later levels include timers to ensure fluency. Available in Free-to-try and School Edition.​

I am loving the content of this app and how it lays a foundation for how to determine facts vs. opinions and gradually builds in complexity. This app will definitely be getting a lot of use as I help my patients with Autism understand that just because they think something is a certain way doesn’t mean it is a “fact” and that others may hold different “opinions” than they do. The app developer has this app listed with their reading apps but in my world this is very much applicable to social skills.

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Conversation Planner: Social Skills Basics for Special Kids: School Edition by Janine Toole, https://appsto.re/us/ZoDNbb.i, $7.99

Conversation Planner teaches your child a step-by-step method to prepare for any conversation or social situation. Kids learn to think about who they are talking to, what that person will expect, when to know the person is ready for the conversation, etc. Conversation Planner gives your child the tools to complete successful conversations. Available in Free-to-try and School Edition.​

I love the variety of content included in the app. It is very helpful to have the levels labeled on the screen where you can choose a level. This allows the SLP to quickly chose the level they want to use with a particular patient in a session.

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All 3 apps rewards correct answers with coins that can later be spent getting accessories to dress up a character or playing a short reinforcer game (fruit ninja in Conversation Planner and Say It or Not, a penguin skateboarding game in Fact or Opinion). I like having reinforcer options built into the apps and that they are locked until the child has completed a certain number of items.

My thoughts on the reinforcer games… So a “fact” is I was terrible at the penguin game as evidenced by the poor penguin not making it past more than two dangerous plants every time I tried it. But I totally rocked at fruit ninja (which I’ve had tons of practice with outside of these apps). Therefore my “opinion” is that fruit ninja should be offered as a game option in the Fact or Opinion app…. or maybe I will just need more practice at when to tap so the poor penguin doesn’t crash into a prickly cactus or carnivorous plant…. lol!

Each app has a free lite “try before you buy” version. If you like what you see, I always suggest purchasing the full paid version of any app vs. upgrading a lite app via an in-app purchase.

See info about this developer’s entire line of apps on their website: https://www.happyfrogapps.com. Several are also available for Android devices.

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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids:
http://m.me/OMazingKidsYoga
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omazingkids
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
YappGuru: http://yappguru.com/user/omazing-kids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with 27 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.

{Book Review} Maggi and Milo Make New Friends by Juli Brenning

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{Book Review} Maggi and Milo Make New Friends by Juli Brenning

I work with lots of kids who struggle with making friends so this new book is sure to become a fave. I love the whimsical illustrations and fun storyline…. especially the scavenger hunt that is filled with great descriptive language and the message of working together.

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About the book: Perfect for fans of Ladybug Girl, this playground adventure about the joy of making new friends continues the story of the plucky girl-and-dog duo from Maggi and Milo. Maggi is an irrepressible girl with an equally awesome best friend: her dog, Milo. So when Mom suggests a day at the park with other kids, Maggi isn’t sure. All she needs is Milo, afer all. But off to the playground they go—only to find that no dogs are allowed! Maggi wants to stay behind, but the other kids are having so much fun that she decides to go in. Before long, she has a whole group of new friends, and all of them want to try walking Milo. But first, they have to find a family of rollie-pollies, complete a treasure hunt, and build a pirate ship. When it’s time to go, Maggi waves goodbye to her new friends—but she knows she’s going home with Milo, her best friend of all.

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Publisher: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/309682/maggi-and-milo-make-new-friends-by-juli-brenning-illustrated-by-priscilla-burris/9780803737761/

Free coloring pages: http://www.maggiandmilo.com
Author’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/julibrenningcom

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Here is a free scavenger hunt printable that I received from the publisher:

Click pic to open 1 page PDF

Click to access maggi-and-milo-make-new-friends-scavenger-hunt.pdf

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Disclaimer: I received these books from the publisher to review. No compensation was received to review them and my opinions are strictly my own.
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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads nor do I profit from them}

{App Review} Circles App: Social Boundaries & Relationships by James Stanfield Co., Inc.

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{App Review} Circles App: Social Boundaries & Relationships by James Stanfield Co., Inc.

The Circles App™ is an innovative way to teach children that the degree of closeness they have with other people and how they touch them, depends on the kind of relationship they have with them. It is an essential tool for social skills learning, especially for kids, teens, and young adults with special needs, intellectual disabilities, and individuals on the autism spectrum. With a colorful, interactive relationship graph, The Circles App™ teaches:

  • appropriate social interactions in relation to TOUCH: who gets a hug, who gets high-fives, who gets fist bumps, and more!
  • intimacy boundaries to help prevent abuse and exploitation
  • how to recognize and practice boundary limits for healthy mutual relationships

I love how this app breaks this concept down into concrete visual sections! It does a good job of showing the difference between community workers in the red circle vs. other strangers in the red stranger space. I also like how it includes fist bumps and bro hugs as current ways that kids greet each other. This will be a fabulous tool in my toolbox as I work with with patients who have difficulty understanding social boundaries and those who are at high risk for being taken advantage of. The app is easy to customize with pictures that are meaningful to that individual. It is designed to be appropriate for a wide range of ages.

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App Store: https://appsto.re/us/6LK58.i, iOS 8.4 or later, iPad only, $24.99

Website: http://circlesapp.com

Tutorial: http://circlesapp.com/circles-app-tutorial/

Download a FREE Circles App User Guide with app instructions, FAQs, and general notes on how you can make the App work for you: http://eepurl.com/bULTWP

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stanfieldcompany
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JSTANFIELDCO
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/stanfieldco/circles-app-intimacy-relationships-social-boundari/
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Disclaimer: I received this app via a promo code from the developer. No compensation was received to review it and my opinions are strictly my own.

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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads nor do I profit from them}

{Awesome Book} “Social Skills Matter!, Grades PK – 2: Social Narrative Mini-Books” by Christine Schwab & Kasandra S. Flora, M.S., CCC-SLP

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Wow! Look what arrived today: “Social Skills Matter!, Grades PK-2: Social Narrative Mini-Books” by Christine Schwab & Kasandra S. Flora, M.S., CCC-SLP.

I’m very impressed with this book full of 84 reproducible social skill mini-books + award certificates. I bought my copy on Amazon for $24.54 with free shipping. That’s a bargain at $.29 per social story. It was co-authored by a SLP and by how well written they are I would guess that she has extensive experience working with kids with Autism. My go-to resources these days are mainly things I can grab and go. Yes I occasionally write my own social stories to fit very specific needs but having a book like this is worth it’s weight in gold for a busy SLP. Can’t wait to use these in OMazing Kids speech-language therapy 🙂

http://www.amazon.com/Social-Skills-Matter-Grades-Mini-Books/dp/1483800156
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See a more extensive peek inside the book on the publisher’s website: http://bit.ly/27igQgh

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Including a few screenshots here from that preview:

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It’s very important to be respectful of kids sensory needs when teaching eye contact. I often teach kids how to approximate eye contact by periodically glancing at anything in the facial region to “check in”. Love this illustration from the book:

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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads nor do I profit from them}

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

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

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

Here’s what I LOVE about these amazing products:

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

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

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Q's game board with book set

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Q's game board

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q-time buddy

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Breathing activity instructions for Q-Time Buddy plush doll

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

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See this video for more info about this relaxation technique.

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Interior page samples from the storybook:

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Interior page samples from the coloring book:

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See this video for info about the game:

 

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

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

A few additional purchasing options:

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

Board game with book:

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

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

Q-time weighted plush buddy:

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

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

Coloring book:

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

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teach EQ

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

Website: http://eqtainment.com/

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

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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads nor do I profit from them}

 

{Social Skills App Giveaway & Review}: The Social Bunch: Perspectives iPad app

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I am loving this new The Social Bunch: Perspectives app by First Words (https://appsto.re/us/JL9H9.i; $8.99 -> will be on sale for $4.99 from November 12-14, 2015; iPad only)!

Fabulous illustrations & voiceovers. Love that each scene has several different questions from the various perspectives and that the app uses errorless teaching strategies with no aversive/negative feedback for wrong answers, has a pause button to allow discussion about the scene, a repeat button to allow the voiceover to be replayed and has built in “wait” visual feedback if kids start rapidly tapping on the screen. Very well thought out app designed by a SLP with a specialty in working with kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders. This app is very unique and will be quite helpful in my work with kids with ASD. I provided the following feedback to the app developer: It would be great to have a brief tutorial video within the app itself. I loved the idea of being able to draw on the scenes of the app to draw attention to the face, arrow towards what that child is thinking about and adding thought bubbles. Doing this via screenshots in the Paper 53 app is a cool idea but it would be way cooler to be able to do this within the app itself by having a drawing tools area pop up when the app is paused. Thinking of future app updates, it would also be awesome to be able to set up multiple users, track data within the app and e-mail results (many SLPs love those features).

Be sure to watch the overview video. It has great info about the app & ideas for using it: http://youtu.be/UHZt9bMX5KQ

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Idea to import screenshots into the Paper 53 app so you can draw attention to details:

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GIVEAWAY

Want to win a copy of this app? I have 9 iOS promo codes to give away over on my OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga/photos/a.562317480485928.1073741841.174264525957894/1032221810162157/?type=3&theater

Entry Deadline: Friday, 11/13/15, at 9:00pm CST. Depending on the number of entries received, it may take a day or so to verify them and to announce the winners/distribute the codes via Facebook Messaging.

About the app: The Social Bunch: Perspectives helps teach perspective taking and inferencing to students with social language challenges. These skills can be especially challenging for individuals with Autism and other related conditions.

Professionally drawn illustrations are used to teach the idea that different characters can be thinking (and saying) different things at the same time. Five characters are featured within 5 different backgrounds (beach, cafeteria, classroom, bus stop, & playground). Users are asked who might be thinking or saying a particular thought. Sixty scenes containing almost 180 questions (with more planned for the future) are included in this app! Ten different reward animations can be set to appear at different intervals.

All that is required to respond is a touch on the correct character. This app is ideally used with the guidance of an adult (ideally trained in working with social skills).

The Social Bunch: Perspectives was created by speech-language pathologist Jeff Stepen, MS/CCC-SLP. He is a speech-language pathologist with over 17 years of experience in the field of communication disorders. His experience spans infancy to geriatrics. Autism is an area of particular interest for Jeff.

Website: http://www.thesocialbunch.co
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesocialbunchapps/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SocialBunchApp

#ASHA15 #SLPeeps #SpecialNeeds #Autism #SLPblogger #ASHAblogger

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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 25 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps and tech products to use with kids of all abilities.

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

{Review & Giveaway} Breathe In: Children’s Songs for Mindfulness and Awareness CD

Breathe In Cd Giveaway

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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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Breathe In CD back

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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.

  1. Bye, Bye Thoughts: Introduces children to the meditation technique of noticing their thoughts and letting
    them go.
  2. Together We’re Beautiful: Empowers children to embrace their uniqueness as well as the differences they find in others.
  3. 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.
  4.  Trees: Encourages children to develop a relationship with nature and cultivate a curiosity about their surroundings.
  5. 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.
  6. Monkey Brain: Encourages children to focus on what they are doing in the present moment. This is the most basic of mindfulness concepts.
  7. 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.
  8. Hugging Words: Helps children be more aware of the language they use toward others. Words can affect our feelings – positively or negatively.
  9. Love Inside My Heart: Teaches children to think about the love within them and to express their love to themselves, others, and their environment.
  10. Be Still: Shows children that keeping our bodies still will help us still our minds.
  11. Chirp Chirp: Encourages children to be sensitive to the sounds in the environment around them.
  12. All Our Voices: Encourages children to strengthen their teamwork and collaboration skills within their community.
  13. What Do I Feel?: Reminds children to be conscious of how they feel during individual moments throughout the day.
  14. Two of Us: Teaches children about the importance of supporting others and working together as a team.
  15. 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.
  16. 10 White Doves: Encourages children to spread their love by doing kind things for other people.
  17. 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.
  18. Thank You: Reminds children to be thankful for what they have, and to express gratitude whenever they can.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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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CD Trailer:

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Electronic Press Kit Song Samples: https://soundcloud.com/liannebassin/sets/breathe-in-epk-playlist/s-cAKmq

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Where to Order:

If you order via iTunes or Amazon, you can still get the fabulous booklet that goes with the CD via this download on the artist’s website: https://objects.dreamhost.com/liannebassin/pdf/BreatheInCDBooklet.pdf

She also has the lyrics on her website: https://objects.dreamhost.com/liannebassin/pdf/BreatheInLyrics.pdf

Social Media Sites:

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Artist’s Website: 

http://www.liannebassin.com/

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Testimonials:

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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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giveaway .

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. stars-divider

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com

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OMazing Kids LLC is an organization that promotes inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities. The blog and social media pages share information about books, DVD’s, CD’s, games and other products specifically designed for kids wellness, mindfulness and relaxation, product reviews & giveaways, lesson plan & activity ideas, research, kids wellness in the news and a connection corner with listings of individuals doing adapted yoga and those offering trainings.

NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the 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.  crayons divider

Exclusive: Reserve your spot for a 50% discount, plus a chance to win free social skills videos from Everyday Speech!

Reserve your spot for a 50% discount, plus a chance to win free social skills videos from Everyday Speech!

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Use & share this exclusive OMazing Kids referral link:

http://www.myeverydayspeech.com/social-skills-videos/?ref=OmazingKids

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If OMazing Kids has the most folks sign up for the waiting list, everyone who signed up via OMazing Kids will get a free social skills video package.

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I received a blogger 15 video sample package to preview and am impressed! As a SLP who sees lots of patients with social skill deficits, I am constantly looking for new materials & resources in this area. They have a total of 35-40 social skills videos planned in the series.

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‪#‎SLPeeps‬ ‪#‎SocialSkills‬ ‪#‎Autism‬ ‪#‎SpecialNeeds‬

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com

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OMazing Kids LLC is an organization that promotes inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities. The blog and social media pages share information about books, DVD’s, CD’s, games and other products specifically designed for kids wellness, mindfulness and relaxation, product reviews & giveaways, lesson plan & activity ideas, research, kids wellness in the news and a connection corner with listings of individuals doing adapted yoga and those offering trainings.

NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the 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. 

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