The Nightmare Nibbler Noshes Bad Dreams: Double Duty

Nightmares Happen!

Nightmares happen.  The Nightmare Nibbler can help!  Nightmares are common in preschoolers and can be an issue throughout early childhood.  Parents are often besides themselves, trying to figure out a way to make it all stop so the whole family can back to peaceful slumber.

Does Your Child Need a Sleep Makeover?

Do you have a child whose sleep habits could benefit from a little makeover?  Does he wake up during the night seeking support and solace because of another "bad dream"?  Sleep deprivation is a serious health issue that has far reaching effects.  In addition to health issues, lack of sufficient sleep can affect your child's mood, behavior, memory and growth. 

The Nibbler Knows

The Nightmare Nibbler knows just how to take care of bad dreams. He's happy to take the night-shift so that you and your pint-sized person can get all the shut-eye you need. 

More Than a Good Night's Sleep

When the Nightmare Nibbler sets off to work, and your child begins to master his nightmares, he'll get more than a good night's sleep.  You'd be grateful for that, I know, but there's yet another benefit.  When your child can get a handle on his nightmares, he'll be developing a sense of ability to deal with whatever problems come his way.  This sense of mastery is a huge boon to self-esteem!

Keeping Good Company

The Nibbler is a fabulous bedtime buddy, but he's a great daytime companion, as well.  Your child will be sure to make fast friends with the Nibbler.  Don't be surprised if he wants to carry the Nibbler with him everywhere he goes! 

Speaking of good company, the Nibbler has been with us for a year now.  It is his one year anniversary with the Preferred Products Award!  That's one more year of making bedtimes better and more sleep possible!   You can see the original winning post here.  We look forward to celebrating many more years together! 

Norbert Does Double-Duty

Norbert the Nightmare Nibbler has been doing a fine job of keeping nightmares at bay across the land. Now he has some back-up. Not that he needs it, mind you. He's been doing a great job on his own.  But now  he can call in for reinforcement with his very own book, "Norbert the Nightmare Nibbler".

In this whimsical book, Norbert is chosen for a special mission. He is selected to travel from the Nightmare Nibbler Nation down to Earth, where he will keep order in the house and peace throughout the night by gobbling up any nightmares in his path. From the moment he is shuttled to Earth, everyone is granted a tranquil night's slumber.

Norbert noshes nightmares like it's nobody's business.  But that's not all this book is about.  No, there's more to the story than meets the eye. There's a second message to be had.  You're never to small to make a difference!  This book delivers on a number of levels and is the perfect accompaniment to the plush Norbert, who has been winning his way into the hearts of kids and parents everywhere! 

To Norbert, Nightmares are delicious. Just like a full night's sleep would be for you!
Thanks for making a difference in the lives of children and families, Nightmare Nibbler.  Congratulations on your growth and having two products that bear the Kidlutions Preferred Product Award Seal for Social-Emotional Development. 

Every kids needs a Nibbler!

The plush and book are available separately, or together on the Nightmare Nibbler site. 

The Nightmare Nibbler Promotes Sweet Dreams

Anyone with a young child can tell you about night time fears that can take hold and sometimes disrupt the sleep of everyone in the household.  Nothing good comes from sleep-deprivation, so thank goodness for the Nightmare Nibbler who makes a snack out of bad dreams!  This adorable little creature is so incredibly soft and sweet, your child is sure to form a fast friendship with him.

The Nightmare Nibbler was created by Susan Smith, a mom whose own son, Sam, was dealing with nightmares.  Susan soon discovered, as have many other parents, that Sam's sleep issues affected the whole family.  Not to be outsmarted by these unwelcome dreams during her son's slumber, this savvy mama set to work to remedy the situation.  The Nightmare Nibbler made his debut and it worked so well for Sam, and for others in Susan's circle, that she wanted to share with others.  Hence, the Nightmare Nibbler went global. 

The Nightmare Nibbler works for young children, but would also be applicable to older kids who have to undergo scary or painful medical procedures, and particularly to kids that have experienced trauma.  For some of these kids, their nightmares come in the daytime. 

The Poem

I’m a Nightmare Nibbler who’s on duty through the night,

protecting you from scary things that might give you a fright!

It doesn’t matter what it is, I’m not afraid at all

whether 1 inch, 1 foot or a bazillion feet tall!

You see, as a Nightmare Nibbler all I do is eat,

bad dreams, scary dreams, I think they’re all a treat!

Those dreams do not stand a chance, when I am here with you

since I chew them up and swallow them, before they can say boo!

So hug me tight, close your eyes and wipe away your fears,

I’m here all night to protect you, if anything appears.

Good Night and Pleasant Dreams…

xo

 The Nightmare Nibbler contributes to social-emotional development in a big way.  When kids learn how to conquer their fears, and master situations that make them feel helpless, their self-confidence soars.  Now, that is something to cheer about!

When the Nightmare Nibbler was granted a Kidlutions Preferred Product Award, it marked the momentous occasion of  us going international with our award!  The Nightmare Nibbler hails from Canada, our neighbor...and we are pleased as punch to be able to showcase great products that promote social-emotional development from around the world!

The Nightmare Nibbler is a Green Parents' List Approved product, which means you can count on it to be safe for your child to snuggle with and drag around.  This distinction means that the product was tested using the guidelines set forth by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

To sweeten the deal even more, every purchase of the Nightmare Nibbler gives back to an organization that ensures a good nights' sleep to children around the world.  The Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW) organization provides a bedkit that consists of a mat or mattress, pillow, sheet, blanket, mosquito net (if applicable), clothes outfit, towel and school supplies. Bedkit contents vary from country to country depending upon local needs.

We concur with this disclaimer found on the Nightmare Nibbler site: Please seek the advice of a professional if you notice that your child’s nightmares become worse, happen more often or if their fears impact daytime activities.

Kleen Slate Concepts

It's erasable. It's portable. It's fun.

The Kleen Slate was originally developed for use in the schools for math, writing and other such academic pursuits. But why end there? It's unstoppable when it comes to helping kids deal with feelings, handle big emotions and work out things that might weigh heavy on their minds.

The Kleen Slate paddle for drawing, writing, dreaming and more provides the perfect palette for kids, tweens and teens to do all of the above. It offers hours of fun and creative expression when it comes to having your kids communicate about their inner worlds. Want a peek into your child’s psyche? Hand him a Kleen Slate and let him go to town.

One of the neatest things about the Kleen Slate, is that one side is completely blank. It doesn't provide a prompt or lead a kid in any way. Kids are free to journal on it to get their thoughts out...and POOF!...just like that, they can erase it all. This is a huge boon to kids who may like to "bottle up" their feelings because they are afraid of upsetting somebody or getting into trouble. The Kleen Slate offers a great place to get those feelings out, yet be able to erase them as well. No harm, no foul.

The round paddle seems like it was made for drawing faces. It provides the perfect silhouette for the human face to take shape and show off a little emotion. Sad, mad, glad…none of them are bad. Feelings simply are. And here at Kidlutions, we believe that feelings make the world go round. And we know that mastering those feelings leads to success. Kleen Slate provides the perfect tool to do it all. And since there is no waste after all of the angst, sadness or joy is “drawn out”, the Kleen Slate earns high marks as being eco-friendly, as well.

The other side of the paddle has lines for writing. This is the perfect place for kids to carve out plans, make goals, or maybe write out a solution to what is troubling them. They can draw a face that depicts their inner-world on one side, then flip over the Kleen Slate and write out how they can solve the current situation and deal with their feelings on the other. A kid who can do that is learning skills that will last a lifetime. Talk about empowerment, confidence and a can-do attitude. It’s all included in that simple, yet, insightful activity.

The Kleen Slate has so much applicability to helping kids “draw out” whatever is on their minds, that it was even used for group sessions for kids when Hurricane Katrina decimated parts of Louisiana. Kleen Slate was also put through rigorous testing in my very own office. I have used it as part of the intervention for traumatized children and families. The Kleen Slate performed beautifully in even dismal-seeming circumstances. It offered a bright, cheerful and non-threatening way to open up conversations about some really tough stuff.

The founder of Kleen Slate, Julia Rhodes, is no stranger to being a socially and emotionally well-adjusted individual herself. She takes part of her profits from Kleen Slate and donates it to programs to help make the world a better place! Who amongst us hasn’t at one time or another needed a clean slate? Well, now you can have one both figuratively and literally!

Welcome to the Kidlutions Preferred Product Award family, Kleen Slate. We’re so proud to have you!



Worry Woos™: Monsters that Matter!

Emotions can swirl up inside of kids and cause upsetting and confusing times. Frequently, kids may feel as if they are the only ones experiencing certain problems. With few life experiences and limited coping skills from which to draw, kids can become overwhelmed with it all.

Enter the Worry Woos™ ! Like a fairy godmother with a magic wand, the Worry Woos™ have the power to change things!

Never before have such cuddly charmers warmed their way into the hearts of both kids and adults, creating clarity during uncertain times, a safe harbor in which to explore and contemplate some common, yet perplexing concerns. The Worry Woos™ are an ingenious answer to all of the above. They are the spectacular creation of Andi Green, a woman who is clearly no stranger to the social-emotional realm.

With great aplomb, Ms. Green tackles issues with friendship and loneliness, feeling confident and accepting of personal differences, as well as feeling brave, courageous and secure in oneself. The Worry Woos™ themselves are endearing plush figures. They are as unique as the stories that go with them. The approach is magical and the text is lyrical. Ms. Green's illustrations in the hardcover books seem to come alive as you are reading them. The rhyming text flows beautifully and slips under the radar of even the most skeptical kids, and touches their hearts in a way that will change them forever.

There is a Worry Woo™ for everyone. Worry Woos™ belong in the hands of every child, parent, teacher, counselor, therapist and human being. I wouldn't limit the Worry Woos(tm) as a product for only young children, either. I see their applicability to tweens, teens and yes, even adults. The stories are powerful and non-preachy. They get their point across and the story stays with the reader long after the book is put down.

So, without further ado, I give you Rue:

Rue is lovely and perfect just the way he is. Problem is, he doesn't know it. It takes him awhile to see and embrace his uniqueness, and yes, to even celebrate it. Rue's one-of-a-kind story is "The Nose That Didn't Fit". This book and plush would be perfect for any child, tween, teen or adult grappling with a physical feature of their own that sets them apart from others, makes them unique or different. Actually, this set would be good for any youngster at all. This is true because oftentimes, kids will struggle in silence about something that they feel makes them "different".

Next, take a peek at Squeek:

Squeek will waste no time making fast friends with whomever encounters him. In true Worry Woos™ fashion, he is charming and non-threatening. Squeek shows kids and others how to break free of self-imposed limits, how to let go of whatever they have allowed to hold them back and to SOAR! Squeek's story is titled, "The Monster in the Bubble", and it is highly recommended for kids who may be dealing with fears and anxiety. It's true that the book and plush would also benefit, well, just about anyone who picked it up and read it!

Finally, let's say hola to Nola:

Nola struggles with loneliness in her book, “The Lonely Little Monster”. She shows all of us how to look around and see that what we are searching for may be right under our noses. Lessons are woven throughout the fabric of the story with multiple layers. I read the book several times and could find new meaning each time. The same is true of all of the Worry Woos™ books I read.

We are so proud to have the Worry Woos™ as part of our Kidlutions Preferred Product Award™  family. The books and plush characters embody everything that this award stands for...helping kids cope, handle feelings, and succeed! Congratulations Worry Woos™ and we look forward to seeing all of your future endeavors!

For the rest of you, my wish is that you, too, find a way to embrace your inner Woo!

.

Kidlutions Preferred Product Award

There's a whole lot going on behind the scenes at Kidlutions(tm) Preferred Product Awards.  Of course, we know that all of our winners are the cat's meow when in comes to championing the social-emotional realm in children's lives.  We're so sure, that we're shouting it from the rooftops and people are listening!

We've completed several radio interviews where we discuss our award and have just completed a couple of press interviews regarding it.  We'll be featured in a major media outlet for an upcoming holiday spread on gift-giving.  We'll also be appearing in some regional parenting magazines on topics related to social-emotional development. Other media ventures are also brewing...so we'll keep you in the know!

Social-emotional development is not just some fad that seems like a "good idea"...it is a crucial area of growth that determines how successful we are in life.  Plenty of research backs that up.

Kidlutions(tm) is proud to be the first award of its kind in the industry that honors exemplary products that specifically and intentionally promote social-emotional development and literacy!

Congratulations, again to all of our winners!  We can't wait to unveil some of our newest products that are currently under review!

The Music of Rachel Rambach of Listen & Learn

http://www.listenlearnmusic.com/

Looking for a great way to help your child learn about and handle emotions, social situations and being the best he can be? Look no further than the music of Rachel Rambach, MM, MT-BC, Board Certified Music Therapist. We couldn’t help but take notice of Rachel’s phenomenal work, all housed at her website Listen & Learn. Aptly named, her music bypasses “telling” kids what to do, and gets up under the radar of even the most resistant kid, engaging them in a fun and memorable way. Most importantly, her music teaches kids the important life skills that will help them be more successful in life!


Rachel’s fabulous collection of songs can be tailor made into an album that best meets the needs of your child. You can choose from a whole host of songs that relate to your child’s developmental needs. These songs work well for children of any ability and can be very instrumental in helping children on the Autistic Spectrum, as well as kids with ADHD to grasp concepts and commit them to memory.

Rachel has covered some of the hugely important aspects of helping kids gain emotional insight and control. Her melodic voice draws you in and leaves you wanting more. While you may purchase these songs for your child’s benefit, we think you’ll find the tunes so catchy that you’ll find yourself humming them over and over, too!

Some of the topics that Rachel tackles include:

~ Maintaining a positive attitude

~ Manners

~ Making friends

~ Giving compliments

~ Dealing with feelings

~ Handling difficult feelings

~ Listening and getting work done/practicing to improve

The list goes on and on. There is no end to what you can help your child accomplish through the music of Rachel Rambach of Listen & Learn. Don’t take our word for it, though. Go check it out yourself. We think you’ll agree!

What’s better, you can listen to all of her tracks before you buy and download them immediately for use on an MP3 player, or have them burned to a disc and mailed to you. We think that once you visit the Listen & Learn website, you’ll go back again and again.

Rachel’s work contributes so much to the social-emotional development of children…and that’s music to OUR ears! We think Rachel is a shining star! Congratulations, Rachel, on earning the Kidlutions Preferred Product Award!