Listen to Me, Please: A Triple Dip of Feelings Fun!



Don't parent without this book!


A Trio of Award Winners

Did you ever come across a product that made your heart sing?  What about three of them at once?  That was exactly what happened when I read and listened to all of the incredible greatness of Ava Parnass.  Ava is the multi-talented clinician that is behind three of our newest Preferred Product Award winning resources that help kids.  It was a triple dip of feelings fun!   Just knowing these products are out there changing the world has me dancing in the streets!  And this time, I'm not even dancing to the music in my head.  It's the music of Ava and gang that goes along with the some of the books!

Listen to Me, Please

What do kids need?  They need a lot, and one of their primary needs after food, water, shelter and love is the need to be listened to.  Really listened to.  It seems like something that should come naturally to all of us, yet with the frenetic pace of today's world, and multiple demands on our time, we may not listen to or children in ways that are meaningful to them. 

Ava Parnass, RN, MSN

Listen to Me Please: Time-In Not Time-Out is a game changer.  In this book, Ava and her co-author, Dr. Ron Taffel, give you the low down to raising socially-competent, well-adjusted and better behaved children.  All without time-out!  Use this book with your children, connect with them on a deeper level and watch misbehavior disappear!  It's pure relationship magic!

In addition to helping you listen to your child more effectively, this book will help you accentuate the positive, and help you help your child handle tough feelings, deal with the pressures of modern life and learn from mistakes.  This book is part parenting field guide and part interactive story book.  It's a book both you and your child will want to return to again and again!

My Feelings are Hungry



My Feelings are Hungry may be the single-most
important book in the fight against childhood obesity.

Did you even know that feelings could get hungry?  They can and this is part of the reason that childhood obesity is at an all time high.  Our country is working diligently at trying to prevent and remedy this problem.  My Feelings are Hungry is the first book I have ever seen that addresses some of the key emotional issues that make kids want to eat more.  My Feelings are Hungry is likely to become one of the single-most important books in the fight against childhood obesity.

This book is incredible from start to finish. The main character, Rebecca, is having a very bad day.  Through rhyming prose, we take a trip with Rebecca through her kitchen, as she tries to calm herself with goodies and confections of all sorts.  Suddenly, Mushy, a magical book guide, appears to transport the main character through Feelings Town.

Here's just a small sampling of the book's prose as the characters make their way through Feelings Town:

Mushy told me that asking for so many treats
Means I'm not saying something I feel underneath
So I told her what happened one step at a time
Like a tangled-up string I had to unwind

See?  I told you it's GREAT!  Pair that with bright, whimsical drawings and you have a winning combination that's better than any calorie-laden concoction.

On their journey, Mushy helps Rebecca explore myriad feelings.  Through talking and processing those feelings, Rebecca is able to learn new ways to cope with them.  Feelings Town is a wonderful place for all kids to explore their inner workings and learn that having big feelings is okay!  The message that My Feelings are Hungry delivers will last a lifetime. 


Where Did My Good Mood Go?

Did you ever have one of those days where you just didn't know what came over you?  One of those days where you felt out of sorts?  Kids have those kinds of days, too.  Now, you can help them make sense of it with Where Did My Good Mood Go?

Mushy, that magical book guide, again helps the main character navigate the sometimes uncharted waters of difficult feelings.  Mushy models healthy exploration of feelings, and getting assistance from adults, as needed.  Speaking of grown-ups, one of the things I heart about these books is that they call the adults "my grown-up", which is really so clever.  Many times, children do not live with their mom or their dad, and saying I asked "my mom" or "my dad" for help may not be something they can relate to.  This is true for bereaved children, for children in foster care, and for children being raised by grandparents to name a few examples. 

Where Did My Good Mood Go normalizes the fact that we all have "down" and "out of sorts" days, but it also offers hope, by showing that feelings of upset don't last forever.  That's something we can all smile about!

Welcome, Ava and Listen to Me, Please, to the Kidlutions family of award winners!  So glad you're aboard!

Show Me How: Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking



Looking for a book that creates childhood magic? This is it! It’s no secret that I love books, but a book that helps parents promote a love of reading and their self-esteem at the same time? It’s a match made in heaven, if you ask me! Encouraging self-concept, helping kids deal with feelings and connecting with kids in a way that is meaningful is what this book is all about! Show Me How: Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking offers a mix of information, activities and support that really makes a difference.

This book is part of the “Positive Parental Participation” series, which is a very apt description of what this book promotes. Show Me How is written by Vivian Kirkfield, a professional in the early childhood arena. Once you read her this book, you’ll see why she comes by her expert status honestly. Kirkfield’s genuine care and concern for the youngest among us comes shining through in this book. You’ll feel her compassionate guidance throughout!



Each chapter focuses on a different area of social-emotional skill-building, including helping your child build their sense of self, a feeling of mastery or independence, as well as dealing with feelings that can cause discomfort (anger, fear, etc.). For each topic, you’ll find a book to read, an eco-friendly activity to complete and a healthy recipe to whip up with your kids. It’s all about spending quality time with your child, which is where the magic comes in.

According to the author’s website, this book:

~ Outlines a simple step-by-step schedule that provides a balanced and harmonious day.


~ Pinpoints 100 picture books every young child needs to hear and helps develop pre-literacy skills.


~ Provides both a child-friendly healthful recipe AND an age-appropriate, eco-friendly craft project for each story suggestion and summary.


~ Offers true-life scenarios and crucial tips to help every parent identify and deal with six of the fundamental components of child development that contribute to building self-esteem.


~ Presents the program's key ingredient for success, positive parental participation, and shows how to apply it on a daily basis whether you are reading, crafting, cooking or doing ANYTHING with your child.



There is no question, there are enough activities in Show Me How to keep you and your child busy for more than a year! The activities in the book are suitable for home use, daycare or early childhood classrooms.

To see one of my most favorite excerpts from Show Me How, go here. There, you’ll find one of the most beautiful interactions of helping a young child (whose behavior was less than desirable) to cope with the feeling, make amends and rejoin the family with full membership.

Welcome to the Kidlutions Preferred Product Award family, Vivian. We like your style. Show Me How is a gift to the early childhood world!

Little Girls Can Be Mean: Four Steps to Bully-proof Girls in the Early Grades

Bullying Happens

Bullying happens.  It's happening at younger ages than ever and it's time for us to not only take notice and "do something about it", but to do something that is meaningful and promotes change.  There are many anti-bullying programs on the market, but few address the issues of relational aggression.  Even fewer address these concepts as they relate to young children.

Girls Have Unique Social Struggles 

Thanks to Drs. Michelle Anthony and Reyna Lindert, parents and educators can now be armed with a compass of sorts, that will help them navigate some of these uncharted waters of the unique social struggles that face elementary-aged girls.  In their book, "Little Girls Can Be Mean: Four Steps to Bully-Proof Girls in the Elementary Grades", they lay out a 4-step process that offers meaningful support. 

Dr. Michelle Anthony and her children.

The authors make an important point: "All children are capable of cruel acts: often as part of a group experience, sometimes on their own initiative."  They further explain the natural developmental context in which our need to "fit in" exists, and help familiarize the reader with the underpinnings of relational aggression.  Drs. Anthony and Lindert provide special guidance in a chapter of its own, to help support and help girls when they are dishing out a dose of "mean". Special activities and ideas can help tip the scales towards more compassion and understanding.

Dr. Reyna Lindert and her children.

Relational Aggression Defined

By defintion, some of the unique relational issues that girls face are:

Cruel Words
The Silent Treatment
Exclusion
Backstabbing
Rumor Spreading

The Toll of Relational Aggression

These experiences can result in emotional reactions such as depression, anxiety and more, which can take a huge toll on self-esteem.  Physical manifestations such as headaches and stomachaches occur, and relational aggression even has an academic impact.  This can be true for both the victim and the perpetrator of the cruel acts.

This book struck several chords with me, but one that sent shivers down my spine was this: "It's one thing to prepare yourself against the backstreet bully, but what do you do when your bully is your best friend?" This point is so very cogent to me, as many of the young girls that seek support in my office are doing so because of this very thing! 

We provide kids with training on fire safety, personal safety and even have bulletins that come home from the school about trick-or-treating safety, yet what have we done to prepare kids for relational aggression?  Very little. 

The Shifting Tide

No longer can we sweep relational aggression aside and say, "Just ignore her.  You'll be friends again by next week."  Knowledge is power, and with "Little Girls Can Be Mean", real support and assistance can be offered to our young girls. 

The Earlier the Better

Much can be done to assist girls in having healthier relationships with each other, long before they embark upon the rocky road of middle school.  "Little Girls Can Be Mean" provides the tools.  This book is the missing puzzle piece in helping our girls deal with social skills issues before problems therein reach critical mass.
What I adore about this book, aside from all of the aforementioned, is that it also provides the reader with an "Activity Bank".  The activities are hands-on experiences that you can share with young girls to really help drive home what's important when it comes to treating others with civility, kindness and compassion. 

Welcome aboard to the Kidlutions Preferred Product Award family, Drs. Anthony and Lindert!  "Little Girls Can Be Mean" is a not to be missed book!

Name Your Tune CDs Help Kids Rock Out While They Grow More Condfident

Name Your Tune, Volume I

What’s in a name? Plenty, it turns out. We never tire of hearing our names. The same is true of kids who love all things personalized: bedding, backpacks, wall art, placemats, and the like. Savvy teachers know the importance of greeting children by name, wise business folks know it and those that are naturally connectors to others know it, too.

With all the enthusiasm tied to our names, you can imagine the delight a child feels when there is a song written just about him! When there’s a whole CD dedicated to him, it’s nothing short of thrilling! The Name Your Tune CDs, Volumes I and II, provide your child with the kind of excitement that cannot be found in generic songs. With these personalized treasures, your child will be strumming along to the beat and be singing with wild abandon to well-known songs with his name in it.

Name Your Tune, Volume II

Name Your Tune CDs are the mastermind of Candace Alper, a Canadian-based mompreneur and Eric Alper, her music-industry husband. The CDs were inspired by their daughter, Hannah. You can read more about their story here.  The foot-stomping, hand-clapping fun contained on each CD does more than offer a melody, though.  These CDs can actually help build your child's sense of confidence and self-esteem. 

The Alper Family



When we use a person’s name to address them, we acknowledge their identity and boost their self-esteem. The mere mention of someone’s name validates their existence…it says, “I see you!” and that fact alone is uplifting. When a song is written with a child’s name in it, it elevates the “name-game” to a whole new level!  Name Your Tune CDs offer fun with a function!

Years ago, when I was a child, there was a television show called “Romper Room”…some of you may remember that…which aired from my then hometown of Baltimore, MD. At the end of every episode, the teacher would use her “Magic Mirror” to “see” her friends in television-land. I would watch every episode my mother would allow me to, in hopes of hearing my name called out. To this day, I can remember how exciting it was to actually hear my name!

With Name Your Tune Volumes I and II , your child will hear his name more than 80 times, which is exciting in and of itself. However, when you factor in some of the titles of the songs, they go a long way towards developing a strong sense of self-confidence. One of my favorites is “Boom, Boom, Ain’t It Great to be YOU!” Other topics covered in the CDs include being friends, dealing with feelings, counting, letters and more.

The songs range from upbeat and fun-loving to relaxing and calming. I absolutely love some of the sound effects in the songs. I’ve listened to the CDs numerous times as part of my review, one time being on a road-trip with my 16-year-old son. (This was a huge departure from his usual techno or metal tunes.) Interestingly, he spontaneously offered, “A kid would love these!” That out of the mouth of a once-upon-a-time babe!

The Name Your Tune CDs, Volumes I and II make a great gift for a baby shower, birthday, get-well, Christmas, Hannukah, Easter, etc. It's a great anytime gift for no reason at all, too.  Just a way to celebrate your child!  It would be a gift the recipient would not soon forget.

Welcome, Name Your Tune, to the Kidlutions Preferred Product Award family! I know your songs are already warming their way into the hearts of children across the world! You have warmed my heart with your “giving back” through the “Hear Here” foundation, to help underprivileged kids get hearing aids. Now, that’s music to my ears!

You can also check out their website for more products that are personalized for the special child in your life!

Great products for kids!

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Last weekend, several of our Kidlutions Preferred Product Award winners were featured in a door-prize giveaway basket for one lucky winner at the MACs Kids Expo 2011 in New York!  How exciting!  All of our product winners can be seen at: http://www.kidlutions.com/awards_winning_products.html

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.

Teach Your Kids to Think: Simple Tools You Can Use Everyday

The care and keeping of that precious bundle of joy that you brought home includes feeding the heart, head and soul. Parenting is no small task and the mere thought of all that it entails can sometimes take your breath away.

No fears! Dr. Maria Chesley Fisk has whipped up a quick-serve dish that will change the very way you approach talking to and interacting with your kids. Her book, Teach Your Kids to Think: Simple Tools You Can Use Everyday, provides just the right dose of intellectual and emotional nutrition. Even the most harried of parents are sure to find this book a necessary and pleasurable read.
While the book is small enough to fit a purse, a diaper bag or a jacket pocket, it is big on information. Dr. Fisk has removed unnecessary and excess verbiage, paring things down to the essential and most pleasing parts. Like a delectable piece of cheesecake, this book is rich and satisfying.

Dr. Fisk, in sifting out the erroneous pieces of information, provides you with bite-sized nuggets of parenting wisdom that you can start to use immediately. That is one of the things I most adore about Teach Your Child to Think. Your can read it one minute and implement what you’ve learned the next.




Dr. Maria Chesley Fisk, Ph.D.


Never preachy or academic, Teach Your Kids to Think is a book that is written for real parents, with real kids and it gives real results. Dr. Fisk is an in-the-trenches kind of gal, as she is parenting right along with the rest of us. This book is so user-friendly, even book-shy parents will enjoy it. 

Acting as an appetizer, the first part of the book answers why we need to teach our kids to think in the first place.

Dr. Fisk then serves up five main courses:

General Tools for Teaching Thinking Skills
Tools for Teaching Analytical Thinking Skills
Tools for Teaching Creative Thinking Skills
Tools for Teaching Social & Emotional Thinking Skills
Tools for Teaching Practical Thinking Skills

Teach Your Kids to Think teaches parents how to encourage critical thinking skills that will serve a child across his lifetime. Imagining, pretending, considering, being curious about, predicting, and being a little silly and zany are all part of the full package that encompass essential thinking skills. Sprinkle in problem-solving, positive thinking, and more and you have a perfect recipe to grow a thinking child.

All that and I haven’t even gotten to the social-emotional part, which of course, is my personal favorite. Dr. Fisk has left nothing to chance in rounding out this scrumptious book with research-based strategies that will help your children identify and manage big emotions. Here at Kidlutions, we know that social-emotional skills lay the groundwork for all other learning, and we are glad that Dr. Fisk joins us at the table on this one!

Teach Your Kids to Think helps you teach your child to talk to himself in a helpful manner, handle difficult situations, recognize how his actions impact others, and to find motivation.  This book can even help your child's school raise money!  Now, that's good thinking!

Ahhhhh! When you read Teach Your Kids to Think, you won’t walk away hungry! It’s satisfying, indeed!

Welcome to the Kidlutions Preferred Product Award family, Dr. Fisk! Your book is delish!



You can even purchase a copy for use on your Kindle!  Click image above!