Thursday, April 9, 2015

Former Teacher Releases Children’s Picture Book: "Lexi Goes on Vacation to The Outer Banks"




Former teacher and school psychologist, Janice Wills Kingsbury releases new children’s adventure book, "Lexi Goes on Vacation to The Outer Banks." After vacationing in the Outer Banks of North Carolina for over 10 years, Janice wanted to combine her love of children, animals, writing, and the beach to create a wonderful new picture book for children.

  Raleigh, NC, February 06, 2015 --(PR.com)-- Ms. Janice and Mr. Rob have vacationed in the seashore town of Duck in North Carolina for 10 years. Duck is a friendly place with sandy beaches where children and dogs romp to their hearts content. This year Lexi, a new addition to their dog family, will come too. But the vacation will be like no other and as the sun sets on the beach it promises to be a long night, one the family will never forget!

The author believes, the full color illustrations will appeal to children and make the book come alive. Janice says, “The action and adventure encourage children to read to the end and learn new vocabulary. Even reluctant readers will want to finish the story.”

Lexi Goes on Vacation to The Outer Banks is available in both print and ebook formats. It is available for distribution in the U.S.A. and worldwide.

Book Details:
"Lexi Goes on Vacation to The Outer Banks"
By Janice Wills Kingsbury
Published: October 2014
ISBN: 978-1500103262
ASIN: B00OU589XG
Pages: 46
Genre: Children's

The author has other titles in the works as well. Upcoming releases include: Chihuahua’s Like Cheese, Help For Freddy the Fox, and Please Feed the Seagulls. Find more information about the book and upcoming works at www.outerbooks.com.

About The Author:
Janice Wills Kingsbury grew up in New Jersey. She worked as a teacher and later as a School Psychologist for 18 years. Janice also taught reading and has a love of children's literature. Janice is also involved in animal rescue. Her children's books are written from the heart and portray her love of and knowledge about children and animals. The stories will capture children's interest and imagination. Age 6-12, but suitable for all ages, even adults.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Wonderoos Wins Prima Baby Award

Didcot, United Kingdom, March 28, 2015 --( PR.com )-- Wonderoos - the washable nappy brand owned by Earthwise Trading - has won a Prima Baby Award in the reusable nappy category for the second year in a row.

The Prima Baby Awards recognise and reward the best products and services currently in the baby and parenting industry. All shortlisted entries are tested and judged by a team of baby and parenting
experts, as well as a panel of parents.

Christine McRitchie, Owner of Earthwise Trading, comments, “We’ve got a very exciting year planned for Wonderoos and to be awarded a Prima Award is a testament to our hard work.”
Wonderoos are the original single-sized pocket nappy that can be adjusted easily to fit most babies
from 8 to 35lbs. Wonderoos have a ‘stay-dry’ lining, waterproof outer layer and two super-absorbent
inserts. The booster is removable to make washing and drying Wonderoos as quick and easy as
possible.

Earthwise Trading Ltd encompasses www.Plushpants.co.uk, www.terrynappies.co.uk,
www.earthwisegirls.co.uk and Wonderoos. Earthwise Trading Ltd focuses on manufacturing,
distributing and retailing reusable nappies and reusable menstrual products that reduce waste, save
money, and work in harmony with nature.

About Christine McRitchie:
Earlier in 2015 Christine was crowned Britain’s Best Online Business as director of Earthwise Trading in the Venus Awards. Christine lives in Long Wittenham, Oxfordshire with her husband and their four daughters (who have provided lots of nappy changing experience along the way).
The Earthwise Trading story began in Christine’s kitchen 10 years ago, and during that time her
business and kept over 7.5 million disposable nappies out of landfill – based on the number of nappies sold.

Amy Vaughan Announces Release of "Positively Sensory!"

Amy Vaughan has released her first book, "Positively Sensory! A Guide to Help Your Child Develop Positive Approaches to Learning and Cope with Sensory Processing Difficulty," currently available online at Amazon.com and other booksellers. New guide for parents, professionals and teachers integrates Learning Strengths Profile assessment tool.

Springfield, MO, February 24, 2015 --(P R.com) -- Amy Vaughan has released her first book, "Positively Sensory! A Guide to Help Your Child Develop Positive Approaches to Learning and Cope with Sensory Processing Difficulty," currently available online at Amazon.com and other booksellers.

Written as a resource for parents, teacher and professionals, the book walks the reader through the
reasons a child chooses specific behaviors and helps problem solve through methods of engaging that
child toward more positive behaviors. What connects with your child? What motivates them? What
makes them do what they do? How can you redirect a child’s negative behavior to something more
appropriate? "Positively Sensory!" explains that the solution is more than just positive and negative
reinforcement and is about truly connecting with what drives your child at a deeper level.

Amy Vaughan is recognized for her accomplishments as a pediatric occupational therapist. She has
developed a professional reputation for her skill in finding positive approaches to learning for gifted,
typical and special education students and in assessing and treating autism spectrum disorders and
sensory processing issues.

“'Positively Sensory!' was written as an effort to support professionals and parents in their quest to
meet children right where they are and walk forward into a better tomorrow,” says the author. “It is
designed to provide a framework for setting up positive behavior and learning situations that will build into skills and relationships. Whether a child is dealing with anxiety, difficulty in learning, problem behavior or sensory processing difficulty, this book is designed to be a resource to help set parents and child up for success."

Children operate on at least two levels, engaging the world around them by taking in sensory
information and then engaging the world through behavioral activity. The challenge for the parent,
teacher or professional arises when the sensory information a child takes in is not accurate, which
when leads to an output of behavioral activity that is less desirable.

The job of the parent, teacher or professional of a child who is struggling with internal stressors such
as sensory processing or attention issues or external stressors such as fight, flight, or fright behaviors
in response to specific situations is to connect with the child through their core strengths and
interests, reaching the true motivators and then bringing those to the forefront to engage the child in
positive behaviors.

"Positively Sensory!" gives the reader a strategy for making those connections while also evaluating
the child’s strength areas through its proprietary Learning Strengths Profile evaluation tool. Once the
child’s strengths are defined, "Positively Sensory!" gives practical exercises and tools for building on a child’s strengths to increase success, enrichment, and quality of life.

Amy Vaughan is an occupational therapist practicing in Missouri. She has worked in multiple therapy
settings including hospitals, schools, clinics and private practice. She is board certified in pediatrics
and has spent her career studying and working with children in order to set them up for healthier,
happier development and learning. She currently leads the pediatric occupational therapy team at The
Autism Center of Burrell Behavioral Health in Springfield, Missouri. She also writes and speaks
extensively while raising her own four children alongside her husband, John. In recent years, she has
been awarded both the 40 Under 40 Award as well as being one of the 20 Most Influential Women in
Southwest Missouri by The Springfield Business Journal, located in Springfield, Missouri.
"Positively Sensory! A Guide to Help Your Child Develop Positive Approaches to Learning and Cope with Sensory Processing Difficulty" is a 256-page book published by Scribble Media, LLC. With a list price of $26.99, this 8-1/2 by 11 inch book is accessible to both professionals and parents who want to build happy, healthy relationships with children through a combination of behavioral strategies and sensory processing exercises. The book’s technical content is wrapped around an assessment tool, the Learning Strengths Profile, designed to capture a child’s learning strengths for the purpose of understanding how that child engages best in learning and relating to the world around him.

A New Portal for Creating Visual Support for Children with Special Needs

A New Portal for Creating Visual Support for Children with Special Needs

In late 2014, Smarty Symbols, a Dallas-based company, released its website to the public which allows teachers, parents and therapists to access over thirteen thousand images, download them or create visual support materials directly on the portal.

Dallas, TX, March 01, 2015 --(P R.com) -- The special needs community has been using visual support materials for a long time. Everyone understands the benefits of combining visual support with the information presented orally to children. Speech-language pathologists, teachers and parents have also used visuals as a form of alternative communication for children with communication difficulties.

In 2010, a set of visual support was born and released to the public in 2011 with over twelve
thousand images. These visual support images have been used in a variety of products in the last five
years from alternative communication applications to simple language learning materials.

In late 2014, Smarty Symbols, a Dallas-based company, released its website to the public which
allows teachers, parents and therapists to access over thirteen thousand images, download them or
create visual support materials directly on the portal.

The community has already shown their excitement about this new portal by subscribing in
unexpected numbers. Founded and managed by educators, Smarty Symbols is recognized by its high quality images, and excellent customer support.

Barbara Fernandes, co-founder of Smarty Symbols, has a track record for launching and delivering
high quality products and by also managing one of the most successful application developing
companies within the special needs community: Smarty Ears.

The Smarty Symbols portal can be accessed at http://www.smartysymbols.com and subscriptions
start at just $45/ year for personal subscriptions. The portal also offers a new concept for teachers who create materials for sale on the popular Teachers Pay Teachers site, by allowing teachers to subscribe for commercial licenses. Commercial subscriptions allows for downloading images and creating products that will be shared with others for sale. Commercial subscriptions start at just $29/month.

Smarty Symbols receives daily requests for creating images that are not yet on the image set, and
those images are created and posted on the portal for download. The portal also offers subscription packages for school districts and clinics that need to create visual materials for students.

For more information about the Smarty Symbols portal visit: www.smartysymbols.com

Monday, March 9, 2015

Guest Post: How to Stop Thumbsucking



How to Stop Thumbsucking

How to Stop Thumbsucking

As a parent, you will no doubt be aware of just how difficult it can be to make your child give up some of their earliest habits in life. At their youngest, a child will have no qualms about going into their shell and just sticking with what makes them feel most comfortable. However, if you want to know how to stop thumbsucking and other habits that can hamper your child’s development – or even put it at risk of halting entirely – then these simple tips should come in handy for correcting the situation as soon as you possibly can;

Create an Incentive

One of the easiest ways to make progress with how to stop thumbsucking once and for all is to give your child some kind of incentive/reward for stopping thumbsucking in the first place. Make sure that they know if they do so they’ll get that big toy they wanted or you’ll take them to see something specific at the cinema – whatever your child loves doing can be used as an incentive.
If they know that stopping will benefit them via a reward then they are more likely to actually try.

Give Them it Straight

Alternatively, you can give your child the cold, hard facts – thumb sucking is for babies. Children are conscious of how they are seen by others and, although a little devious, you can use this to get your own way when it comes to finding out how to stop thumbsucking. Make the insinuation that it’s for babies and not for grown up children who are mature and can be responsible – if your child wants to be seen as growing up and learning, they will give it a rest.

Avoid Confrontation

While this might not be a solution as such on how to stop thumbsucking, it’s an easy way to make sure it does not become a prolonged battle. Your child is less likely to stop if you keep badgering them and making it a big deal – even if you have tried being nice and it hasn’t worked, playing the long game is going to be far more beneficial than shouting at your child and trying to force the issue.

Avoid a big argument and confrontation and you won’t fall out over it. Approach the problem with a domestic attitude and you are more likely to find a solution that you are both happy with.

Of course, for those who are really struggling to find some kind of solution, there are many practical objects that you can put in place that will help to stop thumbsucking – most of which your children are going to absolutely love! Cool little props, gloves and many other smart little instruments can be used to give your child the kind of help that they need. 

Guest post from our friends at Glovey Huggey

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Comfort Objects - Toddlers and Security Blankets



Do you remember Linus from the famous Peanuts cartoon by Charles Shultz (the cartoon that introduced us to Snoopy)?  Linus was the kid always dragging around his security blanket and sucking his thumb to soothe himself to the constant disapproval of his older sister and grandmother.

It turns out that about 60% of toddlers use comfort or security objects, so the use of a comfort object is very common and normal.  In fact, many experts believe that a comfort object is a great asset for children and parents. Attachment to a comfort object or “lovie”, usually beginning around 8-12 months, represents a big leap in intellectual and emotional development for a child - they are learning to understand symbols and to "invent" something of their own – the comfort object becomes a symbol of love and comfort that is tangible.  Children who have learned to use comfort objects can find comfort anywhere and can take control of their own comfort. 

Most children choose an item with silky and nubby textures to provide sensory satisfaction.  Toddlers enjoy the tactile stimulation of a soft, fuzzy, or nubby items like stuffed animals, blankets, while many other toddlers enjoy silky textures.  Whatever the choice, it is not uncommon for toddlers to give their comfort objects names and talk to them, carry them around everywhere - much like a true friend. It can help them work through problems or challenges in their everyday life and self-soothe during a situation that they feel is stressful. And as any parent with a child attached to a comfort object will understand, when that object is lost, put in the wash, or left behind, it's like losing one's true friend and many times, it cannot be replaced.

Both of my boys used comfort objects to soothe themselves, in addition to thumb-sucking.  My oldest son liked to hold onto the corner of his terry cloth bib while sucking his thumb.  My youngest son developed a temporary attachment to a particular green stuffed animal, and I promptly ran out and bought extras just to have on hand.  However the stuffed animal phase didn't last long and he eventually settled on a security blanket after encouragement from me (easier to wash!).  In my business, I hear from many parents with children that are attached to security blankets, stuffed animals or even toddler pillows - they carry them everywhere they go. I've also heard stories about special comfort objects getting damaged, lost, or just plain worn out. Sometimes I can help parents replace with the same or similar fabrics.

However, once toddlers are growing up into preschoolers and school aged children, the question becomes what level of attachment is appropriate and how do you handle it? With my older son, my pediatrician and dentist agreed that the terry cloth bib was a trigger for thumb-sucking, and as my son approached age 4-5, we should start weaning him from the security object.  My son and I created a special box and decorated it as a place for the comfort object to “live” in his closet – he could visit if he really needed to but only for short periods.  After a few days it was pretty much “out of sight, out of mind”.  However if the comfort object is not a trigger for a behavior that you are trying to stop such as thumb sucking or pacifier use, rest assured that as your child matures, he/she will develop other ways to self-soothe and deal with stress.  As a parent, you can help teach your growing child alternate techniques for soothing such as listening to music, deep breathing, or exercise.  Also, as children approach school age, most will start to feel the social pressures from their peer group to change these attachments to comfort objects and will adapt to what is “socially acceptable” for their age group.  So don’t stress about attachments to comfort objects – these attachments are normal and helpful in many situations.

I hear from many longtime customers with children who have grown up with BobbleRoos products as comfort objects – from our toddler pillows to our baby or toddler blankets. Many of these kids continue to use our products as they get older - a toddler pillow can easily become a travel pillow, a baby blanket can be turned into a pillowcase, etc.  You can also turn fragments of blankets into pieces for a rag quilt or other keepsake.  Did you have a comfort object as a child?  What about your children today – do they use comfort objects, and if so, is it a blessing or a curse?  Please leave any comments with stories and/or tips for other parents, as well as creative ideas for re purposing comfort objects. Head on over to our Facebook page and leave comments there as well to win a $25 BobbleRoos Gift Certificate!
personalized satin security blanket
Personalized BobbleRoos Security Blanket "Bips"

satin security blanket
Personalized BobbleRoos Security Blanket "Bips"