‘Chilla Gorilla & Lanky Lemur Journey to the Heart’ is the new children’s book by Kimberly Snyder and Jon Bier. Photo: Amazon
Children’s books hold an enchanting power, transporting young minds to realms of imagination and wonder. With vibrant illustrations and captivating stories, they weave magical tales that ignite curiosity and nurture creativity, instilling a lifelong passions for reading. They teach valuable lessons about friendship, bravery, and kindness, fostering empathy and understanding. Whether exploring fantastical worlds or navigating everyday challenges, children’s books spark joy and inspire dreams, laying the foundation for a lifetime love affair with literature and the boundless realms of imagination.
In this enlightening and playful story by New York Times best-selling author Kimberly Snyder and Jon Bier, wise old Chilla Gorilla teaches his young friend Lanky Lemur how to use his heart’s wisdom to transcend intense emotions, such as frustration, anger, and fear, in order to experience harmony, tranquility, and joy.
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Heart-Based Living and Family Wellness:
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Starting Meditation for Kids:
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Why has meditation been so challenging, and how does Chilla teach differently and more effectively?
About the authors: Kimberly Snyder is a multiple-time New York Times bestselling author, spiritual and meditation teacher, international speaker, nutritionist, and holistic wellness expert. She has authored six books, which have been translated into several languages, including “Radical Beauty,” which she co-authored with Deepak Chopra, and “You Are More Than You Think You Are: Practical Enlightenment for Everyday Life.”
Jon Bier is a serial entrepreneur, strategist, angel investor, and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Jack Taylor, a full-service public relations and communications agency. Jon is a bar-admitted, non-practicing attorney who lives in California and Hawaii with his wife, Kimberly, and their two boys.
Families enjoy a FREE day at the DoSeum during SACM’s School Discovery Day to kick off National School Choice Week. Photo: SACM, used with permission.
To kick off National School Choice Week, San Antonio Charter Moms (SACM) will be hosting its most popular event of the School Discovery Day series at the DoSeum on Saturday, January 20, from 11a.m. – 2p.m. The first 1,000 guests who register online for this free event will have the chance to meet with representatives from 37 of San Antonio’s top schools while also gaining complimentary access to The DoSeum’s 68,000 square feet of galleries. SACM representatives will provide hands-on guidance in navigating the nonprofit’s online school search tools, application materials and extensive, unbiased education resources while team members from MindshiftED provide additional guidance and interpretation for Spanish speakers. The event is free and open to the public. (San Antonio Charter Moms, 2024)
SACM’s School Discovery Day Series is the largest school fair series of its kind and is held annually during the height of San Antonio’s enrollment season for charter and choice schools, currently underway for the 2024-2025 academic year. National School Choice Week, January 21–27, 2024, is a national celebration of opportunities for all families to choose the K–12 educational options that best fit their children.
With more than 175 schools of choice, a booming population of new families, and a major “rightsizing” plan slated to close 15 schools in San Antonio ISD next year, San Antonio’s educational offerings have never been more diverse or important. Time is of the essence for families looking to explore their options. To prepare, SACM’s family-friendly School Discovery Days are an excellent place for families to make the most of their search window. San Antonio Charter Moms is designed to make the often overwhelming process of finding the right school less complicated for families. These events offer the perfect opportunity for parents and caregivers to ask questions, fill out applications, and learn about the enrollment process while enjoying some quality family time in the process.
“School Discovery Days are very valuable because you get to talk with school representatives in a relaxed environment and get a feel for their education philosophy and school community. Instead of just reading about a school or doing a quick tour, you have more time to get to know school staff and parents to further evaluate whether it would be a good fit for your child. For example, when you talk to a school leader, you can hear their passion or lack thereof. You can see if their philosophy is more traditional and formal or modern and relaxed. It’s all about gathering as much information as possible and trying to determine what it would be like to interact with the school’s administration and community on a frequent basis.” – Kat Gomez, local charter school parent and frequent contributor within SACM’s Facebook Discussion Group.
SCHOOL DISCOVERY DAY AT THE DOSEUM (Flagship Event | National School Choice Week)
Saturday, January 20, 2024, 11a.m. – 2p.m.
The DoSeum (Theatre Entrance) 2800 Broadway San Antonio, TX 78209
Guests will enter the theater, just to the left of the DoSeum’s main entrance, where they will be greeted by the beats of the young DJs from The AM Project. Once inside the theater, SACM team members will usher visitors to connect with and explore the participating schools. This year, the event will extend beyond the theatre and into the first and second floor galleries allowing families to come for the information and stay for the fun. Guests who complete the scavenger hunt can enter a raffle for a chance to win a $100 gift card. Families can see the list of participating schools, learn more about the fun activities planned for the day and find free onsite parking information by visiting SACM onlineto learn more.
A snapshot of future events in the School Discovery Day series is listed below.
SCHOOL DISCOVERY DAY AT SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH
Saturday, February 3, 2024, 11a.m. – 2p.m.
Second Baptist Church Community Center 3310 E. Commerce St. San Antonio, TX 78220
School Discovery Day at Second Baptist Church guests can head to the Community Center to dance to the beats of The AM Project, catch Once in a Wild mobile zoo’s animal program, and get creative with face painting. Nearly 25 schools will be available for families to meet during this free event. Click here for online registration.
SCHOOL DISCOVERY DAY AT HEMISFAIR
Saturday, March 2, 2024, 11a.m. – 2p.m.
Central Games Plaza in Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair 434 S. Alamo St. San Antonio, TX 78205
Families visiting School Discovery Day at Hemisfair can meet with more than 30 top schools as they enjoy the fantastic amenities of Yanaguana Garden, including a splash pad, sand play area, table games, swings, climbing structures, picnic area, restaurants, and more. Guests are encouraged to register online. Considered the leading local school search authority on all learning models, SACM provides easy access to extensive, unbiased school resources such as online discussion groups with over 11K members, articles, live videos, enrollment guides, podcasts, a school finder app and perhaps the most anticipated and impactful of all, their in-person School Discovery Day Series held annually during enrollment season.
San Antonio Charter Moms (SACM) began as a blog in 2012 when Founder Inga Cotton was inspired to help San Antonio families more easily learn about high-quality school options. The blog has evolved into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that shares fair information about all types of schools, be they charter, private, or public.
‘Cosmic Kids: Spacewalk to Kindness’ is the new children’s book by Alex L. Walker. Photo: Alex L. Walker, used with permission.
Children’s books are so versatile because they can be educational, entertaining, or both. They can be instrumental in teaching children important life lessons, inspiring creativity, and cultivating social skills. If you are looking for the perfect gift for the child in your life or to add to your child’s library, consider today’s new children’s book release. Written by Alex L. Walker, “Cosmic Kids: Spacewalk to Kindness” is the first in the Cosmic Kids book series and teaches children important values such as kindness, compassion, and empathy. Other books in the series will address Responsibility, Leadership, Respect, and other necessary skills. Pick up your copy today – “Cosmic Kids: Spacewalk to Kindness” is available on Amazon.
With 15 years of experience in children’s learning psychology, Alex L. Walker is a talented author dedicated to nurturing creativity, compassion, confidence, and capability in young individuals. Through his engaging books, he imparts valuable life lessons to children. (Alex L. Walker, 2024)
His debut, “Cosmic Kids: Spacewalks to Kindness,” marks the beginning of a 35-book series. Each book concludes with interactive questions designed to inspire creativity, moral lessons, character insights, and artistic expression. It’s also a valuable resource for parents and teachers to interact with and better understand their children.
Beyond his literary pursuits, Alex finds joy in gardening, beekeeping, and playing table tennis at the local club. Join him on this incredible storybook journey and witness your child grow, learn, and flourish with the timeless wisdom within these pages. (Alex L. Walker, 2024)
“Cosmic Kids: Spacewalk to Kindness”– Cosmic Kids Book 1 Are you ready for an intergalactic adventure through kindness, compassion, and empathy? Meet Astra Lumin, a young navigator excited about her first spacewalk to explore Empathy, the super-sensory satellite. Her mother, Commander Andromeda Lumin, has always told Astra to remember to care for others. So, when Astra meets Hurgul, a young blue-green alien who was really nervous about the upcoming adventure, she decides to follow her mother’s advice. Join Astra and Hurgul on their “Spacewalks of Kindness,” which will help young readers learn more about how empathy and kindness can affect someone’s life and why it is important to encourage inclusivity and cultivate social skills.
Why Kids (And Their Parents) Love “Spacewalks of Kindness” Featuring beautiful illustrations and a heartwarming story, this children’s storybook will help kids understand how to treat others with respect, recognize and manage their feelings, and promote acts of kindness.
Discover The Must-Read Space Educational Kid’s Storybook Series This is the first installment in the “Cosmic Kids” book series. It follows the adventures that the children of space scientists get themselves into and focuses on learning lessons through epic journeys. Other books in the series will cover Curiosity, Responsibility, Leadership, Active Listening, Honesty, Respect, Gratitude, and more.
The Ultimate Gift That Keeps On Giving Whether you are looking for a new educational illustrated storybook for your child or a thoughtful gift idea for your niece, nephew, grandson, or granddaughter, look no further. Surprise any young astronaut today and harness the power of storytelling and eye-catching art to teach valuable lessons.
Put On Your Spacesuit and Get Ready For Blastoff!
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‘Cosmic Kids: Spacewalk to Kindness’ by Alex L. Walker. Photo: Alex L. Walker, used with permission.
‘Ben Signs: A New School Adventure’ teaches children essential sign language words and phrases, allowing them to communicate with deaf peers in school. Photo: ProCare Therapy.
Stephanie Morris, Senior Vice President of ProCare Therapy, has worked in the Education Staffing industry for more than 15 years. She has partnered with school districts and dedicated school professionals across the country, supporting special education, speech therapy, school psychology, and much more. She is a member of the Chairman’s Club of the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing from the University of Georgia, and loves spending time with her husband and two children. (ProCare Therapy, 2023)
Almost 400,000 children have a hearing disability in the US and they outnumber school interpreters by 41 children to 1 interpreter. Studies show children have a critical period of learning between ages 1 and 5 years when they are ready to acquire a new language. This period is riskier for hard of hearing children, because if they don’t communicate regularly, they can develop language deprivation. To prevent language deprivation, more than 20 states across the country have passed laws to monitor deaf children’s language development, but sign language still isn’t taught in schools.
The need for accessible and engaging resources to help children better understand their deaf peers has caused ProCare Therapy, one of the country’s top sources of school-based therapy, to launch a freedigitaland downloadable storybook. This new digital storybook helps children learn to sign in six easy steps.
“We are passionate about providing resources that not only educate but also inspire empathy and understanding in children.” – Stephanie Morris, Senior Vice President of ProCare Therapy
Introducing Ben and Mia, who are making sign language easy and fun for children to learn. Children to learn how to sign essential American Sign Language (ASL) words and phrases, such as “Hello,” “Thank you,” and “My name is.”
‘Ben Signs: A New School Adventure’ will help educate children, parents, and teachers in ASL along with the challenges that deaf children can face, fostering a sense of community and inclusivity in classrooms and beyond.
Children can learn the following signs:
Hello
My name is
Alphabet (to spell your name)
Please
Thank you
Goodbye
‘Ben signs: A New School Adventure’ is designed to be shared and can be downloaded for free.
“We believe this book will help children not only connect with their deaf peers but also educate children, parents and educators on the challenges that deaf children can face, fostering a sense of community and inclusivity in classrooms and beyond.”
Photo: ProCare Therapy, used with permission.
A true partner in education, ProCare Therapy is one of the country’s top sources of school-based therapy. We are solely dedicated to making a difference in the life of each child, every day, with every school session. Whether you’re a school in need of therapists or a clinician looking for a company that values your gifts, ProCare Therapy is your source.
Stephanie Morris, Senior Vice President of ProCare Therapy. Photo: ProCare Therapy, used with permission.
Whether you are a parent, a teacher, or just someone else who cares about children in some way, you might well be keen to know exactly what it is that children need in order to have the best start possible in their lives. As it happens, there are a few things in particular that you might want to be aware of which can be particularly useful to children early on. In this post, we’ll look at four examples of things that kids generally need in order to have a strong start in life.
Encouragement First of all, most people need plenty of encouragement, and especially when they are young. If you are able to provide this to your kids, then it’s going to make a world of difference to how much they feel they are capable of and what they are generally able to achieve, which in itself will affect their life considerably from here on out. So make sure that you are encouraging them in all they do, and especially where you notice any particular skills or interests that seem to be developing. That could make a world of difference to their lives.
Communication Having the ability to communicate well is something that can set a person up very well in life, and it’s certainly the kind of thing you should be aiming to encourage in your kids as best as you can. There are many ways to do this. First, if there is anything specifically getting in their way of easy communication, then you might want to find them some help with that, perhaps through something like the Scottish Rite Foundation or similar. Then it’s about making sure that you are personally communicating well, so that they do the same in return. It’s amazing how much this can help.
Friendship Nobody can do very well without people around them, and so this is something that you definitely need to make sure you are thinking about too. If you want your kids to be as happy as possible, it’s always going to be important for them that they have friends, but some kids find it naturally easier than others to make friends. If you happen to have children who are finding it somewhat difficult to do this, then you can help them along, and helping them is going to give them a much brighter start on the whole.
Education Overall, a good, strong education is obviously one of the most important things of all. You can encourage and ensure this in a few ways, including finding them a good school, making sure that you give them the necessary motivation to actually learn well, and making sure that you help them with any areas of education that they tend to find difficult. If you can do those simple things, it’s going to mean that they have a much stronger, happier and well-rounded start in life, and the ongoing effects of this can be really quite profound.
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