Great for Kids with Special Needs...and Parents with Pain
348001
I bought these after reading the reviews on several different yoga products as well as the book that goes with this.  I haven't seen the book but chose the cards because of other reviewers preferring the cards over the books.

My son is 4 and has Tourette's Syndrome, OCD, ADHD, and anxiety.  His neurologist's standardized handout suggested yoga so I decided to give it a shot, and it's been the single most helpful thing we've tried so far besides what we learned from Freeing Your Child From OCD.  He loves picking out 10 cards every night and I arrange them in some sort of logical order (usually progressing from standing to sitting...I have no yoga experience so this is just something I'm figuring out as we use them).  We just do them on the living room rug (since we don't own yoga mats) and wearing our normal clothes.  I think the kid orientation is really freeing for my husband and I to not worry about wearing the right clothes or going to the right place to do yoga...we just do it.  For my son, it is very calming and focusing.  I will not say he miraculously becomes a sedentary angel, but he does have an easier time sleeping or sitting at the table for supper.

My husband and I have also benefited from the yoga.  He had a horseback riding accident and I had an artery dissection in my neck so both of us live with some chronic pain.  We have never let it slow us down and I don't think the kids even know because we're still really active and don't talk about it.  But the yoga has definitely improved our symptoms as well.  We're less stiff, more limber, and bounce back faster after activities that may flair our symptoms.  So I'd definitely recommend this as a family activity!

My 18 month old daughter likes to do this with us, too.  She doesn't stay through the whole session but she observes, comes and goes, tries out a pose we're doing, and moves on.

I like that the box opens from the top so it's easy to get the cards in and out.  The cards are very sturdy and have held up well to my rambunctious kids.  I like the illustrations...pleasant and well done.
4280797
This is an excellent book to help parents of sensory-special kids understand sensory disorders and the different subtypes.  It has a lot of basic information that many parents will already be aware of but it also has a ton of new insight that really broadened my understanding of my daughter's special needs.  After reading the book I feel like I have more empathy and understanding of why my daughter reacts to different things the way she does.  If you buy this book you should definitely buy the companion book "The Out of Sync Child Has Fun" because it actually gives ideas for HOW to help the sensory-special child whereas "The Out of Sync Child" is more about just understanding their needs.  Together, both make great reading for every parent whose child has special sensory needs.
4243942
I have a grown son with learning disabilities and multiple mental health diagnoses.  So some of the thoughts and feelings expressed by the author about what it feels like to be "different", and how that sometimes looks to the "normal" people broke my heart just a little bit.  At the same time, you love him, and realize the gifts in what others may never take the time to see while so busy trying to make them fit the mold.
297407
Our 8 year old special needs daughter has sensory issues and, in order to contend with her chronic pain, she tends to squirm and move a lot.  Her OT uses an exercise ball and a balance cushion and suggested we get balance cushions for home and for school, so that her squirming is also productive and helpful for her.  The OT explained that using this balance cushion helps with core strength, which is something our daughter desperately needs.  It is a simple and gentle way for her body to get stronger just with normal body movements and balance.  This incorporates the same benefits that she gets from using an exercise ball, but it is portable, easy to use without creating a distraction and can be used on her own at home and school.  The bumpy surface gives her the extra sensory stimulation that her body always seems to seek, too.

The cushion arrived partially inflated and they include a sports needle for further inflation.  Our OT had told us that the inflation level is actually sort of a science, depending on what your child's needs are.  For our special needs daughter, we keep it a little under inflated, as she needs a very gentle workout and mild movement.  Our 4 yr old ball of energy child benefits from it being quite inflated and she wiggles and squirms on it, enjoying every second.  She is allowed to use the balance cushion while she is getting her screen time, as she would be leaping off the chair otherwise.  She is not a fan of the bumps, but loves the bouncy feel and the balance aspect.

It is extremely easy to add or remove air from the cushion.  It is a cinch to clean (our 8 yr old sweetly tested it for us with some chocolate almond milk..ha ha).  I rinsed it and just dried it with a towel and it was a cinch!
1878151
If more parents of autistic kids new about this, this product would be sold out most of the time. This is amazing for a kid with autism, and every other kind of personality. It's basically like having a swingset in your house. My 18 year old uses this, as well as my 13 year old with autism and my 11 year old daughter. It's a LOT of fun, and I can't believe the price. How have I not heard of this before??? Thankfully, I let everyone know in all of my facebook and babycenter autism groups. We even bought a baby swing attachment. So easy to put up, take down, and put up again. Can't believe this isn't in everyone's home. It's much better than going to the park in the winter time. No complaints about this at all.
4217065
If parents only get 1 book about IDEA and SPED laws,it SHOULD be this one. It covers IEP's(for mild,moderate and severe needs kids),504's(for things that can effect education but that are not nessasarily a "learning disability",say like type 1 diabetes,when they are sick or have high or low BG,it can effect learning and mood)  updates to IDEA,how to handle complaints,sample letters. I really could go on and on. I tell EVERYONE I meet that has a child with special needs they NEED this book!!
4584246
As a mother of a special needs child, who struggles recognizing his own body's ques, this book has been great! The actives and questions have helped him learn and brought about great conversations for his personal growth. I have a 6 and an 8 year old and they both enjoy it. Highly recommend it!
1430521
I am a sped teacher. I teach k-4 life skills. My kiddos all have special needs and academically function on an extremely low level. One of the hardest tasks in my classroom is finding activities the students can do independently. My kiddos love getting on the computer, but most educational websites that are at their level cost $$$$. I bought this software to try in the classroom. My children love it. They are learning, working on basic skills, independently working, and enjoying themselves. I recommend this for early learners and for children with special needs.
2665211
Great tool for kids with Autism or sensory issues.
3958377
I have a child with CEREBRAL PALSY.......SHE IS 21 and I wish that someone would of written about this a long time ago. It teaches children about CP and shows that these special gifts from God have amazing strength and big hearts. I could never endure what my child has gone through and it's nice that other parents can learn and teach their children that we are all SPECIAL in some way!
1783253
The Rhythm Tree DVD offers therapy disguised as fun! I thought music therapy would be a good  fit for my 3-year-old son with high-functioning autism since he loves music.  With some research, I stumbled upon The Rhythm Tree website and watched some of Ryans videos.  I was intrigued, but worried that my son may not benefit since, not only is every kid different, but I am also not Ryan Judd with all of his experience and musical talent.  I decided since there was a 30 day money back guarantee, I had nothing to lose.  Well, the DVD has exceeded my expectations.  The songs are engaging and catchy.  I often find myself singing parts of them throughout the day, which is great since Ryan encourages parents, teachers, and therapists to change the lyrics to fit different situations.  The best part about these songs and the DVD is that they have a lot of therapy embedded in them.  The included guidebook shows you which therapeutic goals each song covers and suggests strategies to get the most out of each song.  Without the guidebook, I probably wouldnt have realized each songs therapeutic potential. This program offers a convenient and fun way to engage my high-functioning autistic son as well as my 2-year-old son.  Both boys ask for Mr. Ryan and love playing the instruments and participating in the activities demonstrated by Ryan and five adorable children.  My husband and I can truly say that its fun for our whole family in addition to being educational and helping our sons meet developmental goals.
3790398
I am so excited about this book! I have fibromyalgia and a 6 year old daughter and this was the first time I have ever seen our unique family dynamics reflected in a children's book. Fibromyalgia is something we are pretty open about in our house. But even so, it's often difficult to explain in concrete terms to a young child -- especially as the illness is always changing. This book is a great resource for kids and families struggling to explain the realities of chronic illness. It prompted a great conversation with my daughter and provided us an easy way to talk about my energy and fatigue level.
1747990
What I love about this book
 Short, easy to read chapters
 Structure of each chapter: Anecdotal story, Biblical story, Correlation, Verses that Relate, Prayer, and Questions for Application
 Diane has a gift for helping us laugh, even while discussing tough subjects or experiences
 RELATABLE. Offers insight into special needs parenting for those living it out and for those who want to understand them

My favorite quotes:
  Our son was cognitively disabled; I was spiritually crippled. Both of us needed urgent and intensive intervention. But therapist only came for him.
  But had my child been like everyone else, I wouldn't have discovered how passionately I could love, how bitterly I could weep, how desperately I could pray, or how fiercely I can fight.

This is an excellent book. Highly recommend!
715232
I was looking for something for my son who is 2 years and has autism, his OT has one and I tought was a good idea get one... So he love it! And my 5 years old girl too...
This work for kids with " special needs" or just  a "normal kid"

Good quality ,big ! I am really happy with this product
3841027
Paul Madaule has written a book that parents will love. It tells about his own experiences both as an LD kid, and a  teacher of Tomatis listening. The work applies to kids with learning disabilities, and all kids on the spectrum.  There are now more autistic each year (one in every 154 births as of 2007). For a description of Tomatis work as it applies to adults there are other volumes.

 I think the present work is the best in English for parents with kids in difficulty with learning, self-regulation, attention and all the rest of the issues associatied with auditory processing problems.

Roberta Prada<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Ear-and-the-Voice/dp/0810851377/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Ear and the Voice</a>
1349296
My son (with autism) LOVES these! He seeks out soft chewy surfaces so I've been returning lots of chewy necklaces or bracelets b/c they're too tough.  I bought a set of chewy bracelets that included one of these horse chewies as a free sample, and he loved them more than the bracelets!  Now, I'm back for more horses.  The first chew horse ended up losing its head b/c it developed a rip right under the neck.  Since they're silicone, I just cut it off so that it wouldn't become a choking hazard and he continued chewing on the base.  We don't use these on pencils, just freestanding.  He does like the little pencil slot though, so there's extra give on that end when he chews it.
The best part of these?  The PRICE!  Getting so many in bulk and at a reasonable price (usually the price I'd pay for just ONE chew necklace) does so much for the pocketbook of this autism mom.  Adaptive equipment and supplies for children with special needs end up being an added burden for their families who often are already struggling over the cost of co-pays, insurance premiums, non-covered treatments, etc.  So it's so nice that this company offer these chewy pencil toppers at such an affordable rate.  THANK YOU!

If you have questions or found this review helpful, please let me know.
3158500
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer this year, one of my girlfriends bought this book for my daughter.  I recommend it highly.  Side effects of chemo (and their accompanying steroids) have made me, like Tickles' Tabitha's mom, cranky and tired and shorter on patience than I would like to be, and this book takes those problems and presents them as temporary setbacks; the book reminds children that things will not always be grouchy, and that a mommy with cancer still loves her child even when she's not up to the usual fun and games.  This book has been useful to our family, our daughter enjoys it... and it's helped us to normalize a situation that is anything but normal.