Being the Mom of a child who lives with a trach as well as an extra chromosome, I find that communication with Parker can be like walking over fire barefoot a tad bit frustrating.
Because being non-verbal isn’t about not being smart. Parker understands each and ever word I say to him. He’s a bright kid.
It’s trying to decipher his feelings that can get a bit dicey.
Parker signs. He points. He makes his way over to what he is desiring at the moment.
But when upset, scared, angry or mad he reverts to either:
biting
or scratching/pulling at and behind his ears.
And so when a great idea on how to address these issues pops up on our radar, I take notice.
Enter Feeleez:
Feeleez are designed to teach children
about feelings and in turn raise their
emotional intelligence and awareness.Children who develop an understanding of their
own feelings and the feelings of others are much more
likely to experience successful and fulfilling lives.Furthermore, cultivating emotional intelligence is a
vital part of creating a humane, peaceful
and sustainable world.
I think what I love the most about Feeleez is that you can start at what ever level your child is at with his emotional intelligence.
Parker is starting out on a very basic level. But as his skills grow, the activities the Feeleez feelings game will grow with him.
The Feeleez feeling game even comes with a list of suggestions to help you get the most from the Feeleez experience.
Which, in my humble opinion, is all kinds of impressive.
Feeleez also offers a set of 25 wearable buttons, each representing a specific emotion. Talk about wearing your emotions on your sleeve…..or pant leg…..or purse…….or vest……..or, well, you get my drift.
The Feeleez line includes a colorful, and enticing poster with all 25 Feeleez kids represented. It’s not only a work of art, it’s a learning tool too.
Just watch:
It’s been suggested that I show my Feeleez game and poster to my ST as well to the ST and special needs teachers at my husband’s school. (He’s an elementary school Principal.)
And I will.
But while they can look, and touch, I won’t be sharing. Nope. These Feeleez products will be added to my arsenal of tools to facilitate Parker’s communication skills.
Would YOU like to win your own Feeleez feeling game?
Here’s what you need to do:
Go to the Why Feeleez page. Do some research. Come back here, and in the comments below tell me one fact you learned from the information offered.
Easy no?
And if you would like to earn extra entries, why that is easy too:
1. Subscribe to our feed
2. Write a post and link back to this contest on your blog
3. Spread the word to your friends via facebook, twitter, etc.
Simply leave your additional comments for each of the extra qualifying steps.
This giveaway will be open from Saturday, January 24, through Friday, January 30th.
And don’t forget the legal stuff:
Please be sure to read our Terms and Conditions.
You can also find Tammy and Parker hanging out at their other blog, Praying for Parker and on Twitter where they are known as ParkerMama
This is a wonderful product. My daughter isn’t ‘nonverbal’ but is ‘limited verbal’
We would benefit greatly from something like this. Right now I currently use a feelings magnet (they have them at Target in the greeting card section but mine is an old one that was a freebie from fedex! lol!) with my older children so we all have an idea of how everyone is feeling. But this would be great for Hope, the 2 yr old in the family.
One thing I learned from the site is something I actually knew….”If a child identifies what they are feeling and describes it, they are likely to get their needs met.” It’s far better than hitting, screaming, crying, temper tantrums.
I’m a subscriber!
I learned that “High EQ is now considered to be equally if not more important than intellectual ability (IQ) in predicting success in jobs and relationships, and overall satisfaction with life”.
I’m hoping to be a child therapist and this tool could really come in handy to my practice. Thanks for the chance to win…I’m bookmarking this product
I blogged about the giveaway here!
http://www.quixoticallychaotic.com/2009/01/wonderful-product-for-non-or-limited.html
I also added a link on my facebook
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=724220022
Like the “green” aspect to the products. good for them. would like to win this.
For young children, those not able to verbalize feelings, and those at any moment choosing not to articulate with words, identification of a feeling can happen by merely pointing a finger at a Feeleez image or holding a Feeleez card…..it encapsulates everything in one sentence.
I thought of my nephew who is two and not talking when I read that.
Love that they are green products
My son is 7 and nonverbal with autism. The only emotion he can identify is “baby sad, crying” and he only refers to his little sister! This would be a great tool to help teach self-referall of emotions and labelling of emotions. Thanks!
[...] Feeleez Feeling Game [...]
These look great! I read about how just the fact that you can identify the feeling the child is choosing is enough sometimes to diffuse the situation. I imagine that is SO true. Just knowing my daughter is mad or tired or sad would be enough to make her feel better, I’m sure!
they’re ecofriendly and arent labeled with any particular emotion
I would love to win.
I am already a subscriber
From the website i learned that it helps children express their feelings and to understand them.
i book marked it..cause if i don’t win..i’m buying some
Yay! I made it back to check out the site now that they’re back up.
I found it quite interesting that the EQ is now considered just as important as the IQ at ‘predicting success in jobs and relationships, and overall satisfaction with life.’
(And I already mentioned in my first comment I’m a subscriber. Just a reminder.)
my childhood would have been much different if my parents had had these. i think they’re incredible. from the website i learned that When children use Feeleez, at the most basic level, they spend time considering what feelings are, learn new feeling vocabulary, notice their own feelings more, and are able to express their feelings.
i subscribe.
tweeted about this — http://twitter.com/aplotaxisamomum/status/1154703786
I learned that children who cannot (due to age or physical limitations) express their emotions verbally can use this set to express how they’re feeling and be understood. The ability to communicate is very powerful and I love products that help people overcome limitations at whatever stage they’re at.
I really love this set!
Thanks!
Jenny
It’s nice to be reminded that empathy makes you a better parent/person. Being in touch with your/your child’s feelings helps build empathy. This is a great product!
I love it how there is a product geared towards helping children relate their feelings without words. I am a special education teacher and a lot of the emotional stuff I deal with involves pictures, acting and other non-verbal activities. These would be great for my classroom.
expressing feelings eliminates the need for meltdowns
I love that it brings the various feelings down to child’s perspective and makes it easy for them to identify!
Empathy is the basis for all peaceful interactions. Empathy is the foundation for compassion, which is essential for a well functioning community, whether that is the community of your own home or society at large.
For young children, those not able to verbalize feelings, and those at any moment choosing not to articulate with words, identification of a feeling can happen by merely pointing a finger at a Feeleez image or holding a Feeleez card. This is empowering.
I think that for my twins, this would be so helpful because one of my sons has autism and they both need to be able to interact with one another appropriately.
I am a subscriber.
I learned that Feeleez are designed by three parents who value meaningful play and care about the quality of materials available to children.
Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
I’ve learned of this stuff from our homeschool group, great stuff we use other stuff not as good as this, but it helps with my kids and thier learning disabilities, they got it all from me, not their father~
I like that it would help the children to express their feelings (not an easy thing for most) and that they are made from recycled materials and soy based inks.
amelia2007b(at)yahoo(dot)com
I learned that…To be understood by the people that are most important to them has an intensely calming effect.
I am a subscriber.
Too cool!
I have your button!
i like that the company recognizes that kids need to identify their own feelings in order to recognize them in others, which is important. i could really use this for my little guy who is delayed a bit in speech, which makes fits and frustration commonplace
This is the part that jumped out at me. For young children, those not able to verbalize feelings, and those at any moment choosing not to articulate with words, identification of a feeling can happen by merely pointing a finger at a Feeleez image or holding a Feeleez card. The reason I like this is because I am raising my 2 year old niece who was born two months premature. She has alot that goes on in her head I can tell, and I know she has the capabilities to talk but she saves her words up, she doesn’t talk much at all, but she does like to point and wants you to talk for her. I think this would help us alot.
luckofdraw777(at)gmail(dot)com
this would be awsome for school
I found out why they don’t label their pictures with a feeling. It’s so people don’t just memorize the correct answer but really explore the feeling instead.
This is a great product.
I like the idea as soon as a child finds a way to share what they are feeling they are getting empowered. I work at a sheltered workshop for MRDD adults and this would be great for some of them.
we have a little on in the family at this time that has lots of trouble communicating because he can not talk yet. I only wish that my son could of had these many years ago. My son could not be understood til he was around 7 years old and the early years were so frustrating. With these cards he could of so been understood and been able to relate his feelings.
shopannies@Yahoo.com
I blogged about the giveaway http://shopannies.blogspot.com/2009/01/giveaway-help-with-communicating.html
shopannies@yahoo.com
I learned that this game raises a child feelings and emotions responce. This is awesome. Thanks
I love it! I am looking for something like this to work with my daughter. She doesn’t understand feelings and this game would help her to understand her own feelings and then she can understand empathy.
Oh these look and sound great and what my 6 year old special needs daughter would really benifit from. She has developmental delays, sensory intergration disorder, and seizures. She signs and talks some but this would be absolutly great. I think it would help my 4 yr old typical son too, he has a hard time knowing how to express his feelings. I have stage IV liver cancer and both kids have had to deal with a lot and I think this would be great for them. This way my husband and I could really know what the kids are going through and help them. And unlike some teaching tools it sounds like at any age someone could benifit from it.
Thanks for thinking of us all and giving us some more tips!
DC
I tweeted! Gotta say I was wondering if the contest is still open since Feb 1st isn’t a Friday.
I learned, after learning so much from your other commenters, that the 3 parents that invented Feeleez are in Missoula, MT. There’s a reason to buy for me! Woot Montana!!!
[...] Feeleez Feeling Game [...]