February: Heart Health Month & Kids

February is heart month.  It’s Valentine’s Day, reminding us that our hearts beat with love for our families, pets, and friends.  In addition, February is also a reminder that our hearts need to be exercised and strengthened every day – and we need to start when we are children.  Children are natural movers and shakers!  However, there are so many distractions that can pull kids away from running and playing.  Instead they turn to sitting and staring at a screen, moving only their eyes and fingers.  Unfortunately, obesity and the beginnings of diabetes can creep into a child’s health if exercise is not encouraged. 

We all know that exercise has many benefits; i.e., lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels, reduce anxiety and stress, increase respiration and heart rate.  The heart beats faster and harder with aerobic activity.

How can the addition of music to an exercise program act like a super vitamin boost? 

• Music is motivating (dopamine is a brain chemical that helps people to feel engaged).
• Music increases enjoyment.
• Music energizes - and energy breeds energy!
• Music delays fatigue.  It increases energy, which encourages exercising longer and harder.

The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends cardio exercise for toddlers at 60 minutes a day and for preschoolers at 120 minutes a day.  Here are some musical ideas for adding motivating fun to children’s exercise programs:

Toddler Gym CD – dancing, playing, listening, following directions, learning new skills, move with better coordination.

All-Time Favorite Dances CD – dancing is a joyful and fun way to get aerobic exercise.  These easy-to-learn dances will also encourage good social skills, improve memorization, rhythm, and motor skills.

Wiggle Jiggle Fitness Fun CD – critical developmental movement patterns set to upbeat music will prepare children for more advanced exercise.

Ribbons & Rhythms CD– rhythmic routines with ribbons, scarves and streamers incorporate cardio movements set to very exciting, motivating music.

Rockin’ Aerobics CD – jump-start their hearts and their brains with heart-healthy fitness activities – guaranteed to get kids moving!

Multicultural Movement Fun CD – aerobic dances and movement songs use parachutes, bean bags and rhythm sticks, to add to the fun. Children will not only benefit from the exercise, but also learn about other lands and cultures.  A heart-warming addition to any fitness program!

You’ll find hundreds of Kimbo CDs, and even an entertaining selection of dance fitness DVDs, to get your kids jumping and moving.  Give your children the gift of heart-healthy movement fun.  What a great way to show some love and caring this Valentine’s Day!

 

GO GREEN! Caring About Our Earth. Songs about playing outdoors, recycling, planting a garden, stopping pollution, and more inspire children to connect to the Earth and encourage them to be responsible for the Earth. Action fun and singable songs motivate children to be involved and to be aware of the outside world. The resource guide, by Dr. Pam Schiller, includes creative activities and 2 literature links per song, that reinforce the important purpose of this kid-friendly, Earth-friendly, CD. The Wind; I'm Going To Plant a Garden; Cultivate, Germinate, Irrigate, Relocate; It's Everyone's World; My Kite; My Chance To Dance; My Brother, The Whale and more. 

Need activity ideas for Earth Day? April 22nd is right around the corner! Our "Go Green" CD just might be the perfect solution! Inspire children to connect with the Earth and encourage them to take responsibility for our beautiful planet. Action, fun and singable songs motivate children to be involved and to be aware of the outside world. The resource guide, by Dr. Pam Schiller, includes creative activities and 2 literature links per song, that reinforce the important purpose of this kid-friendly, Earth-friendly, CD.

Visit kimboed.com to listen to free music samples!

"The Numeral March" - Activity Tip

Hint: When placing the numerals on the floor, place them is sets of two, leaving plenty of space between each set. Tell children that when they locate a matching numeral they "freeze" in their position until you say "exchange." When they hear the word "exchange" they hand their numeral to the friend who is standing beside them.

http://kimboed.com/movingtomath.aspx

By Dr. Pam Schiller
Developing Math Literacy. Clap, snap, tap, and rap! Crucial math concepts have been combined with lively music and activities. Skill-sequenced songs are “stepping stones” to learning, building one necessary skill upon the other. Kids will gain important basic knowledge and a solid foundation for math readiness, which will promote confidence and reduce anxiety.

Wishing all celebrating a very Merry Christmas!

Music is the perfect gift, send a Kimbo gift card for holiday fun.


http://kimboed.com/giftcards.aspx

Visit Kimbo's download site to purchase last minute Christmas Songs.

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Happy Hanukkah to everyone celebrating this week!

Kimbo offers several CDs filled with Hanukkah songs and activities. Kids will love to play and sing along to The Latkes Are Frying in the Pan, Chanukah, O Chanukah, The Dreidel Song and more!

	Hanukkah & Chinese New Year Item Price: $10.95
	Songs and and a variety of activities are packed into this CD for special holidays. The Latkes Are Frying in the Pan, The Dreidel Song, Hava Naglia, and more! KIM12CD

	SING 'N SIGN HOLIDAYTIME WITH GAIA Item Price: $15.95
	Light up the holidays in a celebration of Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah. Traditional and original songs are joyfully sung by Gaia and kids, and as a special treat, a Kwanzaa song features authentic drumming and chanting. KIM9163CD

	HOLIDAY MAGIC Item Price: $15.95
	Parents Choice Award Winner! More of Hap Palmer's original & traditional holiday songs. Baby's Carol, The Angel Band, Merry Christmas Santa, Rudolph, Feliz Navidad, Chanukah, O Chanukah, Merry Hula and more. EA649CD

Hanukkah Sameach

From Christmas to Hanukkah to Kwanzaa and more Kimbo Educational has a variety of choices to fit your holiday musical needs. Children will love to sing and play along to any of these great holiday CDs. Visit kimboed.com  to listen to music samples.

SINGING CALENDAR Item Price: $15.95 The year is filled with adventure, changes in weather, holidays and warm memories. Add to the fun of learning about the seasons, weather, holidays and special times. A great resource for every classroom and library. KIM9188CD

SING 'N SIGN HOLIDAYTIME WITH GAIA Item Price: $15.95 Light up the holidays in a celebration of Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah. Traditional and original songs are joyfully sung by Gaia and kids, and as a special treat, a Kwanzaa song features authentic drumming and chanting. KIM9163CD

SING 'N SIGN HOLIDAY TIME WITH GAIA Item Price: $29.95 Gaia's DVD combines an entertainment and a training component to make this a great gift to yourself or any one who is interested in signing. KHS9163DVD

Hanukkah & Chinese New Year Item Price: $10.95 Songs and and a variety of activities are packed into this CD for special holidays. KIM12CD

Holiday Songs for All Occasions Item Price: $15.95 Holidays are more fun with these original tunes. Dances, games and activities included with songs for Christmas, Hanukkah, Columbus Day, Flag Day, Easter, Halloween, Martin Luther King and St. Patricks Day, plus Happy Birthday. KIM0805CD

HOLIDAY PIGGYBACK SONGS Item Price: $15.95 The beloved Piggyback bear teaches kids new holiday lyrics set to familiar songs. Guide with lyrics. Ages 3-8. KIM9151CD

SANTA'S SACK OF CHRISTMAS SONGS Item Price: $15.95 Here's a merry "sackful" of Holiday favorites you and your kids will love to sing and share. This shiny package of Santa's favorites is sure to become a cherished yearly tradition everyone will look forward to. KIM9105CD

Looking for the perfect CD for Halloween? "Halloween Fun" will delight your children, and you will appreciate the high quality. Includes songs, poems and not-so-scary sounds. Songs encourage safety too! Guide with lyrics included.

$15.95 CD: http://kimboed.com/halloweenfun.aspx
$15.00 Download: http://www.kimboeddownloads.com/halloween-fun/

Happy Earth Day

The 40^th anniversary of Earth Day in the United States is always celebrated on April 22nd.  Did you know that some people celebrate Earth Day on the first day of spring?  Earth Day, whatever day you celebrate it, is an important day when we make a special effort to be aware that we must take care of our Earth and our wildlife.  Of course, we can and must appreciate and protect our world every day!  How will you do that?  Will you recycle and pick up litter? Will you plant a garden?  Play outside, take a walk, be mindful of and enjoy nature?

 More facts:  Earth Day inspired the passage of The Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act.  Earth Day was adopted by the United Nations in 2009, and is now celebrated around the world in 190 countries!

GO GREEN! is a best-selling CD from Kimbo featuring songs that are fun and will inspire children to connect to the Earth and be responsible for the Earth.  Filled with action kids will love and wonderful singable songs, the CD will motivate children to be involved and aware.  The comprehensive resource guide, by Dr. Pam Schiller, includes creative activities and literature links that reinforce the important purpose of this kid-friendly CD.

You can also enjoy Save the Animals and Save the Earth, What’s In the Sea?, and Songs About Insects, Bugs & Squiggly Things.  Music makes learning more memorable and facts more fun!

 

 

Spring has Sprung

 

Spring is a season of re-growth, of baby animals, flowers in bloom and green grass, butterflies and bees, fresh fruits and vegetables at nearby farm stands and, sunshine and rain.  Longer days, warmer temperatures and blue skies encourage us to play outdoors, plant flowers and tend our gardens, exercise more, visit parks, have picnics, fly kites, and walk our dogs. 

In spring, the axis of the Earth tilts closer to the sun.  Each season of the year lasts for 3 months, the spring season usually occurs in in the Northern Hemisphere in March, April and May. There are special holidays in the spring, such as St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Passover, and Cinco de Mayo (the 5^th of May).

Kimbo CDs celebrate spring and springtime holidays with songs found on Holiday Songs for All Occasions, Holiday Piggyback Songs, and Go Green!

 

 

I Had a Dream

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., had a dream.  He dreamed of freedom, justice and equality for all.  He dreamed of brotherhood.  Dr. King became famous because he worked tirelessly and sacrificed for what he believed.  His words became famous too, and we remember them today.  He received the highly esteemed Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

We commemorate Martin Luther King Day on January 21, 2013 this year.  It is a National holiday to recognize the service of this great man and honor his life.  He was born on January 15, 1929.

Martin Luther King, Jr., was an advocate of a non-violent approach to making the changes he dreamed of.  Perhaps this would be a good day to think about promoting peaceful approaches to working and playing with others and eradicating bullying.  There are all types of bullying.  Define bullying and discuss what you can do to help eliminate it.  You may find you are a witness to bullying; you may experience bullying, or even be part of bullying others.  Talk about how you can help stop bullying.  What can you do, and who can help you?

To honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., Americans in all 50 states will celebrate a National Day of Service on January 19.  How will you volunteer your time?

How will you remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his heartfelt, powerful vision of peace and justice?  How will you help build bridges of kindness and of understanding?
 

Musical tie-ins...

 

HOLIDAY SONGS FOR ALL OCCASIONS CD

Celebrate with Track 5: I Had A Dream

 

HOLIDAY PIGGYBACK SONGS CD

Celebrate and learn with Track 16: Martin Luther King and Track 17: Martin Luther King Had a Dream

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT CD

Songs address important, timely issues such as respect, responsibility, caring, cooperation, conflict resolution and anti-bullying.

Kimbo Cares About Kids

During this Holiday season, the Kimble Family and their Staff want to reinforce their wish for the continued well-being of all children and their families.

May your Holidays and traditions be meaningful and filled with the true gifts of the season. 

Our wish for 2013 is for a year of peace, love, hope, and healing.

www.kimboed.com              Kimbo…The Children’s Music Company

Happy Hanukkah

Wishing everyone that is celebrating Hanukkah this weekend a wonderful start to the festivities. To get things started, here is a free download of The Dreidel Song, from our HANUKKAH & CHINESE NEW YEAR CD...

Growing Up Naturally In Home Child Care: Review ... Go Green CD

Review of Kimbo's Go Green CD...

Growing Up Naturally In Home Child Care: Review and Giveaway for Kimbo Educational CDs (Ends 10/21/12 US Only)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Imagine, the first Thanksgiving celebration in the colonies lasted 3 days!  Today in America we celebrate Thanksgiving on the 4^th Thursday in November. 

Thanksgiving has a long history.  President George Washington made a day of thanks.  President Abraham Lincoln issued a Federal proclamation in 1863 making Thanksgiving an annual Holiday, and Federal Legislation was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1941, marking the last Thursday of November, and later the 4^th Thursday of November, as a fixed date for the National Holiday.

Long ago in 1621, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe prompted by a good harvest, shared a meal of roasted meat, cranberries, corn and shellfish.  They played games and sang songs.  Today we still gather to share a feast of food with our family and friends.  The games are different though – today many people turn on their TV and watch football!  The early settlers gave thanks for their bountiful harvest, and they gave thanks for the rain after a long 2-month drought.  They gave thanks for their gifts, as we do today.

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite Holidays.  I have always savored the thought of the traditional foods and the abundance on our tables and in our lives.  I love celebrating with loved ones and going around the table sharing our gratitude for all we have and for each other; it fills my heart with goodness and warmth.  Not everyone has enough though, and each year I am reminded how fortunate I am to be able to share our bounty with those in need.

When you think of Thanksgiving do you see pumpkins, or Pilgrims, or a cornucopia filled with fruits, flowers, and vegetables, or fruit pies, or an annual Thanksgiving Day parade?  What are you grateful for?

Best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone from the Kimble Family and their employees.

Hero

Veterans Day is a Federal Holiday observed in the United States on November 11 th every year.

We celebrate the dedication and loyalty of our Armed Service Veterans; they protect our freedom. These men and women are our heroes.

Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day because that day commemorated the end of World War One. It occurred on the 11 th hour of the 11 th day of the 11 th month. WWI was thought to be the end of all wars when the Armistice was declared, but unfortunately more wars were to follow. So the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor our service people, both living and dead.

Thank you to all our Veterans. We appreciate your sacrifice more than you will ever know.

How will you celebrate Veterans Day? I went to a parade in my City, and waved a little American flag. It was very moving, and I was so proud of everyone who marched and rode in the floats. A High School marching band carried a really huge American flag stretched out between many young people. They waved it back and forth to the patriotic music of our armed forces. It was beautiful.

Later in our Veterans Park, I saw a painting of a young man handing a folded flag to an older person who was receiving it in memory of her fallen son, and I saw a photograph of the word, HERO, with the scars of a Viet Nam Veteran superimposed inside the letters. My husband bears the scars that were used in the photograph.

Encourage your children to make a flag, write a thank you note, read a story, send a care package, and show gratitude to those who serve our country.

Power is back on and we are open...

Kimbo's electricity has been restored! We are open and processing orders. Thank you for your patience during this difficult time. 

Our continued thoughts, prayers and hope go out to everyone affected by hurricane Sandy.

Sincerely,

Kimble Family and Staff

Dear Friends,

The devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy was unprecedented. Our local area of Central New Jersey was hit harder than I can recall. Many of our friends are dealing with the loss of their homes & businesses. Fortunately, Kimbo's headquarters were spared by this terrible storm. With that said, we continue to deal with electrical outages and are hoping to be up-and-running sometime this week. 

On behalf of Kimbo, our warmest thoughts, prayers and hope go out to everyone affected by this tragedy. There is a long road to recovery, but I am confident in our ability to rebuild and get back on track. Thank you all for your patience as we will announce when we are fully operational. 

Kind Regards, 

Jim Kimble 
President

SPRING AHEAD, FALL BEHIND

 

This weekend Daylight Saving Time is being observed on November 4 at 2:00 a.m.  Not every state or territory observes this tradition first mentioned by Ben Franklin and first implemented during the first World War. 

 

Although not required by Federal Law, if a state or territory does observe Daylight Saving Time, the date has to be uniform.

 

The original idea was to save daylight hours.  While there is some controversy about the effectiveness, most states do participate.

 

I always loved "falling behind" and gaining an hour. It felt like a gift.  I find "springing ahead" in March, and losing an hour, more difficult to adjust to.  What I do appreciate most all the time, however, is the reminder to change your smoke detector batteries on these dates. 

 

Here is a list of the dates that Daylight Saving Time will be observed over the next few years:

 

2013:  March 10 - November 3

2014:  March 9  - November 2

2015:  March 8 -  November 1 

 

So, change your smoke detector batteries - it's the safe thing to do.  Run backwards or do a backward somersault or do a handspring forward. Teach a child about time - time to learn, play, exercise, eat right, sleep. 

 

If you are in Arizona or Hawaii, Puerto Rico and some territories, you won't be changing your clock.  If your state follows Daylight Savings Time though, don't forget, as I have, and go somewhere too early!

 

Kimbo's Telling Time Tunes is a great resource to help children learn about time with clever, fun songs such as "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow", "Minute Hand and Hour Hand", "60 Seconds/60 Minutes", "5-10-15-20".  You can listen to short music clips of these songs and more on www.kimboed.com. 

Happy Halloween from Kimbo

Boo!  Halloween is coming, along with dressing up in costumes, reading scary stories, picking pumpkins, making and putting up colorful decorations, and getting lots of treats and goodies. 

Here’s Kimbo’s musical treat for you - a free song download from our Halloween Fun CD, titled, “Are You Ready for Halloween”, a song that stresses being careful and safe while having fun. 

On October 31^st, watch for little ghosts and goblins as you drive in neighborhoods, and when your doorbell rings, play some favorite Halloween-theme music and scary sounds from Kimbo for extra fun.

KIM9113CD CD Price: $15.95 CD Download Price: $15.00

HALLOWEEN FUN CD Looking for the perfect CD for Halloween? "Halloween Fun" will delight your children, and you will appreciate the high quality. Includes songs, poems and not-so-scary sounds. Songs encourage safety too! Guide with lyrics included. Song List 1. Scary, Scary Halloween 2. Are You Ready For Halloween? 3. The Pumpkin Patch Polka 4. Theme From 5. The Monster Rap 6. Ghostbusters Theme 7. Halloween Poems 8. The Monster Mash 9. We Don't Want A Monster In Our House 10. Tonight Is Halloween 11. Halloween Party 12. Halloween Sound Effects 13. The Halloween Song

Veggie Power Activity Tip

“Veggie Power”, an exercise routine for whole body fitness, can be found on two best-selling products from Kimbo...

Smart Fitness, Smart Foods CD, by RONNO and Liz Jones-Twomey, is a best-selling CD that offers Brain-Based Fitness & Healthy Nutrition. This exciting, multi-purpose CD addresses both the need to provide easily accessible opportunities for necessary exercise, and important nutritional facts to encourage children to understand how to eat properly. For ages 4 to 9.


The Smart Fitness Workout DVD, by RONNO & Liz Jones-Twomey, is a multi-award winning DVD to help children thrive with daily physical workouts.  The entertaining DVD features kids demonstrating brain-based, guided movements that will stimulate whole-brain integration for better learning.  Also shown are segments that show how these fitness exercises can be used with children who have special needs. A special section features the 'rationale' for the actions, and includes information about games to teach about healthy nutrition.

Daily exercise is a must for children to build healthier bodies and stimulate brain development. These intentionally designed movements can help kids gain the important benefits of increased fitness and greater learning power.

Please click here for a downloadable PDF of this informative activity tip, and also click here to listen to a sample of "Veggie Power".

Veggie Power:
Specific “Brain-Based” Movement Benefits

Part of the Smart Fitness Workout
by RONNO and Liz J-T

 

Movements	Benefits
[Feet shoulder width apart/Bend those knees/And bounce up and down….Jump, jump, jump]	Homologous Movement Pattern Involves symmetrical movement of both feet and hands at the same time. It supports and stimulates development of the limbic system (emotions, relationships, organization). ¹
[Up on your toes….down on your heels…toes up/March on those heels]	Elongating the calf muscle by lengthening and shortening it activates the brain stem and helps with focus. ²
[Feet flat, march on the spot/Knees high]	Contralateral Movement Pattern
[Jump, jump, jump, Veggie Power!]	Jumping is an important skill. Children need to learn to bounce first, then push off with both feet, knees bent, to propel themselves upwards. ¹
[Jumping jacks]	Homologous Movement Pattern Jumping jacks involve symmetrical movement of arms and legs, helping develop a sense of the upper and lower halves of the body.
[Jogging on the spot/ Feet wide apart…/Feet back together]	Contralateral Movement Pattern Jogging with feel wide apart and then back together develops body awareness through varying movements and changing speed.
[Arms out in front, bend arms in towards your chest/Roll one arm over the other]	Contralateral Movement Pattern Here is a simple movement sequence involving the cross-lateral movement of rolling the arms in a variety of different spaces (i.e., in front of the body, over the head, down the side, and down to the toes).
[Hop on one foot/Hop forward/…hop back/…hope on the spot with eyes closed]	Homologous Movement Pattern Hopping is a fundamental movement skill. Hopping on one foot allows the body to learn to shift weight and to balance.
[…climb up a really tall ladder/Reach high with your arms]	Contralateral Movement Pattern Here are movements involving the coordination and working-together of limbs. They allow children the opportunity to imagine and explore, while orienting their bodies in different spaces.
[…arms out to your side/…spin around in little circles….spin the other way/…wiggle your arms up and down]	Spinning is a natural movement for children. When the body moves, the brain records that information and forms its own understanding of what it feels like to be in and out of balance. The brain is craving these kinds of movements in order to stimulate the Vestibular System (eye-ear connection) and establish its sense of balance. ³
[Touch opposite hand to opposite ankle]	Contralateral Movement Pattern
[Reach your hands way up….And start jumping]	Homologous Movement Pattern As children listen and move to music, millions of brain neurons are firing and connecting with other neurons. What a terrific way to build a healthy brain and body!

References:
¹ Carol Anne Erickson, Movement Exploration Series, 2005
² Paul Dennison and Gail Dennison, Brain Gym® Teacher’s Edition, 2010
³ Carla Hannaford, Smart Moves: Why Learning is Not All in Your Head, 1995

© 2012 Ronno Song Support