Parents & Educators

Physical Health (Including Movement, Yoga and Nutrition)

The Ohmies uniquely focuses on the physical health and well-being of preschoolers and early elementary children. The Ohmies recognizes that physical health and well being is crucial for social, emotional and cognitive development. The Ohmies organically infuses interactive movement and healthy nutrition practices into great characters and story-telling. This focus is the perfect vehicle to help children ages 3-8 develop emotional and social competence. Young children learn through play. And during the preschool and early elementary years, one of the primary means of expression is through movement. In particular, The Ohmies use interactive movement and dance inspired by a number of physical disciplines including yoga, pilates, dalcroze eurythmics, and others, as the primary means by which to help preschoolers express their thoughts and feelings. The Ohmies strive to model the importance of daily activity and the importance of engaging in healthy eating patterns to provide energy for the body.

Emotional Development

Knowing that emotions are the basis for the human experience, The Ohmies teaches the audience how to navigate their developing emotional world. Emotional development is the ability to understand a full range of emotions and to deal with them in a socially appropriate manner. During the preschool years, children learn how to display their emotions, to name their emotions, to think about their emotions, and that emotions are transitory. Through understanding and learning to label their emotions, preschoolers learn to control their emotions by separating impulsive behavior from purposeful action. By controlling their emotions, preschoolers learn socially appropriate behavior, as well as the ability to experience empathy for others. In this way, understanding the emotions of ourselves leads to understanding the emotions of others, which makes social interactions more predictable.

Social Development

Social development is affected by the ability of children to use their emotional understanding to further their social goals; such as getting along well with siblings and peers, making friends, entering the play situation and behaving in a socially appropriate manner. Playing imaginatively and interacting with The Ohmies will afford our audience the opportunities to explore a variety of roles and social situations, learn social rules and to practice conflict resolution. In this way, The Ohmies help our audience practice their social skills in order to have positive social interactions with their families and peers.
Curriculum

“How do I make friends?” “My sister won’t let me use her toy!” “I’m scared of the dark”.

These are issues that preschool children face. And now, there is a brand to help young children learn how to manage their physical health, their emotions, their social world – their overall well-being.

The Ohmies serves as a safe space for our preschool audience to explore the issues of everyday development: understanding emotions, making friends, getting along with siblings, overcoming fears and anxieties and learning to make healthy choices. Through our unique, interactive curriculum, our preschool audience get to explore the intersection of physical health and well-being, emotional development, and social development as they travel through adventures with our characters.

The Ohmies features Bella Butterfly and her little brother, Carlin Caterpillar, two spirited, fun-loving creatures who allow their curiosity to spark adventures. These adventures are created in a manner that requires the audience to play along in order to surmount obstacles and advance the plot to complete the mission. The obstacles are designed to teach the audience about such things as understanding their emotions, making friends, getting along with siblings, dealing with anxiety and fears and being healthy by engaging in physical activity. As children play along with The Ohmies curriculum they explore the intimate connection between physical health and well-being, emotional development, and social development.

The Ohmies curriculum was designed with the guidance and expertise of the Advisory Board. The Ohmies thanks the Advisory Board members for all of their input; which has been used to bolster the content and the unique perspective of this brand.

Stacey B. Jaffe
Director of Research and Curriclum (full bio)

Movement and Physical Activity

Jodi Komitor, Founder of Next Generation Yoga,

Anthony Porto, M.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, New York Hospital Queens

Rachel Rudman, MSOTR/L, Occupational Therapist, Founder of GRASSHOPPER Kits

Shari Vilchez-Blatt, Founder and Director of Karma Kids Yoga

Social Development

Joanna Cemore Brigden, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Early Childhood and Family Development, Missouri State University;

Ann Cami, Ed.D., Social Development Consultant

Alice Sterling Honig, Ph.D.,

Professor Emerita, Child and Family Studies, Syracuse University

Emotional Development

Susanne Denham, Ph.D., Director of the Applied Developmental Psychology Department, George Mason University,

Marjorie Taylor, Ph.D., Developmental Psychology, Development of Imagination and Creativity, University of Oregon.

Paul S. Strand, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Washington State Universitys.