I just love the fresh start feeling of a new school year. As a teacher and a parent myself, I understand that we want our children to be in a collaborative, creative, calm and supported classroom environment.
The good news is that by easily incorporating some breathing exercises, mindfulness practice, and simple stress-reducing happy poses, kids will become more focused and attentive and will develop greater empathy toward one another. Yoga may help create that classroom environment that we all want for children.
Yoga for kids is becoming more common in schools and a few moments each day can help kids achieve the benefits that yoga provides. Children need active brain breaks throughout the day to learn best.
Work with a partner or small group to practice partner poses and achieve a goal together You can find many partner ideas and illustrations here.
Introduce a new yoga pose each week. Make it fun! For example, pick a certain word such as your school’s name. When you say that word everyone will stop what they are doing and hold that pose. Find yoga poses and ideas here with The Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards
Count by fives and 10s while holding a balance pose.
Take a One Minute Vacation and allow students to shut their eyes, breathe, and visualize themselves in their favorite place.
Want more ideas on how to use yoga at school day? Yoga Lessons for Childrenincludes games, ways to reduce stress, yoga poses, and great read-aloud books with complete lesson plans.
Congratulations on taking the time to truly gain an understanding of why each part of a kids yoga class is important. By following our everything will easily fall into place for you and your students. A well-thought-out and organized lesson plan will create more opportunities for learning, engagement and create lasting memories.
The Welcome is the very first part of your kids yoga class and it is the first real class interaction you will have together. The Welcome helps set the tone for how your class will go and helps explain to your students what they will be doing and learning as well as what you expect of them.
When you establish and make a connection
with your students right from the start, it makes such a difference throughout
your class as you introduce and teach breathing exercises, yoga
poses, games, challenges, relaxation, and more.
I think about this in my school classroom as well. Children need to know that they are safe and cared for. When you have a connection and a trust established, then you can truly teach the content, relax, and have fun teaching.
In the beginning of my kids’ yoga classes, I like to gather the students in a circle and welcome them warmly while having them introduce themselves. This will help you get an overall sense of their mood and abilities from the start. It is also the ideal time to reinforce their names with their faces which comes in handy with the management of the class.
I like to have my students share their name
and answer a question.
For example:
Sharing something that they are good at
What do you already know about yoga?
Share why yoga is good for you
Demonstrate any yoga poses that they already know
Ask a theme-related question (in relation to the yoga theme of class) such as “Which superhero would you be and why?”
I also like to briefly go over my 3 No-Fail Rules at this time. You only need these three rules to keep your class running seamlessly which is a big deal for the success and involvement of your classes. These 3 No-Fail Rules and many classroom teaching videos are all included in our online Kids Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Training course. Enroll now and work through at your own pace and time with our support throughout.
Remember, you only get one chance to make that first impression. The Welcome does not need to be long, but it is the best opportunity to let kids know how excited you are that they are there and to introduce them to the theme and format for the class.
Summer is here! Get ready to play a favorite Summer Yoga Game!.
One of my favorite things about teaching yoga for kids is that there are so many fun and creative ways to introduce poses. I love creating a yoga game for kids and Beach Ball Yoga is one of my favorite summer games to play wiht kids. This yoga game can be played with any size group of any ages. Family-friendly and fun! All you need is a beach ball to get started!
Looking for a little beach ball challenge? Have everyone sit in the circle and pass it around the circle again, but not with their hands – with their feet!
I like to explain how this is similar to a group Boat Pose. It is a good core workout as well especially with holding that pose and all the laughter.
Need hundreds of complete kids yoga lesson plans, games, and resources?
Check out our bestselling kids yoga lesson plans books:
Discover how to make your own Mini Zen Garden. This is a perfect mindful activity for children and adults!
A Zen Garden is a simple item to make with kids and it is absolutely loved by all ages. It is also an easy strategy to help kids relax and calm down after a busy day or stressful time. I also love how it can be used indoors at any time and doesn’t take up much space!
When I think on all the times I’ve done art activities with children, it is truly a time that has allowed for creativity, self-expression and connecting. Our hands were busy, and the creative juices were flowing.
The creativity and self-expression that shines when a child is involved in crafting and creating is important in childhood development.
Merging yoga with craft time will only expand the benefits children receive as they move their bodies and allow imaginations to flow.
Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Games & Activities for Children
How to make your own Mini Zen Garden is included in our new bestselling book, Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Games & Activities includes over 150 activities to keep kids engaged, thinking creatively, and practicing self-expression.
How to Make a Mini Zen Garden:
Supplies:
Baby plates or a container that won’t break easily
sand
rocks, crystals, melted crayon (for jewels!) or any other small item
wooden or plastic fork
Directions:
Add sand to your container. Include rocks, or crystals. Use your rake (fork) to draw designs in the sand.
See More Yoga Crafts and Activities Below:
Conclusion:
When you become inspired through your creating your energy is lifted. Just like yoga, there are a number of benefits that come along with crafting, which is known to help kids develop fine motor skills, teaches children to follow instruction while also allowing them to express themselves, and creates bonds, whether that’s with a parent, teacher, or peer.
Exploring art with children is the perfect way to connect. This is true for all ages!
Games are a great way to get kids moving, build strength, practice following directions, working together, and the opportunity to practice yoga poses in fun and engaging ways.
Once you have your Kids Yoga Games Guide: Open Your Guide Up and find the Princess Tiptoe Game! You are ready to begin!
As we teach the game, record your notes, questions, and how you would use this game with kids.
Shhhhh…..don’t wake up the Princess in this new favorite game
Are you needing a game that young kids love to play AND it keeps them quiet?
Princess Tiptoe is a game that I regularly rotate in for my younger kids yoga classes (ages 3-6).
We play this game right before our Stillness and Savasana and it s the perfect game for winding down and bringing a calming sense and energy to the group.
Materials: Magic Wand or something similar deemed magic
Recommended Ages: 3-6
Directions:
Select one player as “Prince Tiptoe” (or Princess Tiptoe).
The other players spread over the room and go into Child’s Pose (see image below). If you are able, turn the lights turned low as tat creates a calming feeling.
Princess Tiptoe begins by putting a finger to their lips and whispering: “shh! Here comes Prince Tiptoe” as they tiptoe around the room.
When the players are tapped by Prince Tiptoe they join in a line behind the Prince, tiptoeing at the same speed.
When all of the players are in line, Prince Tiptoe slows the movement and turns to the player directly behind them and says, “shh.”
The Player behind should quickly tiptoe back to their original spot and go back into Child’s Pose.
This continues until all of the players have returned to their spots.
This is great for transitioning from a noisy, loud active group game to a quieter time for younger children. I love to use this game as a simple and effective transition into Stillness and Savasana at the end of our yoga class.
I just love the fresh start feeling of a new school year. As a teacher and a parent myself, I understand that we want our children to be in a collaborative, creative, calm and supported classroom environment.
