Monday, November 12, 2012

Posture Of The Week - CAT pose

 by Sue Heron - Head of Training at Tatty Bumpkin and Paediatric Physiotherapist

The posture of this week in Tatty Bumpkin classes is CAT pose, in the sessions your child will go on an adventure with Tatty Bumpkin to help ‘Cat Find Out about Different Jobs!’
 

What CAT pose looks like

Cat Pose with a 'saucer of milk' to help motivation!

How to do it (What to tell your child)

Kneel on all fours with your hands under your shoulders. Arch your back up then down, being careful not to arch your back too deeply. Meow like a cat!  Stretch out one arm or leg to shake either your paw or tail. Put them back on the floor and shake your other paw or tail as you are a magic cat with two tails!!

 Want to make it harder?  

Start kneeling on all fours, stretch out one arm or paw and then your opposite leg or tail, lifting them both off the floor at the same time! Put them back on the floor and repeat, this time stretching out your other arm and leg.



Aid Motivation

Often giving you child a ‘goal’ makes the activity more meaningful for them and helps their motivation to ‘keep on trying’. Cut out a small piece of white fabric and place it on the floor in front of your child, this is their ‘milk’! Encourage your child to come forward onto their arms more and bend their elbows so they touch the milk with their noses – just like a cat sniffing the milk to see if it will taste good!(see picture above)

Why it is ‘Good For Me’

Cat pose encourages your child to stretch out their back muscles – perfect after sitting for a while. The pose strengthens their core muscles i.e. hip, spine, tummy and shoulder muscles and develops balance skills, especially when they lift an arm or leg from the floor. The activity of stretching out one arm whilst using the other for support mimics the writing action; hence it is a great pre-writing skill.

Make it Multi-Sensory, Educational & Fun

Through the magic of a Tatty Bumpkin class cat pose can become both a multi-sensory and an educational activity.  In Tatty Bumpkin classes we always try to stimulate a variety of senses, to add to the fun, give choice & to help the learning process. All our classes are linked to the new 2012 EYFS framework meaning that your child will have the opportunity to progress in all areas of their development, giving them a truly holistic experience. 
 

Children love doing things together, by watching others they also learn a great deal – often finding out a better way of doing things.
 

Tatty Bumpkin will be doing CAT pose as part of her adventure to visit people doing different jobs e.g. Tatty Bumpkin and cat will be visiting the firemen, the farmer and others! Wrapping the pose inside a story means your child will get involved in the story and find the exercises more meaningful and hence more fun to do. In addition your child will have the chance to think about the different jobs people do in their community. Find your local Tatty Bumpkin class at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html

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