Monday, October 6, 2014

2014 Autumn Term Week 6 Tatty Bumpkin’s Kid’s Yoga Activity for this Week is Lion!

By Sue Heron – Training Co-ordinator Tatty Bumpkin and Paediatric Physiotherapist

In this blog I will:

  • Describe how to do the weekly activity with your child or toddler
  • Give reasons why this week’s Tatty Bumpkin Yoga activity is beneficial for your child or toddler
  • Give ideas on how you can progress the activity for your child and games you can play connected with the activity,
Remember though, for you and your child to gain the full benefit of all the Tatty Bumpkin Yoga and multi-sensory activities, find out about your local Tatty Bumpkin class at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html.

Or, ask your child’s nursery if they are doing Tatty Bumpkin Yoga activity sessions as part of their day. Our qualified Tatty Bumpkin Teachers are fully trained in aspects of child development and Yoga and are kept fully up-to-date by our professional team of paediatric physiotherapists, Yoga teachers and musicians. 


Tatty Bumkin at nursery!

 Or, maybe, you are thinking of a new career, which gives you:
The opportunity to work with kids
A great sense of job satisfaction and
Flexible working to fit around your own family
Find out how you could be trained to deliver Baby and Tatty Bumpkin classes in your area at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/business/index.html.


Discover your 'inner child' and keep fit too!

 

The Tatty Bumpkin Adventure this Week

If your child is going to a Tatty Bumpkin class this week they will go on an adventure with Tatty Bumpkin to look for the lion in the jungle! Your child and will have a chance to: 

1. Strengthen their ‘core’ muscles, progress their communication skills and build up their self-esteem as they roar as lions!



2. Develop their thinking skills as they imagine they are in the jungle and come up with ideas to help Tatty Bumpkin find her friend the lion.

3. Have fun with others as they go on a lion hunt!




Lion Pose – Tatty Bumpkin’s Yoga Activity for the Week!

Lion pose with your toddler

Kneel up to make Lion pose harder

Ideally, try to do Lion pose with your child as:

  1. Children under 3 years, largely learn new movements by copying the actions.
  2. Research is showing that toddlers and young children bond with their parents and ‘key people’ not only through touch and by communicating with them but also by moving with them.
  3. Lion pose will give you an great opportunity to release the tension on your upper shoulders and back.
  • Before you do the pose make sure you and your child are on a non-slip mat. This will stop you slipping as you do Lion pose.
  • Start by doing Lion Yoga activity yourself.. so your child can copy ..
  • Sit cross legged or back on your heels on the floor.
  • Stretch your arms out in front of you at shoulder height – show your child how you are keeping your elbows straight.
  • Bend your wrists to lift up your hands with your palms are facing outwards towards your child – your ‘lion claws!'
  • ‘Roar’, gently at first, with your tongue pressed down on your chin. 
  • Now encourage your child or toddler to do the Lion pose with you!

Want to Make it Harder?

  • Encourage your child to have a go at doing Lion pose in the kneeling position with their bottom off the floor. See picture above.
  • Then see if they can bring one foot in front – this is called the ‘half kneeling’ position.


Games to Play around Lion Pose

Make your own jungle at home

  • Scatter a few cushions on the floor – do make sure they are on a non-slip surface.
  • Bath mats make great jungle grass!
  • Fold a piece of fabric on the floor to make a narrow bridge.
  • Toddlers and young children will love stepping on and off the cushions and mats.
  • Older children will enjoy the challenge of walking down the narrow bridge.
Some ideas for your jungle obstacle course

  Make your own Lion Mask

Not too scary!
Use part of an egg box or a paper plate to make your own scary lion mask ...then go creeping through your jungle once more!

Why Lion Pose is Good for your Child or Toddler

Lion pose will give your child the opportunity to:

1. Progress their balance skills. Lion pose is a great way for your child to develop their balance skills – step by step.
Start by encouraging them to do the pose sitting cross legged on the floor, then sitting back on their heels, then in kneeling, with their bottom off the floor, and finally in the ‘half kneeling’ position – with one leg in front.

2. Activate and strengthen their ‘core’ muscles.  As your child does Lion pose they will be strengthening their hip, tummy, and back muscles – but especially their shoulder muscles. Strong, active shoulder muscles will help your child to write. They will be able to use these muscles to support the weight of their arms and their delicate hand muscles can be used to grasp their pencil accurately.

3. Develop their hand skills. In Lion pose your child will activate their ‘wrist extensor’ muscles – as they bring their hands up towards them. The ‘wrist extensor’ muscles are important for writing and ball skills. As your child stiffens their hands to make their ‘lion claws’, they will be strengthening their finger muscles.

4. Boost their confidence. Lion pose is great for your child’s confidence. It encourages them to feel strong and brave just like a lion! So that your child feels they are a strong lion encourage them to start doing Lion pose in sitting before they try the kneeling positions.

5. Progress their speech skills. If your child is a bit shy to talk out loud – roaring like a lion will help them to activate and stimulate their speech muscles in a fun way. 

 

Tatty Bumpkin Classes

Because each Tatty Bumpkin adventure is carefully linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) the sessions not only enhance your child’s physical skills they also develop their communication, social and thinking skills.  Find your local class at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html.


Or, to find out how you could be trained to deliver Tatty Bumpkin classes in your area at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/business/index.html

 

Love Tatty Bumpkin x


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