Yoga is a great way to introduce children to physical activity and mindfulness practices. It promotes physical development and helps kids build strength and flexibility. Moreover, yoga also helps in enhancing children’s mental and emotional health, by providing them with opportunities to practice mindfulness, self-awareness, and self-regulation. As a parent, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to teaching your children yoga. Fortunately, there are many resources available, including lesson plans that can help you get started.
If you’re on Vancouver Island in Nanaimo, and you’re looking for a way to get your kids interested in yoga, you’re in luck! In this post, we’ll provide you with six different lesson plans that can help you teach yoga to toddlers and young children. These lesson plans are designed to be fun, interactive, and educational, and they cover a range of themes that are sure to engage your children’s imagination.
Before we dive into the lesson plans, it’s important to note that when teaching yoga to children, it’s essential to make it fun and engaging. Kids have short attention spans, so it’s important to keep the lessons short and focused on a specific theme. It’s also important to make sure that the activities are developmentally appropriate and that you have age-appropriate modifications for each pose or activity. Finally, it’s important to be patient and to give the children plenty of opportunities to practice each pose or activity.
In the Garden Theme
The first theme we’ll cover is “In the Garden.” This theme is perfect for spring and summer and is an excellent way to introduce children to the wonders of nature.
Value: Patience
The first value we’ll focus on in this lesson plan is patience. It’s essential to start the class by talking to the children about the value of patience and how it relates to the theme. You can start by asking them what they have to wait for and what has taken them a long time to learn. You can also use examples from the garden, such as how it takes time for a seed to grow into a plant.
Song: Rub Your Hands by Karma Kids Yoga
Before starting with the poses, it’s important to warm up the children’s bodies and introduce them to the concept of “Om.” You can teach them how to make the sound “O” and “M” and put them together to create the word “Om.” You can explain that “Om” is like a vibration that can help them feel calm and centered. You can also encourage them to put their hand on their heart and feel the vibration.
Pose: Mountain Pose
The first pose in this lesson plan is Mountain Pose. This pose is a great way to introduce children to the idea of standing tall and strong like a mountain.
Pose: Seed to Tree Pose
Next up is Seed to Tree Pose. In this pose, children start in Child’s Pose, which represents a seed, and then slowly grow into Tree Pose, holding hands with their parent for balance.
Pose: Snake Pose
Snake Pose is a great way to introduce children to the idea of moving like a snake. It’s also an excellent way to stretch their spine and build core strength.
Pose: Butterfly Pose
Butterfly Pose is a fun pose that helps children stretch their hips and legs. You can encourage them to flap their wings (knees) and pretend to be butterflies going from flower to flower.
Pose: Frog Pose
Frog Pose is a great way to stretch the hips and legs and build strength in the thighs.
Pose: Cat/Cow Pose
Cat/Cow Pose is an excellent way to introduce children to the idea of moving like a cat and cow. It’s also a great way to stretch the spine and build core strength.
