Tatty Bumpkin's Pose of The Week is Monkey Pose

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

The posture of this week in Tatty Bumpkin classes is MONKEY pose, in the sessions your child will go on an adventure with Tatty Bumpkin to the jungle to help the monkeys build a new nest.
 

Having Fun in MONKEY Pose!

How To Do It (What to tell your child)

Leap from squatting to standing, moving your arms up and down like a monkey – make ‘Ooooh’ sounds! Reach up with one hand and then the other and imagine you are hanging from the branches.

Want To Make It Harder?

What to tell you child: Try leaping onto one leg and balancing, ask for a little bit of help if you need it.

Note to parents – it is always best to offer your child a little bit of support, on occasions, so they have the experience of balancing in a ‘straight’ position. If your child keeps trying to balance by themselves in a crooked position (with their legs wrapped round each other) this might become a habit and they will tend to use the wrong muscles and movement patterns. As soon as your child starts to ‘get the idea’ of balancing, stand back, and let them try by themselves. Maybe suggest they use a wall rather than your hand for support. 

Now, try to reach across your body to the other side as if swinging on vines or passing a banana. 

Note to parents - If your child is younger they will find crossing their body difficult so take it slowly. Hold something in your hand so your child has something to reach for, or encourage them to imagine they are picking a banana and then passing it to you.

Why It Is ‘Good For Me’

When your child does MONKEY POSE they leap from squatting to standing and move their arms up & down these actions will strengthen your child’s leg & arm muscles & develop their balance skills. As your child moves from one leg to the other and stretches their arms up on either side they will progress these balance skills.

When your child takes their arms across their body, they will be crossing the ‘midline’ of their body (this is the imaginary line that divides the body into right and left halves). Crossing the midline is an important coordination skill for writing – more on this next week!

Make it Multi-Sensory, Educational & Fun

Through the magic of a Tatty Bumpkin class monkey 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 MONKEY pose when she visits the jungle animals in the storm. Hopefully Tatty B and her jungle friends will be able to help the monkeys build a new nest – but she may need ideas from everyone!

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