2014 Term 6 Week 4.Tatty Bumpkin brings a rainbow into your week!

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

In this blog I focus on our weekly Tatty Bumpkin ‘Yoga Activity'. This week the Yoga activity is Rainbow pose. Below is a description on how to do Rainbow pose with your child along with some of its benefits. If you wish to find out how to do Rainbow Pose with your baby – wait for the ‘Mid-week Baby Bumpkin Blog!’

Please remember though, for your child to gain the full benefit of all the Tatty Bumpkin Yoga and multisensory 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 using the Tatty Bumpkin Kid’s Yoga Activity Programme. 
Our qualified Tatty Bumpkin Teachers are fully trained in child development and children’s Yoga and are kept fully up-to-date by our professional team of paediatric physiotherapists, Yoga teachers and musicians.

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?

In which case - 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.

The Tatty Bumpkin Multisensory Yoga Adventure This Week ..

This week Tatty Bumpkin finds herself way up in the sky, amongst the clouds. As the wind blows around her, so the clouds change shape … what cloud shape would you be, I wonder?

But Tatty Bumpkin is not alone  … there are also some very busy fairies flying around her  hanging out their washing!

This is perhaps one of my favourite Tatty Bumpkin stories... So why not come along and have a go at Rainbow pose with Tatty Bumpkin  –  this pose improves your child’s  spatial awareness and encourages them to gently stretch out any tight neck, shoulder and chest muscles. Rainbow pose also makes you smile! Find your local class at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html.

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 your child’s communication, social and thinking skills.  
In this week’s story your child will have the chance:

1. To improve their awareness of their ‘midline’ (to aid early writing skills) and to stretch out tight muscles as they do Rainbow pose. 

2. To use gestures or words to express their thoughts i.e.

• Feeling ‘excited’ with Tatty Bumpkin when she finds herself on a cloud!
• Feeling a bit ‘anxious’ with Tatty Bumpkin when it starts to rain.
• Feeling ‘amazed’ with Tatty Bumpkin when she sees the fairies.

3. To come up with their own ideas and feel confident to talk about them i.e.

• Which cloud shape they are going to be?
• Wondering which item of washing the fairies are missing?

4. To become more aware of their breathing and promote their sense of rhythm as they blow different coloured butterflies to the Tatty Bumpkin Butterfly song.
 
5. Most important of all - to have fun with their friends as they: chamnge shapes with the clouds, fly with the fairies, and make rainbow shapes across the sky.

Relaxing under our rainbow!

Rainbow Pose

Young children may find Rainbow pose easier to do standing up

Kneeling needs more coordination

Older children can do Rainbow pose themselves whilst lying down

 

Description of Pose

Encourage your child to try Rainbow pose in sitting, kneeling or standing. 

If your child is younger, perhaps start by doing the pose in sitting and then progress up into standing. Younger children may find it hardest to do the pose in the kneeling position as this requires more coordination. 
Younger children (those under 3-4 years) largely learn new movements by copying the actions. So sit or kneel down opposite your child and do Rainbow pose with them, then they can clearly see your movements, and you will have the chance to stretch out too!

• Guide your child to sit, kneel or stand opposite you.

• Start the pose by saying something like “1, 2, 3, Rainbow!”to your child.

• As you say ‘Rainbow’, move into the pose i.e. stretch your arms up above your head so your elbow are straight. Bring your palms together and look up at your hands.

• Then, slowly take your arms, in wide arc, down to your sides, and look straight ahead. (To make this pose even more effective and relaxing for yourself – try taking a deep breath in as you stretch your arms above your head and then breathe out as you take your arms down to your sides.)

• Encourage your child to copy your movements.

• Continue the pose by reversing the movement i.e. bring your palms back together above your head.  You are now back in the starting position.

• Repeat Rainbow pose several times so your child has a chance to learn the movement and enjoy doing it with you – Then give them a hug!

• If your child is older you can sing or say the colours of the rainbow together – and repeat the pose seven times. I always remember the colour order by the phrase “Richard Of York Gained Battle In Vain!”

Other Games to Play Around Rainbow Pose

Rainbow Ribbons.
Make a ‘ribbon ring’ for your child to wave and shake about! These can be made from a selection of coloured ribbons and a shower curtain ring - see http://blogs.babycenter.com/life_and_home/rainbow-ribbon-rings/ for ideas. Your child will love to hold these above their head and wave them across their body – developing their ‘midline’ skills. See ‘Why it is good for me’ section.

Why Rainbow Pose is Good for Your Child

Rainbow pose will give your child the opportunity to:

Stretch out and activate their shoulder muscles
Even young children spend a great deal of time sitting, which often results in the adopting a poor sitting posture.  Rainbow pose offers them a great opportunity to carefully stretch out their neck, upper back, shoulder and arm muscles. After doing the pose they will have a clearer idea of how they should be sitting or standing.

Activate their tummy muscles
As your child raises their hands above their chest and takes them back down to their sides they will be gently using their tummy muscles. Active tummy muscles are essential for good posture and more complex physical skills.

Increase their awareness of their ‘midline’
Your child will be taking their hands towards and then away from their ‘midline’. This is the imaginary ‘line’, down our body, which separates our left and right hand sides. Interestingly, it is quite hard for children to move their hands away from their midline & back down to their sides. Activities, like Rainbow pose which encourage children to work in their ‘midline’ area are great for developing pre-writing skills

So remember:

For a fun, multi-sensory activities which not only make movement but also enhance their overall development - find your local class at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html  or 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.

Love Tatty Bumpkin x

2014 Term 6 Week 3. Baby Bumpkin's Yoga Activity for this Week is Rolling Fish!

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

In this weekly blog I focus on our Baby Bumpkin ‘Yoga Activity of the Week’. Below is a description on how to do the pose with your baby at home along with all its benefits.

Please remember though, for you and your baby, to gain the full benefit of all the Baby Bumpkin Yoga and multi-sensory activities, find out about your local Baby Bumpkin class at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html. Our qualified Baby Bumpkin Teachers are fully trained in aspects of baby development and Baby Yoga and are kept fully up-to-date by our professional team of paediatric physiotherapists, Yoga teachers and musicians.
 
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?

In which case - 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.
 

The Baby Bumpkin Multisensory Yoga Adventure This Week ..

Maybe it’s because it’s nearly Glastonbury but mostly because it’s SO good for us - this week in the Baby Bumpkin classes we are doing the rolling Fish pose, so ‘Let the good times roll!’ 

Baby Bumpkin and his friends are splashing in the river when they come across a tiny fish.
The tiny fish invites everyone to the big ‘Funny Fish Flap!’ where everyone has to roll like a fish, gobble like a fish and make funny fish faces!

Why not come along and have a go at rolling Fish pose with Baby Bumpkin – a Paediatric Occupational Therapist colleague feels that rolling is as important as tummy time for a baby. And it’s fun too! Find your local class at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html.

And that's not all! Because each Baby Bumpkin adventure is carefully linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) the sessions not only enhance your baby’s physical skills they also develop their early communication, social and thinking skills.  
In this week’s story your baby will have the chance to:

• Develop their co-ordination skills as they ‘have a go’ with Baby Bumpkin at the rolling Fish pose.

• Start to gestures or simple words to express their thoughts i.e.

1. Feeling ‘surprised’ with Baby Bumpkin when he finds a tiny fish
2. Feeling ‘happy’ with Baby Bumpkin as he takes part in the ‘Funny Fish Face’ competition with all his friends. 

• Start to make early choices i.e. What kind of ‘Funny Fish Face’ they are going to make?

• Develop their sense of rhythm as they move with you the river frog to the Baby Bumpkin Frog song.

• Most important of all - have fun with their friends in the Baby Bumpkin story as they: run down the hills, wriggle on their tummies,  and of course roll with the fishes!

Fish Pose for Younger Babies

Baby Fish Pose!

 Description of Pose

N.B. Remember, when you are doing the poses with your baby, never force the movements and keep looking at your baby to make sure they are comfortable. If you feel any resistance, or your baby becomes unsettled, do stop. Once your baby has settled, gently try the pose again, perhaps making clicking sounds or using a toy to distract them. If your baby remains unsettled, do not persist with the pose, instead ask your Baby Bumpkin teacher for advice.
 
This adaptation of Fish pose is ideal if your baby is 3 mths old or younger and is still learning how to fully control their head by themselves. 

• Settle on the floor with your baby. Sit on a cushion for comfort and stretch your legs out in front of you. To support your back you may find it easier to sit up against a wall.

• Reassure your baby by smiling and looking at them. Then gently lie your baby down on their side across your thighs so they are facing you.

• Support your baby with your hands around their shoulder and neck area and across their hips.

• If your baby is younger:

1. Make sure that their head is well supported on your thighs.
2. You will have to give them more support around the back of their neck and shoulders and down their spine.
3. Make sure they can look at you! See picture above.

• Starting with your baby in this side lying position; gently rock them a little way towards you and then back to the starting position. As you do this, encourage and soothe your baby, continue to talk to them and keep good eye contact with them.

• To progress Fish pose.

• Start with your baby lying on their side across your thighs, as above.

• This time gently roll them a quarter turn away from you so they temporarily lose eye contact with you.

• As they turn away from you, your baby will have a chance to look out at the world by themselves – this one of their first step towards gaining independence.

Fish Pose for Older Babies

Bigger fishes rolling down the river!

Description of Pose

It is important for your baby to have good head control before you try this adaptation of Fish pose with them i.e wait until they are able to raise thier heads up when lying on their tummy on the floor. 
 
You will find controlling your baby with your hands in the rolling movements of Fish pose takes some practice! As long as your baby is happy, it is worth trying the pose with them for short periods during their day. Hopefully you will find that both you and your baby quickly become more comfortable with the pose. If you have any queries do not hesitate to ask your Baby Bumpkin teacher.

• Settle on the floor with your baby. Sit on a cushion for comfort and stretch your legs out in front of you. To support your back you may find it easier to sit up against a wall.

• Reassure your baby by smiling and looking at them. Then gently lie your baby down on their side across your thighs so they are facing you.

• Support your baby with both your hands around their shoulders and down their back.

• Rock your baby gently back and forth,  as described in the younger version of Fish pose (see above), to give then a chance to get used to the rolling sensation.

• Start by gently doing one full roll with your baby down your legs, so they are rolling from your thighs towards your shins. Then roll them back towards you to the starting position.

• During the roll:

1. Stabilise your baby’s uppermost shoulder (the 'rolling' shoulder) with one hand and
2. Move your baby from their hips with your other hand.

• As mentioned above you may find you will need practise to synchronise these two actions with your baby!

• To progress Fish pose further - try rolling your baby further down your legs towards your feet and then back up towards you. 

Other Games to Play in Fish Pose

Swimming down the Stream!

• There are many ways to gently encourage your baby to roll. Below are two suggestions. As with all the Baby Bumpkin poses and activities we encourage you to initially give your baby the support they need to experience a new movement and then to gradually reduce the amount of support you give them so they learn to do the movement by themselves. 

• Before you roll your baby take time to feel the shape of your own rib cage compared with your baby’s. You will notice that your baby’s rib cage is much rounder than yours. This is because they have not yet sat or stood up against gravity for long periods. Keep this ‘roundness’ in mind as you help your baby to roll - the action is more like rolling a ball rather than flipping a pancake!

• However - Rolling can be a frightening experience for your baby so:

1. Don’t rush the movement or try to do it with your baby if they are very young and clearly not ready for the experience – you do not want to put them off! Just rock them to and fro, in and out of side lying.
2. Make it enjoyable for your baby and yourself i.e. keep smiling and reassuring your baby using both your voice and your hands.
3. Let your baby feel ‘in control’ as much as possible i.e. encourage them to start the movement by tempting them to roll towards a favourite toy (see previous suggestions).
4. Roll your baby little and often during the day i.e. when you lie them down for a nap or pick them up, roll them gently onto their side as you do – this gives them the chance to get used to that rollin’ feelin’ without being frightened of it! 

 

Rolling - Nos 1

• Settle your baby on their back, on a mat, on the floor in front of you. Along with a favourite, chewable, toy – this is your ‘fish’!

• Gently wave the toy (fish) in front of your baby so they make eye contact with it. Then they slowly draw the toy over to the side you wish your baby to roll. Keep the toy above the level of your baby’s shoulder as this will guide their body into a good rolling position. 

• Your baby may reach up for the toy - this will help them as their arms are free. If they do this keep the toy just out of their reach and move it further over to the side you wish them to roll.  If your baby does not reach up, gently move their ‘under’ arm above their head so it does not block the roll or get trapped underneath.

• Hopefully your baby will firstly follow the movement of the toy with their eyes, then they will turn their head towards it and finally they may start to roll their body over as well.

• Give your baby a little help in their roll by providing them with support down their back, under their uppermost shoulder and hip. In this way you help them to move their uppermost arm and leg over to the desired side.

• Once your baby has rolled over onto their tummy – give them loads of praise and let them play with their toy!  

Here we go - ready to roll!

Rolling – Nos 2

Rolling to the RIGHT

• Settle your baby on the mat as above. Gently rock them a little way to either side several times to prepare them for the roll!

• Gently bend your baby’s left leg so their knee is close to their tummy and keep their knee in this position using your left hand.

• Then place your right hand under your baby’s left shoulder and arm to gently guide your baby to roll i.e. as your baby rolls guide their left knee & shoulder over to the right - in the direction of the roll.

‘Why Fish Pose is Good for Your Baby’

Fish pose is all about introducing your baby to rolling or helping them refine this skill.

However, rolling is an incredibly complex! To roll your baby has to:

• Organise several of their senses at the same time i.e. their visual, tactile and vestibular senses.

• Develop the appropriate control and coordination of their muscles.. 

Consequently, as they roll, your baby will be developing both their sensory and movement systems. They will be learning not only how to organise these systems but also how to bring them together for refined, coordinated actions.

A Word on Rolling 

Rolling may be the first way your baby moves – what a feeling of independence! It will also provide a foundation for other more complex co-ordination skills such as ‘crossing the midline’ and right/left side coordination.

•  At about 3 mths of age your baby may have their first experience of rolling -maybe from their back onto their side. In most cases this is accidental as it occurs when they turn their head to one side and their body automatically follows.  
   
• From about 3 ½ to 5 mths your baby may start to roll from their tummy into side lying, they may even roll completely over! However these early rolling experiences are once again largely accidental and they can be quite frightening for your baby. At this age they are likely to feel completely out of control! For this reason your baby may not frequently do this movement deliberately even though at 5mths they may actually be able to do it.  If your baby is around this age, the scenario below may be familiar to you – 
  Your baby is lying on their tummy and propping themselves up on their forearms.
  As they reach for a toy they shift their weight onto one shoulder, let’s say their left. Because your baby does not have sufficient control yet in their shoulder to support their weight, their arm collapses under their chest.
  At this point, if your baby is younger and their head control is less mature, they may try to regain their balance by extending their head and indeed their whole body. As they push their head backwards, their head blocks them from rolling completely over and they stop in a side lying position.
  If your baby is a little older, say 4 &1/2 mths, they will have more control of their head and, as a result, they may not extend their head backwards so much  if they fall onto their side. With their head more in the middle they may roll completely over.  
  
  Generally babies tend to roll from their tummy onto their back before they roll from their back onto their tummy. This is because rolling from their back onto their tummy requires more control. We are all different  but your baby may start to roll from their tummy onto their back at around 5 mths and from their back onto their tummy at about 6 mths.

• So, aged around, six mths, your baby may learn to roll from their back onto their tummy! Congratulations to them! To do this they have to flex (bend forwards), rotate and bend sideways!
  Interestingly, your baby will develop their own special way of rolling and they will continue to use this pattern again and again so they become ‘super-efficient’ at it. Why not look closely at your baby/toddler to see which method they prefer to use. Two examples:
  
  1. Your baby is lying on their back and they start to roll by pushing with the foot on the side they are rolling away from i.e. if your baby is trying to roll to their right they will push off with their left foot. As they push with this foot they will straighten up (extend) their leg and body on this side. As they move through their roll they will bring their trailing leg forward to keep their momentum going.
  2. Your baby is lying on their back and they start to roll by bending up their hip and knee on the side they are rolling away from at the same time they take their arm on this side out to the side i.e. if your baby is trying to roll to the right they will bend their left hip and knee up and will take their left arm out to the side. They will also curl their body forward and twist so they are pushing with their body against the floor. As they pass through side lying they will straighten (extend) their body to help control the last part of the roll so they land gently on their tummy!
  
  Do not worry if your baby is older and they have not quite grasped rolling – sometimes it just takes a little longer. However do keep giving them opportunities to roll during their day - as learning to roll has so many benefits.
  
  Love Baby Bumpkin x
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Term 6 Week 3. "Let the good times roll!" Tatty Bumpkin's Yoga Activity for this Week is Fish or Rolling!

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

In this blog I focus on our weekly Tatty Bumpkin ‘Yoga Activity’. Below is a description on how to do Fish activity/pose with your child along with some of its benefits. If you want to find out how to do Fish Pose with your baby – wait for the ‘Mid-week Baby Bumpkin Blog!’

Please remember though, for your child to gain the full benefit of all the Tatty Bumpkin Yoga and multisensory activities this week, 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 using the Tatty Bumpkin Kid’s Activity Programme.
Our qualified Tatty Bumpkin Teachers are fully trained in child development and children’s Yoga and are kept fully up-to-date by our professional team of paediatric physiotherapists, Yoga teachers and musicians.

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?

In which case - 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.

The Tatty Bumpkin Multisensory Yoga Adventure This Week ..

Maybe it’s because it’s nearly Glastonbury but mostly because it’s SO good for us - this week, in the Tatty Bumpkin classes, we are doing the rolling Fish pose.  
‘Let the good times roll!’
  
Tatty Bumpkin and her friends are splashing in the river when they come across a tiny fish.
Fish invites them to the big ‘Funny Fish Flap!’ where you have to roll like a fish, gobble like a fish and make funny fish faces!

So why not come along and have a go at Fish pose with Tatty Bumpkin – not only will rolling improve your child’s coordination skills, it can also help their posture and develop their  writing and focusing skills. And it’s fun too! Find your local class at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html.



 
But that's not all! 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 your child’s communication, social and thinking skills.  
In this week’s story your child will have the chance to:

1. Improve their co-ordination and focusing skills as they roll with the tiny fish

2. Use gestures or words to express their thoughts i.e.

• Feeling ‘surprised’ with Tatty Bumpkin when she finds a tiny fish
• Feeling ‘excited’ with Tatty Bumpkin as she rolls down the river
• Feeling ‘happy’ and ‘jokey’ with Tatty Bumpkin as she takes part in the ‘Funny Fish Face’ competition with all of her friends.

3. Come up with their own ideas and feel confident to talk about them i.e. talk about:

• How they are going to wave their leaf to start the fish race?
• How they should roll down the river – by themselves, with a friend, stretched out or curled up?
• What kind of ‘Funny Fish Face’ they are going to make?!

4. Develop their sense of rhythm as they move with the river frog to the Tatty Bumpkin Frog song.

5. And, most important of all - have fun with their friends as they: run down the hills, wave their flags and of course roll with the fishes!

Tatty Bumpkin Fish Pose 

Below are two variations of Fish pose to do at home with your toddler or child.

Rolling as fishes down the river!

Option 1

• Always do the pose yourself so your child can learn how to do it by watching you!

• Lay out a fairly short strip of, ideally, blue fabric on a non-slip surface and pretend this is your river. 

• Encourage your child to roll over and over down the river with you - like a fish swimming. Rolling is very alerting so do not do Fish pose for too long otherwise it might ‘end in tears!’

• To give your child extra support, lay down along-side them with your shoulders next to theirs - then roll over together! This not only gives them a handy cue but also helps them to slow down if this is a problem. It is also great fun and is a good way to strengthen the bond between you and your young child. 
 

Option 2

 

Fish rolls!

• This adaptation of Fish pose is alternatively called the “Tatty Bumpkin Sausage roll pose” – and is a great way to encourage your child to roll!

• Settle on the floor with your child on either a Tatty Bumpkin yoga mat or a folded blanket or sheet.

• You may have to roll yourself up in the mat/blanket first so your child gains confidence – they will, no doubt, love to roll you up themselves!

• Giving your child plenty of reassurance, lay them on the mat/blanket so their heads are clear.

• Ideally your child should have their arms tucked inside, as this gives them a greater sensory experience. However, they will probably prefer to have their arms free as well – so they feel more in control!

• Then gently and slowly, so they can experience the rolling movement, start to roll your child up in the mat/blanket, checking all the time to make sure they are happy.

• Once they are completely rolled up, ask them what they would like on their sausage roll?

1. Ketchup? Firmly but gently stroke down your toddlers sides so they feel a gentle squeeeeeze!
2. Pickle? Firmly but gently pat down your toddler’s body so they feel the pressure of your hands moving down their body through the mat!

• Then gently and slowly unroll your child, so they have a chance to experience the rolling movement the other way.

Why Fish Pose/Rolling is So Good for Your Child

Fish pose or rolling will give your child the opportunity to:
 
1. Stimulate their 'vestibular sense' for improved balance

• Our vestibular sense helps us to keep our balance, as it tells us which way up we are at any one time. We stimulate this sense by moving our heads –as the receptors for this sense are located deep inside our ears.
• The vestibular sense also helps us to regulate our 'levels of alertness'. In fact some therapists call the vestibular sense the ‘volume control’ button for the body. If you move your head quickly, by jumping up and down or rolling quickly, you will be stimulating your vestibular sense and waking your whole body up!
• So Fish pose will help your child to become more alert - it will also give them a chance to ‘let off steam’ if they are fidgeting. After you have done Fish pose with your child, they may be more inclined to sit still and listen!  Be careful though - do not encourage your child to do Fish pose for too long as this might lead to overexcitement. 

2. Increase their awareness of their ‘midline’ and their left and right hand sides for early writing skills
 
As your child rolls they move from their left to their right hand sides, crossing the ‘midline’ of their body again and again. The ability to 'cross the midline' of our body and to smoothly co-ordinate our left and right sides are both important ‘pre-writing’ skills.

3. Strengthen their tummy and spinal muscles for good posture

• As your child rolls from their back onto their front they will be largely using their tummy muscles.
• As they roll from their tummy onto their back they will be largely using their spinal (back) muscles. 
• Thus when your child rolls over and over they are working both their tummy and back muscles in quick succession. 
• As a good sitting and standing posture depends to a large extent on the co-ordination of our tummy and back muscles – rolling can really help your child’s posture.  

Inspired by this blog? Remember:

• For a fun, multi-sensory activities which not only encourage your child to move but also enhance their development - find your local class at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html

• or 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.

                                               Love Tatty Bumpkin x

Baby Bumpkin's Multi-sensory Yoga Activity for this Week is CRAB!

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

In this 'Baby Bumpkin Blog' I will focus on a multi-sensory activity you can try with your baby at home and explain some of its benefits (see last section of the blog).  

Please remember though, for your baby to gain the full benefit of all our Baby Bumpkin Yoga and multisensory activities, it is always best to find your local Baby Bumpkin class at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html. 
Our qualified Baby Bumpkin Teachers are fully trained in aspects of baby development and baby Yoga and are kept fully up-to-date by our professional team of paediatric physiotherapists, Yoga teachers and musicians.

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?

In which case - 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.

Each of our Baby Bumpkin adventure is carefully linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) focusing on the three prime areas of early development: emotional and physical development and communication.  In this story your baby will have the chance to develop and refine their:

• Physical skills e.g. ‘foot play, as they do the  Baby Bumpkin Yoga Crab Pose.

• Early communication skills by looking at and responding to key gestures i.e.

• Feeling ‘happy’ with Baby Bumpkin as he finds himself on a lovely beach.

• Feeling ‘excited’ with Baby Bumpkin and Crab as they head off to the ‘Fun Day’ and have a go at ‘Crab Football’ 

• Sense of rhythm as they move with you in Crab pose  to the Baby Bumpkin Crab song.

• Early fine motor (hand) skills and eye – hand coordination as they ‘have a go’ at reaching out for bubbles in the coconut shy!

But - perhaps most important of all – your baby will enjoy having quality time with you and other babies as they: jump in rock pools, go round on the aeroplane roundabout and play Crab Football! 

The Baby Bumpkin Multisensory Yoga Adventure This Week ..

World Cup fever is breaking out on Wobble Farm! But it is football like you have never seen before … it is Crab Football at the 'Seaside Fun Day'!

This week Baby Bumpkin finds himself at the beach – one of his favourite places.  After jumping in rock pols and looking for Starfish he comes across a little crab…

Crab invites Baby Bumpkin to the local seaside ‘Fun Day’ – there are aeroplane rides, a dog show of course Crab Football! 

Crab Pose For Younger Babies 

Little Crab goes snap, snap!!

Description of Pose

N.B. Remember, when you are doing the poses with your baby, never force the movements and keep looking at your baby to make sure they are comfortable. If you feel any resistance, or your baby becomes unsettled, do stop. Once your baby has settled, gently try the pose again, perhaps making clicking sounds or using a toy to distract them. If your baby remains unsettled, do not persist with the pose instead ask your Baby Bumpkin teacher for advice.

Usually babies start to find their feet from about 4-5 mths of age. Often they will first learn to touch their right foot with their right hand and their left foot with their left hand.  Of course, we are all different, hence your baby may start to play with their feet at about 3 mths and they may never be interested in their feet. However, as the foot play has many benefits, it is a good idea to 'introduce your baby to their feet'. With this in mind always let your baby have time to play on a mat on the floor barefoot and without their nappy on. Often a bulky nappy can restrict your baby’s hip movements and make foot play difficult.

This adaptation of Crab pose is ideal if your baby is 4 mths old or younger and is still learning how to control their middle and hip areas. 

• Settle your baby on their back in front of you on a mat on the floor. Take off their booties or socks so they are barefoot and ideally take their nappy off as well!

• Smile and make sounds at your baby so they are looking at you and holding their head in the middle. If your baby is under two mths old you may wish to use a small rolled up towel arched around the top of their head, or a specific head support, to help them to keep their head in the middle. Remember not to leave your baby alone on the floor with anything which may cover their nose and mouth and only use head supports in this way for short periods so your baby does not become reliant on them.

• Gently take hold of your baby’s right forearm with one hand, just above their wrist. Using your other hand hold their right leg, just above their ankle.

• Then carefully bring your baby’s right hand and right foot together above their body. To do this your baby will have to bend their hip and knee, and take their knee out to the side in a frog-like position.  Be careful not to force this movement, remember some babies may still be a little stiff in their spines or hips.

• Once your baby is touching their foot with their hand – encourage them to explore their feet with their fingers by stroking their hand over their foot for a few seconds.

• Slowly bring your baby’s hand and foot down to the mat and repeat the pose this time taking their left foot to their left hand.

• Repeat the pose a few times on either side. As your baby gets the idea, see if they can do more of the pose by themselves.

If your baby is enjoying the foot play movements, you can progress the pose by:

• Gently guiding both their hands over their body towards one foot. This pose is a little harder for your baby as they have to take one of their hands over the middle of their body (their midline).

• Gently rocking them side to side whilst holding them in the position above. Your baby is likely to enjoy small rolling movements in this position as their back is in a more curled, rounded position. This movement is the precursor for rolling – see ‘Why it is Good for Me’ section.

• Doing the actions whilst your baby is supported on your lap.  

Crab Pose for Older Babies

Crab - Foot play!

Description of Pose

This adaptation of Crab pose is suitable for your baby if they are about 4 mths – 5 mths or older. At this age your baby may well have discovered their feet. Increased flexibility in their hip, knee and shoulder joints and increased strength in their middle means that they can enjoy holding both their feet with both their hands at the same time – true foot play. 

• Settle your baby on their back in front of you on a mat on the floor. Take off their booties or socks so they are barefoot and ideally take their nappy off as well as this will allow them more freedom to move their hips!

• Remember to smile and make sounds at your baby so they are looking at you and holding their head in the middle.

• Gently take hold or your baby’s forearms and lower legs and guide their hands towards their feet over their body.

• Encourage your baby to investigate their toes with their fingers by stroking their hands over their feet.

• As your baby grasps their feet with their hands – praise them – by smiling at them and making encouraging sounds.

• Keep looking at your baby to make sure they are enjoying the game. If so, repeat Crab pose several times with your baby. As they start to get the idea of the movement see if they can start to play with their feet by themselves. 

If your baby is enjoying the foot play movements, you can progress the pose by:

• Gently rocking them side to side as you hold their hands to their feet or their hands to one foot.  Your baby is likely to enjoy small rolling movements in this position as their back is in a more curled, rounded position.   

Other Games to Play in Crab Pose

Snapping Crab Claws!

This is a great ‘starter’ foot activity for younger babies as it helps them to become aware of their feet.

• Settle your baby on the floor on their backs as above.

• Gently take hold of each of your baby’s legs just above their ankles and carefully and slowly clap their feet together.

• As soon as your baby’s feet touch make a funny face or sound – this helps your baby become more aware of where their feet are and what they are doing! Your baby is likely to find the combination of the movement, the feel of their other foot and your sounds and faces really funny. In addition, you are helping your baby to learn about their body using all their senses.

• Aid early communication skills by saying “open” as you take your baby’s feet apart and “close” as you bring their feet together.

Why Crab Pose is Good for Your Baby

As you do Crab pose with your baby, you will give them a chance to:

Develop their Body Awareness or Proprioception
When your baby is born they have to learn about the shape of their body – where it starts and finishes and how it moves in space. Your baby will mostly do this through a body sense called ‘proprioception’. This sense is activated through the stimulation of ‘proprioreceptors’ deep in our muscles and joints. As we move and twist our body and stretch and bend our legs and arms we are continually stimulating this sense. As your baby touches their feet with their hands in Crab pose they will be stimulating and refining their proprioception sense in their hands and feet and hence building up a more accurate picture of their body.

Learn ‘Foot Play’ skills for Rolling and Foot Development. 
From about 4 mths, whilst lying on their backs, your baby may be able to touch different parts of their body with their hands. At this age they may be able to reach down to touch the top of their thighs with their hands – this action not only develops their hand muscles but also strengthens their tummy, hip and shoulder muscles.
Between 4–5 mths your baby may well have developed sufficient control in the middle of their body and their hips so, whilst lying on their back, they can bring their legs up over their body and reach forward to touch their lifted feet with their hands – foot play.


A Word on Foot Play
Foot play has many benefits for your baby:

• As your baby curls their body up to play with their feet, they will be activating and strengthening their hip and tummy muscles – strengthening these muscles is good preparation for sitting.

• In foot play your baby will be rounding their back against the floor – this puts them in an ideal position to start rolling either onto their side or completely over onto their front. 

• As your baby holds onto their feet with their hands and bends and straightens their knees they will be stretching out their hip and hamstring (the muscles running down the back of their thigh) muscles. Naturally stretching these muscle groups through active play is important preparation for sitting and standing.

• As your baby plays with their feet they will be activating and naturally stretching out their delicate foot muscles in preparation for sitting, crawling and of course standing. It is amazing how much your baby will rely on their feet not only for standing but also for crawling and sitting.

A Word on Foot Wear
The only reason to cover your baby’s feet before they are walking is to keep them warm. Hence in the summer months your baby may not need to wear socks – a blanket may be enough on colder days. Shoes are definitely not needed!
During their first year, your baby’s feet grow quickly, so it is better not to put their feet in anything which constrains them. Remember to keep even socks fitting loosely – try to not end up stuffing your baby’s feet into socks which are too small as your baby needs that extra room to wriggle their feet and toes.

SO THIS SUMMER REMEMBER ‘FOOT PLAY’ and ‘BAREFOOT’ is BEST FOR YOUR BABY!’

Love Baby Bumpkin x

2014 Term 6 Week 2. Tatty Bumpkin's Pose for the Week is CRAB!

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

In this weekly blog I focus on our Tatty Bumpkin ‘Posture of the Week’ - which this week is Crab. There is a description below on how to do the pose with your child and I have outlined some of its benefits for your child. If you want to find out how to do Crab pose with your baby and toddler – wait for the ‘Mid-week Baby Bumpkin Blog'.

Please remember though, for your child to gain the full benefit of all the Tatty Bumpkin Yoga and multisensory activities this week, 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 using the Tatty Bumpkin Kid’s Activity Programme.  Our qualified Tatty Bumpkin Teachers are fully trained in child development and children’s Yoga and are kept fully up-to-date by our professional team of paediatric physiotherapists, Yoga teachers and musicians.

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?

In which case - 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.

The Tatty Bumpkin Multisensory Yoga Adventure This Week ..

World Cup fever is starting to break out on Wobble Farm this week,  but this is football like you have never seen before,  it is Crab Football – a game EVERYONE can play!

Tatty Bumpkin and her friend Crab will be playing Crab Football on their adventure to the 'Seaside Fun Day'. They may go on the aeroplane roundabout or try to knock over coconuts as well. There might even be time for a ‘Dog Show’! 

So why not come and have a go at Crab Football –its fun!  Find your local class at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html.

Each Tatty Bumpkin adventure is carefully linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This means the sessions not only support your child’s physical development but also their communication and social skills.  For example, in this story your child will have the chance to: 

1. Improve their balance skills as they do the Tatty Bumpkin Crab and Dog Yoga poses.

2. Use gestures or words to express their thoughts i.e.

• Feeling ‘happy’ with Tatty Bumpkin when she finds herself on a lovely beach.
• Feeling ‘surprised’ with Tatty Bumpkin when she nearly treads on Crab!
• Feeling ‘excited’ with Tatty Bumpkin and Crab as they head off to the ‘Fun Day’ and ‘have a go’ at ‘Crab Football’  

3. Come up with their own ideas and feel confident to talk about them i.e.

• What they should pack in their bag for the day out?

• Which colour and size dog they are going to be at the Dog show?

• What kind of sandwiches they are going to have for their picnic?

4. Develop their sense of rhythm as they move in Crab pose to the Tatty Bumpkin Crab song.
 
5. Refine their fine motor (hand) skills and their eye – hand coordination as they ‘have a go’ at knocking over coconuts!
 
6. Most important of all - have fun with their friends as they: jump in rock pools, go round on the roundabout and play Crab Football!

Description of Crab Pose 

 

Creeping as a Crab!

If your child is about 4 years old or younger they will be learning new movements by looking at and copying others. For this reason, try to do Crab pose with your child so they can see what to do.

• Find a clear place on the floor – make sure there is nothing behind you so you will be able to lean backwards safely. Perhaps put a mat down so you don’t slip.

• Encourage your child to sit opposite you with their legs out in front of them - bent at the knees so their feet are flat on the floor.

• Now guide your child to put their palms flat on the floor just behind their body.

• Then encourage them to lean back slightly, so they start to lean on their hands, and then to ‘push up’ through their hands and feet to lift their bottom off the floor.

• Add to the fun by seeing if you can pass toys to each other whilst doing Crab pose, or try balancing them on your tummies – for a Crab Picnic!

If your child is younger, or finds this adaptation of Crab pose hard to do, try a slightly easier Crab pose first i.e.

• Guide you child to lie down on the floor and bend their knees up so they keep their feet flat on the floor. Then encourage them to push up through their feet and upper back so they are just taking their hips off the floor - be careful not to go up too high see below. Once your child has the idea you can make the pose more fun by passing different toys under their hips!  

Try Crab pose this way!

Progressions

Crab Football!

If your child is older see if they can ‘walk’ forwards, backwards and sideways as a crab.
Then, perhaps, have a go at ‘Crab Football’ using a light football sized foam ball or a balloon!

Why Crab Pose is Good for Your Child

As you do Crab pose with your child, you will both have a chance to: 

• Activate and strengthen their hip muscles.

Crab pose is excellent for strengthening your child’s ‘gluteal’ muscles around their hip – and yours of course! If children become aware of these hip muscles early on, and keep them active, this will improve their balance skills for sport and it t may also help to combat  a ‘knock kneed’ standing and walking position in later life. 

• Activate and strengthen their ‘shoulder’ muscles.

Interestingly if your child has active shoulder muscles this can help them hold a pen or type  more easily and with more control.

• Progress their spatial awareness (Proprioception).

Activities, like Crab pose, make your child more aware of their body position by stimulating their proprioceptive sense. This ‘spatial awareness’ is important for co-ordinated movements such as running, jumping over obstacles or throwing and kicking a ball.
In crab pose your child will be working their muscles hard against gravity as they lift  their own body weight up off their floor using just their hands and feet. Interestingly, these ‘work hard’ activities can help reduce hyperactivity in some children whilst helping other children, who may appear tired & floppy at first, become more alert and engaged.

                                        Love Tatty Bumpkin!