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?
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.
- Which cloud shape they are going to be?
- Wondering which item of washing the fairies are missing?
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.
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| Relaxing under our rainbow! |
Rainbow Pose
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| Young children may find Rainbow pose easier to do standing up |
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| Kneeling needs more coordination |
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| 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
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