2014 Week 5 - Tatty Bumpkin’s Kid’s Yoga Activity for the Week is Dog!

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

In this blog I will:

• Describe how you can do the activity with your child or toddler at home

• Give you reasons why the Tatty Bumpkin Yoga activity is beneficial for your child or toddler

• Give you some ideas on progressions and games you can play with your child around 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.

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.

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 and her friend Dog to the sea-side.They will have a chance to:

• Strengthen their ‘core’ postural muscles as they do the downwards dog and crab poses.

Wave your tails!!

• Progress their communication skills as they make the sounds of the sea and talk about the seaside creatures.

• Develop their imagination and thinking skills as they imagine the sea andinvetsigate the shells and sea props used in the class.

Thinking about shells!

•   Have fun with others as they dance as dolphins and play crab football!

Find your local Tatty Bumpkin class at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html.
 

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

• 

Dog pose for older children

Dog pose with your toddler

Ideally, try to do Dog 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. Downwards dog pose will give you an great opportunity to stretch out your back. N.B. if you do have back issues do the pose carefully and stop if you feel any pain. 

• Make sure that you and your child are on a non-slip mat. This will stop your feet slipping as you do the pose. 

• Start by doing Dog Yoga activity yourself, then encourage your child to copy you.
• If you are unable to do the pose comfortably - ask an older child or another adult to demonstrate pose or use a doll to show your chid what to do. 
• If you have never done dog pose before always practise it away from your toddler or young child so you are confident in this position beofre you do the pose with your child. 
• If you are concerned about your back or wrists then stay on your hands and knees in 'cat' pose. 

• Move onto your hands and knees in ‘cat’ pose. Then tuck your toes under your feet, and push your hips up into the air to move into ‘dog’ pose.

• Dog pose is a ‘back’ stretch. If you feel any tightness down the back of your legs and knees as you do the pose then bend your knees – this will help you to put your back in a better position for the stretch.Make sure your hands are flat on the floor and your neck is relaxed. Now encourage your toddler to copy you!

• You can bark at each other and even ‘go for a walk’ – moving forwards, backwards and even sideways as dogs.

Other Games to Play in Dog Pose

Waving Paws and Tails! 

• Lift up one arm to wave at your child and encourage them to wave back. This is a great 'prewriting' activity as this pattern of movement is similar to writing as it encourages your child to use one arm as a support whilst they move their other.

• Then lift up your leg to ‘wag your tail’, put it down & lift up your other leg as you have two magic tails!

Benefits of Tatty Bumpkin’s Dog Yoga Activity for Your Child or Toddler

Downwards Dog pose will give your child the opportunity to:

1. Strengthen their core muscles i.e. their tummy, back, shoulder and hip muscles.
As your child does dog pose they will be actively moving and strengthening their shoulder, tummy, back and hip muscles. As your child strengthens these muscle groups they will be building up their stability in the middle of their body and this will help them to develop more complex skills for example: 

• Holding a pencil/pen correctly and comfortably
• Doing up buttons or zips
• Using cutlery
• Kicking a ball

2. Stretch out their small hand muscles
As your child does Dog pose they will be gently stretching and activating their hand muscles in preparation for learning more complex fine motor (hand) skills.

3. Improve their sensory processing skills to help with attention and focusing skills 
When your child does Dog pose they will be stimulating several senses at the same time i.e. their:

• Visual sense
• Sense of touch (as they feel the floor) and
• Body senses i.e. their proprioceptive sense and their vestibular sense.

Our proprioceptive sense tells us about our body position. This sense stimulated when we push and pull with our bodies and lift heavy things.So as your child does Dog pose they will be stimulating their proprioceptive sense as they lift their body weight up from the floor. Activities which stimulate our proprioceptive sense are usually alerting (but in a calm way).
Our vestibular sense tells us where our head is in space. Again your child will be stimulating this sense as they do Dog pose. 
Doing ‘sensory rich’ activities, which involve the steady stimulation of several senses, will refine your child’s ability to process and organise their senses. Good sensory organisation helps your child to ‘filter out’ distractions so they can pay attention and focus on one particular task – this is critical for learning new skills.  

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.  
Remember, you can 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

2014 Term 1 Week 3 Baby Bumpkin's Yoga Activity for the Week is Tummy or Abdominal Breathing

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

In this blog I describe a Baby Bumpkin Yoga activity and outline some of the benefits for both you and your baby so you can enjoy doing the activity at home

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..

If you are attending Baby Bumpkin classes with your baby this week, the Baby Bumpkin adventure will give your baby the chance to:

• Progress their early physical skills as they kick out with their legs and activate their hip muscles in Frog pose.

• Enjoy a ‘rich sensory experience’ as they investigate and play with natural grasses and reeds of different textures.

• Socialise with other babies and develop their early communication skills, whilst playing on their tummies round the duck pond!

• Experience a gentle relaxation with you in a supportive environment. Find your local class at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html.

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 your baby’s early communication, social and thinking skills.  

Baby Bumpkin’s Abdominal Breathing Activity for You and Your Baby

This week the Baby Bumpkin Yoga Activity is ‘abdominal’ or ‘tummy’ breathing, a great way to use your breath to calm yourself and your baby.

Abdominal Breathing for You

What is Abdominal Breathing?

• This method of breathing is also called ‘tummy’ or ‘diaphragmatic’ breathing.

• The diaphragm is a large, dome-shaped muscle located at the base of our lungs. It largely separates our ‘chest’ and ‘tummy’ cavities.

• Although we use our diaphragm muscle to breathe all the time, not just when we are ‘abdominal breathing’, we often do not use it as efficiently as we could.

• By concentrating on moving our tummy whilst we are breathing you will be using your diaphragm muscles more effectively.Your baby will naturally use their tummy to help their breathing however as adults we find it harder to do! 

How to do Abdominal Breathing 

• As with any new exercise practice makes perfect! So try to do this exercise twice a day for short periods (with or without your child). Then you can use the technique to calm your mind whenever you find your mind dwelling on upsetting thoughts or when you are experiencing pain.

• Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen. When you take a deep breath in, the hand on the abdomen should rise higher than the one on the chest. This insures that your diaphragm is pulling air into the bases of your lungs.

• After breathing out (exhaling) through your mouth, take a slow deep breath in through your nose imagining that you are sucking in all the air in the room and hold it for about 5-7 seconds  (or as long as you are able, but do exceed 7 seconds)

• Slowly exhale through your mouth for a count of 8 seconds (or as long as you are able). As all you release the air form your lungs, gently tighten your tummy (abdominal) muscles to completely evacuate the remaining air from your lungs.

• It is important to remember that to take a deep breath we need to not only focus on breathing in, but also on making sure that we have breathed out fully.

• Repeat the ‘cycle’ 3 – 4 times.  

Abdominal Breathing with your Baby

• Find a comfortable place to either sit or lie down, making sure your back is well supported. If you are lying down you might find it more comfortable to bend your knees up a little and place a small pillow underneath.

• If you are sitting, shrug your shoulders up and then roll them down and back, this helps you to ‘open up your chest’ and release any tension held in your shoulders.

• Settle your baby either on your lap or your tummy.

• Take a slow breath in through your nose and let your tummy move outwards or upwards towards your baby.

• Then slowly breathe out, either through your nose or mouth, feeling your tummy move back and inwards towards the floor.

• Do 4 - 5 deeper breaths in a row, then breathe normally for a few breaths before repeating the deeper breaths.

• Only do 3 - 4 cycles of abdominal breathing at any one time as taking deep breaths for too long can cause dizziness.  

Why Abdominal Breathing is Good for Both You and Your Baby

1. To aid relaxation and relieve tension

• Recent research highlights the powerful effect of a baby’s/child’s cry on most adults, regardless of whether the adults look after children or not. Areas in our ‘mid-brains’ (associated with the ‘fight, flight and fright’ response) appear to be quickly activated when we hear a baby crying as opposed to any other man–made sound.

• This research is backed up by other findings which show that adults also have a hormonal response to a crying baby or child i.e. 

• Men produce more testosterone – this can lead to increased stress levels. Interestingly, fathers who are more involved with the care of their baby or child seem to produce less testosterone on hearing their cry - this may mean that they are less vulnerable to stress when coping with a crying child. 

• Mothers release more cortisol - a hormone associated with the stress response.

• As a result of both these neurological and hormonal responses:

• Our blood pressure and heart rate rise.

• Our breathing becomes shallower and faster.

• Researchers suggest that these changes our body state possibly reflect an increased need for our bodies to be ‘ready for action’ and ‘more alert’ so we can care for our baby or child in ‘distress’. 

• However, over time, these responses can lead to an increase in our overall stress levels.  In addition, babies  and children will often naturally respond to their parent’s and carer’s ‘increased state of alertness’ by becoming more anxious themselves - breathing quicker and perhaps crying more and so the tension builds.

• As you take deeper, slower breaths whilst practicing abdominal breathing you will automatically be slowing your heart rate. This in turn can help you to relax and feel calmer. Allowing yourself a few minutes of relaxation over the course of your day can often give your energy levels a boost. 

2. To strengthen the bond between you both

• As you relax with your baby, holding them close, you will be strengthening the bond between you both and building that close parent/child relationship.  You and your baby will be bonding in many different ways: by looking at each other, making sounds and listening to each other and even by moving together. But perhaps the most powerful way of bonding is via touch. Quietly sitting or lying close to each other, so you can feel the rhythm of each other’s breathing and the warmth of your bodies. If your baby finds it difficult to settle with you try: 
• Being quiet together for just 30 seconds and then gradually building up this time to short periods during the day, 5 minutes or so, as your baby becomes used to being still with you. 

• Holding your baby close to you whilst you are standing up: gently swaying side to side or moving round the room. Maybe sing a lullaby or a favourite nursery rhyme to help you both relax! See our blog on ‘Walking with your baby’

Love Baby Bumpkin x

P.S. Inspired by this blog - find your local Baby Bumpkin class at
http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html.

2014 Autumn Term 1 Week 4 - Tatty Bumpkin's Kid's Yoga Activity for the Week is Frog!

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

In this blog I:

• Describe how to do the weekly Yoga activity with your child or toddler at home

• Give reasons why the Tatty Bumpkin Yoga activity is beneficial for your child or toddler

• Give ideas on how to progress the activity and games you can play around 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. 

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 visit her friends the frogs and will have a chance to:

1. Progress their fitness and balance skills as they jump as Frogs.

2. Progress their communication and thinking skills as they help Tatty Bumpkin solve the problem of frog being bored! 

Help Tatty Bumpkin solve the problem!

3. Stimulate their body senses as they turn themselves upside down upside down in Horse pose!

Can you kick up your heels?

 
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. 

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

Jump as a Frog!

Jump as Frogs together!

Ideally do Frog 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. Frog jumps are great for your own fitness and balance.

• You can do Tatty Bumpkin Frog pose along to Tatty Bumpkin Frog Song. This song guides you to do 4 jumps in a row and then to take a rest, under the lily pad, before jumping once more! See http://bit.ly/1q2kqVQ .

• Start by doing the Yoga activity yourself and then encourage your child to copy you. If you are unable to do parts of the pose you can either encourage an older child to do the pose or use your child’s favourite toy. 

• Begin curled up on a mat - as if you’re hiding under a lily pad.  

• Imagine you’re waking up and move into the squatting position.

• Come up on your toes to get ready to jump.

• Then leap into the air, with your arms above your head!

• Come back down into squatting and jump up once more.

• If your child is 3 years or over, encourage them to do frog jumps without putting their hands on the floor – great for balance skills.

• If your child is younger, see if they can bend and straighten their knees to jump as frogs!

• If your child is more toddler age, and light enough for you to lift, you can help them to jump by supporting them around their hips. This allows your toddler to use their arms to balance.

 
What-ever your child’s age only do about 4 jumps in a row before pretending to hide again. In this way your child will remain at the ‘just right level of alertness’ and will become over-excited.

 

Progressions for Frog Pose

If your child is older they may want to ‘have a go’ at doing frog jumps forwards, backwards and sideways!

 

Other ‘Frog Games’ to Play

Jumping on Lily Pads

Often carpet shops will be happy to let you have samples of carpet. As these are usually non-slip they make ideal ‘lily pads’ to jump on and off!
As your child jumps off and on the squares- they will be using and organising several of their senses i.e. their visual sense, their sense of touch and their body senses. Doing these ‘sensory rich’ activities will help your child’s attention skills.   

Jump over lily pads!

 

Benefits of Tatty Bumpkin’s Frog Yoga Activity for Your Child or Toddler

Frog pose will give your child the opportunity to:

1. Strengthen their ‘core’ muscles
As your child leaps as a frog, taking their arms above their head, they will be strengthening their gluteal (hip), abdominal, spinal and shoulder muscles. Your young child or toddler needs these muscles to be strong and active so they can improve both their gross (whole body) and fine (hand) movement skills.

2. Strengthen their leg muscles
Jumping will strengthen your child’s quadriceps (thigh), hamstrings, calf, ankle and foot muscles. Your child will be using their own body as a natural weight to ‘work’ these muscles.

3. Develop their foot muscles
As your child or toddler does Frog pose they will be stretching and strengthening their foot muscles in many ways i.e.
Firstly they will be feeling the floor with their feet
Then they will be using their feet to jump up from the floor
Finally they will be using their feet to land back down on the floor.

4. Improve their balance skills
Staying still in the squatting position for a few seconds will challenge your child’s sense of balance.  If your child is older encourage them to rock forwards onto the balls of their feet as they prepare to jump and to try jumping up and down without putting their hands down on the floor. 
If your child is younger (toddler age) you can also support them round their hips as they jump in frog pose, they will then be able to use their arms to balance themselves.  Using our arms to keep our balance in unstable situations is a sign of maturing balance skills. 

5. Raise their ‘levels of alertness’
Jumping in frog pose will stimulate your young child’s/toddler’s vestibular sense. Our vestibular system is located in the inner ear and is stimulated each time we move our heads in relation to our body and gravity. This sense helps us achieve the right ‘level of alertness’ for any task we do i.e. via our vestibular sense we are able to move quickly and smoothly from sitting quietly to jumping up and down as we cheer on our favourite team!
If we sit for too long, with little vestibular stimulation, our levels of alertness will gradually go down and we will find it harder to think and process information.
So if your child has been sitting for a while, Frog pose will help them become more alert and to focus once more. If your child tends to be drowsy in the morning, doing a few frog jumps will then to raise their levels of alertness so they are ‘ready to learn’. However, don’t encourage your child to do too many jumps as this can lead to overexcitement.

6. Improve their communication skills
As you talk, sing and make faces with your young child, whilst doing the actions to Tatty Bumpkin Frog song, you will be helping to develop their communication skills.

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

Autumn Term 1 Week 3 Tatty Bumpkin’s Kid’s Yoga Activity for the Week is Tummy (Abdominal) Breathing

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

In this blog I will:

• Describe how you can do the activity with your child or toddler
• Give you reasons why this Tatty Bumpkin Yoga activity is beneficial for your child or toddler
• Give you ideas on progressions and the games you can play with your child around 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.htmlhttp://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.

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.
 

The Weekly Tatty Bumpkin Adventure

If your child is attending Tatty Bumpkin classes this week they will go on an adventure with Tatty Bumpkin and her friends the ducks to a very windy pond! This adventure story will help your child to:

• Progress their physical skills as they bob up and down in the duck Yoga activity!
• Progress their communication and thinking skills as they help Tatty Bumpkin rescue one of the ducks
• Increase their awareness of their breathing pattern as they practise the ‘tummy breathing’ Yoga activity.

Tummy Breathing – Tatty Bumpkin’s Yoga Activity for the Week

 Note for Parents- What is ‘Abdominal Breathing?

• This method of breathing is also called ‘tummy’ or ‘diaphragmatic’ breathing.

• The diaphragm is a large, dome-shaped muscle located at the base of our lungs. It largely separates our ‘chest’ and ‘tummy’ cavities.

• Although we use our diaphragm muscle to breathe all the time, not just when we are ‘abdominal breathing’, we often do not use it as efficiently as we could.

• By concentrating on moving our tummy whilst we are breathing you and your child will be using your diaphragm muscles more effectively.

• You may well be surprised how easily your child gets the hang of ‘abdominal breathing’, often adults find it harder to do.

Technique for Abdominal Breathing (Adults)

• As with any new exercise practice makes perfect! So try to do this exercise twice a day for short periods (with or without your child). Then you can use the technique to calm your mind whenever you find your are dwelling on upsetting thoughts orexperiencing pain.

• Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen. When you take a deep breath in, the hand on the abdomen should rise higher than the one on the chest. This insures that your diaphragm is pulling air into the bases of your lungs.

• After breathing out (exhaling) through your mouth a little way, take a slow, deep breath in through your nose - imagining that you are sucking in all the air in the room! Hold your 'breath in' for about 5-7 seconds (or as long as you are able, but do exceed 7 seconds)

• Then slowly breathe out (exhale) through your mouth for a count of 8 (or as long as you are able). As all you release the air from your lungs, gently tighten your tummy (abdominal) muscles to completely evacuate the remaining air from your lungs.

• It is important to remember that to take a deep breath we need to not only focus on breathing in, but also on making sure that we have breathed out fully.

• Repeat the ‘cycle’ 3 – 4 times. 

Inhalation - breathing in. Exhalation - breathing out. What happens from the inside!

Tummy Breathing and Relaxation – With Your Child 

 

 
Ideally lie down and relax 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. The relaxation and breathing is good for you as well

• Find two toy ducks or similar (the non – squeaky kind!) and a soft space or mat to lie down on. The quieter the better-  as you may want to listen to some gentle music i.e. Tatty Bumpkin Relax Song see http://bit.ly/1q2kqVQ.

• Start by showing your child what to do. Lie down on your back (you may want to put a cushion under your knees to make your back comfortable) and place one for the ducks on your tummy.

• Using the tummy breathing technique described above, show your child how you can make the duck on your tummy go up and down by only using your breath.

• Your child might find it useful to place their hands on your tummy so they can feel it go up and down. This is also a lovely ‘bonding’ experience for both of you.

• Then guide your child to lie down with you and place the other toy duck or a toy on their tummy.

• Encourage your child to see if they can make their duck ‘bob up and down’ on their tummy by taking deeper breaths. Watch your child’s breathing to check that:

• As they breathe IN their tummy is moving UPWARDS and OUTWARDS – so  lifting their duck upwards.

• As they breathe OUT their tummy moves INWARDS and DOWNWARDS – so letting their duck fall.

• If your child is doing the movements the other way round i.e. as they breathe in they suck their tummy in – gently try to correct them by showing them hhow to do it once again. 

• Only let your child do 3 or 4 breaths in a row and then to rest as you do not want them to become dizzy. 

Progressions for Tummy Breathing

If your child is older they may want to have a go at ‘tummy breathing’ or 'ballon breathing' whilst sitting or standing. if they can do this, they can use this kind of breathing to calm themselves when they are feeling a anxious or stressed.

Balloon Breathing Technique for Children 

• Find a supportive seat for your child, ideally one with arms, and encourage them to sit up as straight as they can.

• Guide your child to:
• Put both their hands on their tummy.
• Then to keep their mouth closed and take a slow breath in through their nose.

• Encourage your child to imagine that, as they breathe in, there is a balloon in their tummy and they are trying to fill it up with air!

• Guide your child to keep breathing in until they think the balloon in their tummy has enough air inside! Don’t let them breathe in too far as they may find it hard to stay relaxed. Your child should feel their hands, on their tummy, moving outwards – point this out to them.

• When your child feels their ‘tummy balloon’ is full of air encourage them to imagine they have let go of the balloon, and the air is rushing out! Guide your child to breathe out slowly through their mouth (with pursed lips). They should now feel their hands are coming back towards their body.

• Guide your child to do 4-5 breaths like this then to breathe normally.

Tummy Breathing and Relaxation – Toddlers

Tummy breathing in sitting

Tummy breathing lying down!

• Find a comfortable place to either sit or lie down; making sure your back is well supported. If you are lying down you might find it more comfortable to bend your knees up a little and place a small pillow underneath.

• If you are sitting, shrug your shoulders up and then roll them down and back, this helps you to ‘open up your chest’ and release any tension held in your shoulders.

• Settle your toddler near to you, either on your lap or tummy, reassuring them by talking to them, giving them a hug and maybe giving them a toy to look at and hold.

• Take a slow breath in through your nose and let your tummy move outwards and upwards. (See full guidance on tummy breathing for adults at the beginning of this blog).

• If your toddler is lying on your tummy you will probably be able to gently move them upwards on your tummy!

• Then slowly breathe out, either through your nose or mouth, feeling your tummy move downwards. If your toddler is lying on your tummy they will move closer towards you.

• Only do 4-5 deep breaths in a row, then breathe normally for a few breaths before repeating the ‘tummy’ breaths.  Doing too many breaths in a row can cause dizziness.  

Other ‘Breathing Games’ to Play

Wind in White Sails

• For this activity you will need a couple of tissues, paper napkins or handkerchiefs.

• Find a comfortable place to sit on the floor and encourage your child to sit facing you.

• Show them what to do by:
• Dangling the tissue/hankie between yourself and your child
• Taking a deep breath in, and then 
• Blowing out on the tissue to make it move.

• Now hold the other tissue in front of your child’s nose and mouth, making sure that you can still see each other, and encourage them to blow out on the tissue with you.

• If your child is younger give them time to work out what to do and repeat the game several times. 

• If your child is older, you can progress this activity by encouraging them to ‘have a go’ at blowing out through their nose. Again show them what to do first, highlighting to them that you are blowing out through your nose, then support them to try whilst saying “Blow nose!” 

Blowing Bubbles!

Playing a blowing game with ‘baby friendly bubbles’ is a great way to bring your child’s attention to their breath. 

Benefits of Tatty Bumpkin’s Tummy Breathing Activity for You and Your Child or Toddler

Why this activity is Good for You!  

As you take deeper, slower breaths you will automatically be slowing your heart rate. This in turn can help you to relax and feel calmer. Allowing yourself a few minutes of relaxation over the course of your day can often give your energy levels a boost.

 

Why this activity is Good for Your Child

As your child concentrates on ‘abdominal breathing’ and relaxes they will be:

1. Increasing their awareness of their breath and it's effect on their body. When your child takes deeper breaths, their breathing and heart rate will become slower and this in turn will help your child to calm down. Tummy breathing is a great skill to learn at a young age as it becomes harder to co-ordinate this movement as we get older.

2. Learning the skill of ‘relaxation’. It is never too early for your child to become more aware of how their body feels when they are ‘quiet’ for a while. When we relax we often find it easier to think – it is the same for your child. Perhaps encourage them to think back on their day and what they have done or maybe what they would like to do. Reflection & thinking time is vital for learning & helps develop an imaginative & creative mind. Your child will start to think not just ‘what is’ but ‘what if?!’ Leaders, artists & entrepreneurs all think creatively.

 

Why this Activity is Good for Your Toddler

• As you relax with your toddler, holding them close, you will be strengthening the bond between you both and establishing that close parent/child relationship.  You and your toddler will be bonding in many different ways: by looking at each other, making sounds and listening to each other and even by moving together. But perhaps the most powerful way of bonding is via touch, quietly sitting or lying close to each other, so you can feel the rhythm of each other’s breathing and the warmth of your bodies. If your toddler finds it difficult to settle with you try: 
• Being quiet together for just 30 seconds and then gradually building up this time during the day, as your toddler becomes used to being still with you
• Holding your toddler close to you whilst you are standing up, if they a not too heavy, gently sway side to side or move round the room. Maybe sing a lullaby song or nursery rhyme to help you both relax! See my blog on ‘Walking with your baby’ see http://tattybumpkinltd.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/carrying-your-baby-whilst-walking-to.html

 

So Remember 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, 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

2014 Term 1 Week 2 Baby Bumpkin's Yoga Activity is Snake!

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

In this blog I describe a Baby Bumpkin Yoga activity and outline some of it's benefits for both you and your baby - so you can enjoy doing the activity at home.

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.

If you are attending Baby Bumpkin classes with your baby, this week’s Baby Bumpkin Jungle adventure will give your baby the chance to:

• Progress their physical skills and ‘body confidence’ as they wriggle in Snake pose. If your baby tends to be a bit daunted by lying on their tummy – this session will be very helpful.

• Enjoy a ‘rich sensory experience’ as they investigate and play with a variety of  different fruits and vegetables!

• Socialise with other babies whilst playing in the faster paced  ‘monkey’ yoga activity and the slower paced ‘bear’ yoga activity.

• Experience a calm state with others during the final relaxation.  Find your local class at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html.

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 your baby’s early communication, social and thinking skills.

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.

Baby Bumpkin 'Snake' Yoga Activity

This week the Baby Bumpkin Yoga Activity is ‘SNAKE’ - a fun activity which brings tummy time into your baby’s day – giving them a chance to:  

• Progress their physical skills i.e. increasing their ability to move their body up off the floor and to reach with their hands.
• Stimulate their senses especially their vision, sense of touch and their body senses.
• Develop their visual skills
• Gently stretch any tight tummy or hip muscles.

Firstly, here are some general tips on 'tummy time' as this can be a daunting experience for some babies. 

'Tummy Time' Tips

• Your baby can start tummy time soon after they are born but, remember, never leave them alone on their tummy.

• Introduce your baby to tummy time ‘little and often’ during their day i.e. encourage your baby to lie on their tummy 2 – 3 times a day, for 2 -3  minutes at a time, or as long as they are happy. Then gradually work up to a total time of 40-60 mins daily. You can bring little moments of tummy time into your baby’s normal day by:

• Putting them on their tummy as you dry them after a bath, or after changing their nappy. 
• Laying them on their tummy across your lap to ‘burp’ them.

• It is never too early to begin to read to your baby. As your baby rests on their tummy on your chest – read them a story or talk to them about their Baby Bumpkin class!

• To start with your baby may not like tummy time; indeed some babies never really seem to enjoy it. Usually, the more times your baby plays on their tummy, the more they will enjoy it – a chicken and egg situation! If your baby does not like tummy time: 

• Check with your health visitor – your baby may be experiencing reflux. 
• Find a comfortable chair or sofa in which you can comfortably lean back, and lay your baby on their tummy on your chest. If your baby is really anxious you can ‘grade’ your position for them i.e. start in a more upright sitting position and then gradually lean back so that your baby has a chance to get used to lying in a more horizontal position. In this position your baby can look at you, be reassured, and strengthen their bond with you.

• Another great tip is to roll up a small hand towel into a little ‘sausage shaped’ bolster and place this under your baby’s shoulders whilst they are on their tummy. This will help your baby to clear their head off the floor. Make sure both your baby’s arms are over the bolster so that it is lying below their arm pit area. Do not do this activity for too long and never leave your baby alone with the bolster. 

• If your baby is unsettled, or becomes unsettled, in tummy time, and distraction (gentle blows down their back or toys or your smiles – see below) doesn’t calm them, always roll them onto their back. It’s horrible to feel ‘trapped’ on your tummy! Your baby needs to gradually build up their strength so they feel confident in tummy time.

• As your baby plays on their tummy, keep looking out for signs that they may be tiring i.e.  Intense dribbling, resting their face on the surface they are lying on or, indeed, crying. If you can stop tummy time before your baby becomes distressed then it will remain an enjoyable experience for your baby.

• Distraction is key! While your baby is playing on their tummy, hold a toy in front of them to get their attention, or give them a baby mirror to look into. This will also encourage your baby to lift their head and reach (see overleaf).

• From about 3- 4 mths of age your baby will most likely ‘get the idea’ of propping themselves up on their forearms.. You can guide your baby into this position by gently bringing their elbows inwards and forwards so they are directly under their shoulders. Do not do this if your baby is very young as they will not have the movement in their shoulders to be comfortable.

• Remember the ‘Eye level smile’! Get down close to your baby as they lie on their tummy; smile, sing and make funny noises and faces at them! Your baby will be encouraged to lift their head, reach, and play when they see your face and hear your voice - Get the whole family involved!

• As your baby becomes more confident in tummy time – spread their favourite toys around them so they are encouraged to pivot on their tummy to reach and play with them. Most babies do this ‘tummy pivoting’ with swimming actions of their arms and legs at around 4-5 mths. It is really beneficial for them as it strengthens their neck, spine, hip and leg muscles in preparation for sitting and also gives them a great sensory experience as they push up against gravity!

Baby Bumpkin Snake Yoga Activity

Wriggle as snakes!

N.B. Remember, when you are doing the Baby Bumpkin Yoga activities with your baby, never force the movements and keep looking at them  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.

• Sometimes babies can be taken by surprise if they are ‘suddenly’ placed on their tummy causing them to become unsettled. Let your baby feel ‘more in control’ of their tummy time whilst they are doing Snake pose by encouraging them to roll as much as they can onto their tummy i.e.

• Settle your baby on their back in front you. Start by encouraging them to either look at you or their favourite toy.

To start a roll - first encourage your baby to look at a toy.

• Then, either use your eyes or the toy to encourage your baby to look over in the direction you wish them to roll. As they shift their gaze over to that side, your baby should start turn their head in that direction. If you are using a toy – hold it above your baby’s shoulder level and keep moving it in the direction of the roll.

• If your baby reaches out, with their arms, to touch the toy this will usually help them to roll. If your baby does not reach out, gently move their ‘under’ arm so it is more alongside their head – this means it will not get ‘trapped’ under their body as they roll over.

• As your baby starts to turn their head, use your other hand to gently support them behind their head, shoulders and back to assist them to roll. Take your time and wait to see how much support your baby needs – you may be surprised! Obviously as your baby gets older they will need less and less support o roll.

• To encourage your baby to stay and play in Snake pose:

• Keep distracting them with their toy.
• Do the ‘Eye level smile!’ 
• Maybe, give your baby a safe mirror to look into.
• Or use a little bolster to give them support - see suggestion above.

• If your baby is about 3 – 4 mths, once they are in Snake pose, gently guide their elbows ‘inwards’ so they are directly under their shoulders, in this position your baby can start to push their head up using their forearms.

• If your baby is 5- 6 mths or older they may be starting to push themselves up off their tummy with their elbows straight. This is a good activity to encourage, if your baby wants to do this, as it helps them to strengthen their shoulders and arms so they can support themselves in the sitting position.

                                         

Games to Play Around Snake Pose

‘Smiley Snakes!’

Eye Level Smile!

Your baby will love to do Snake pose with you and will be reassured by your smiles. Lie down opposite your baby so you can smile at them, and give them encouragement whilst looking directly at them.

If your baby is older, and is starting to play confidently on their tummy, scatter a few cushions, of a suitable size, on the floor and encourage them to wriggle like a Snake over them.  N.B. if your baby is younger, and is still finding tummy time ‘hard work’ do not use cushions as they will find it easier to push up from a firmer surface. NEVER leave your baby alone with the cushions on the floor, because if your baby tires they could find it hard to clear their head from the cushion to breathe.

 

Wriggling Snakes to Tatty Bumpkin Snake Song

• If your baby is about 3 mths, or older, or has good control of their head, they may enjoy lying on their tummy on your outstretched thighs with their arms over the side of your legs - as in Tatty Bumpkin Cat pose. In this position your baby can feel close to you and can start to push up against the floor with their hands – this is great for the development of their hands.

• If your baby is settled you can gently move your thighs up and down under your baby so they can experience the feeling of movement whilst being on their tummy – to be ‘wriggling snakes!’

• Doing the games suggested above to the 'Tatty Bumpkin Snake Song' can help both you and your baby relax as you wriggle to the rhythm of the song. By adding this further auditory sensation you will be making the whole activity more multi-sensory and hence engaging for your baby.  However keep watching your baby as some babies find the music and the tummy time movement too overwhelming to start with. Snake Song can be downloaded from Itunes see http://bit.ly/1D6ZFPA

                                      

Why Snake Pose is Good for Your Baby

As your baby does Snake pose with you, they will have the opportunity to:

1. Develop their ‘postural control’ and balance
‘Postural control’ is a complex mechanism that enables us to hold ourselves up against gravity and position ourselves to do all that we need to do. We develop this control of our body from our head downwards and from the middle of our body - outwards.  Throughout our live we continue to develop our ‘postural control’ but the major changes occur when we are very young.  As babies we learn to lift our head and body off the floor, roll, sit, stand and walk. As young children we continue to refine these balance skills. Snake pose (tummy time) is a great position for your baby to develop and their first ‘postural control’ skills so they can learn to:

• Move their head whilst keeping their body still. Encourage your baby to look to either side whilst they are in Snake pose. Eventually this skill will be refined by your child so they can learn to look quickly up at a white board and then down at their work!

• Hold their head steady whilst their body is moving. Encourage your baby wriggle side to side or forwards a little way whilst they are in Snake pose.  This skill is needed for crawling, bottom shuffling or walking.

2. Strengthen their core muscles for rolling, sitting and eventually standing
As your baby plays in snake pose they will be strengthening their shoulder, back, tummy and hip muscles. This core muscle strength gives your baby a firm foundation on which they can develop more complex physical skills such as rolling, sitting upright and crawling.

3. Stimulate their body senses
Tummy time stimulates your baby’s ‘vestibular’, ‘proprioceptive’ senses. The vestibular and proprioceptive senses tell us about our body at any one time i.e. how tense our muscles are, whether our joints are bent or straight, where our head is in relation to our body, whether we are still or moving. Your baby will probably start to love movement activities which stimulate their body senses as, it is often, the enjoyment of these body sensations which encourage them to move and push themselves up away from the floor.

4. Stretch out their back and hip muscles
If your baby has been sitting in their buggy, chair or travel seat Snake pose will allow them to stretch out their back and hip muscles. Take it slowly though, you do not want to take them by surprise!

5. Take the weight off the back of their head
When your baby lies on their tummy in Snake pose their head will be ‘free’ e.g. it will not be lying against anything. As babies’ skulls are comparatively soft they may become flattened in certain spots if your baby has been laying in the same position for too long (positional plagiocephaly). So it is good for your baby to spend time playing with their head not resting against anything. 

6. Develop their visual skills
Being on their tummy provides your baby with a different view of the world. Whilst on their tummies, playing with toys, your baby will be developing and refining their head and eye movements.

7. Develop their hand muscles and grip
Whilst in Snake pose your baby will be putting weight through their hands and gently stretching the muscles in their palms. These actions will help your baby to develop early grasping skills.

Babies with reflux
Always ask your health visitor for advice if your baby suffers from reflux and consequently finds tummy time painful. Sometimes it is helpful to lay your baby on a small pillow when they are trying tummy time so their upper body is semi- reclined i.e. their shoulders are higher than their hips. Never do tummy time straight after a feed.

Love Baby Bumpkin x