tatty bumpkin-: October 2014

Monday, October 27, 2014

Tatty Bumpkin Ideas for a Bendy, Giggly, Clever and Strong Halloween!

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

Here are a few ideas to keep you all 'bendy, giggly, clever and strong' this Halloween!

Movement ideas

Make your very own ‘Ghost-print Walk' and see if you can follow the ghostly steps without falling off the spooky footprints see http://tinyurl.com/od2577x . Great for improving balance and concentration skills.
Be sure to tape those footprints to the floor to prevent spooky slips!

Or maybe build a den this Halloween half term inside or outside - see http://nurturestore.co.uk/building-dens for ideas.

Or, why not build an elf or fairy den either out in the garden or inside? As Occupational Therapist Angela Hanscom observes “making fairy teepees is meaningful to the child, is a form of play, and inspires their imagination” http://www.balancedandbarefoot.com/blog/fairy-teepees.

Or go for a lovely wood land walk – The Woodland Trust lists it’s best Autumn woods! See https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/news/latest/top-autumn-woods/. As your walk - collect some autumn leaves for…. see next bit!

Tatty Bumpkin out in the woods!

Ideas for Clever Fingers

These activity ideas are good for a range of ages. We hope you enjoy them but also keep safe i.e. supervise young ones closely. Some of the activities are not suitable for very young children as they involve small craft pieces which might be swallowed.

The Woodland Trust has some great ideas for autumn leaves along with some handy pdf downloads See http://tinyurl.com/n3g466w

A leaf circle!

A great ‘spidery’ idea for toddlers and young children promoting their hand skills, eye/hand co-ordination, proprioception and concentration skills not to mention their persistence! http://tinyurl.com/omdf9at

or why not 'leaf' (:-)) a kindly note for someone special!

Tatty Bumpkin loves her friend Spider!

Ideas for a Healthy Body

A vegetable skeleton! http://www.brit.co/healthy-halloween-recipes/

Or some spooky owls! Idea from quirkymomma.com see http://tinyurl.com/l8jfrww

Or why not some spooky banana ghosts and pumpkin tangerines - see http://creativeandhealthyfunfood.com/healthy-halloween-fun-food-ideas/

Spooky!

Book Ideas for a Clever Mind

After all that activity why not settle down with a good book! The ‘Scaredy Squirrel’ books are great fun and all about ‘having a go!’ See http://tinyurl.com/l5taydb

Or for some good suggestions on non-scary Halloween books see the ‘zellasaidpurple’ blog spot http://tinyurl.com/ptd78mz E.g. The Bumpy Little Pumpkin. Margery Cuyler/Will Hillenbrand. Choose the pumpkin YOU like best!

Ideas for a Happy, Giggly Halloween!

Some great tips to keep everyone settled when things get a bit loud or scratchy - see ideas for a ‘Meltdown free Halloween’ http://tinyurl.com/kssxrro.
These are ideas for children who find it hard organise and manage their sensations. However, I think some of the ideas are useful for everyone i.e. wearing comfortable clothing under a scratchy Halloween costume.

And finally 10 Halloween Jokes

Thanks to 'Mom with a Lesson Plan' http://tinyurl.com/kskr2st

1. What does a ghost do to stay safe in a car?
He puts on his sheet belt.

2. What is the best way to speak to a monster?
From a long distance away!

3. Where do baby ghosts go during the day?
Day-scare centres.

4.What do birds say on Halloween?
Twick o Tweet.

5. What is the most important subject a witch learns in school?
Spelling.

6. How do you make a witch itch?
Take away the W

7. Why didn’t the skeleton go to the ball?
Because he had no BODY to go with. (That is so old!)

8. Why do witches wear name tags?
So they will know which witch is which.

9. Why do people like vampires so much?
Because they are FANGtastic.

10.How do you make a skeleton laugh?
Tickle its funny bone.

So Happy Halloween from all at Tatty Bumpkin!

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.

If 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.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

2014 Week 7 Baby Bumpkin's Yoga Activity for the Week is Knitting!

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.

You do not need Yoga experience - just a sense of fun!

The Baby Bumpkin Adventure this Week

If you are taking your baby to a Baby Bumpkin class this week you will go on an adventure with Baby Bumpkin to help the little old lady knit magical animals! Your baby will have a chance to:

1. Progress their early co-ordination skills as they do the knitting pose with you!

2. Have fun with other babies and develop their social skills as they move with you and others to the Tatty Bumpkin Frog song.

Jump up as a helpful frog - to clean the house!

3. Progress their early visual and thinking skills as they play in elephant pose with blue streamers!

Elephant pose with two trunks!!

4. And finally, at the end of the session, enjoy a special moment of relaxation and bonding with you.

Each day we need some time to be quiet..

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

'Knitting’ activity or ‘Baby Bird’ pose for Younger Babies

Remember:

It is important never to force the movements of the Baby Bumpkin poses. If you feel your baby is resisting – try some gentle distraction e.g. wriggling their arm or leg or making some clicking noises.
If your baby is still not wishing to do the movement with you then don’t carry on, instead reassure your baby and try again another time.
Babies under 5 months of age do not have full ‘range of movement’ at their shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. This is nature’s way of giving your baby more stability when they are very young. So do not take the stretches too far if you have a younger baby – it's far better to let your baby gradually stretch out their joints by doing the actions themselves.

Knit, knit. knit!!

This adaptation is good for babies who are not yet sitting confidently.
Settle your baby on a mat in front of you and place a small pillow or rolled towel under their head so they can easily look at you.
Keeping good eye contact with your baby, gently cross your baby’s arms over their body
Whilst in this position, slowly rock your baby's arms up and down.
Then, gently uncross their arms and cross them over the other way.

‘Knitting’ activity or ‘Baby Bird’ Pose - Older Babies

1, 2, 3 ..Knit, knit. knit ...!

Find a comfortable place to sit with your baby in front of you, either invite them to sit on the floor or on your lap, your baby can then lean back against you if they need to for added support.
Gently encourage your baby to open their arms wide and then cross them across their body, like a baby bird’s beak or imaging they are knitting!
Cross your baby’s arms one way and then the other. Make the activity fun by saying “1, 2, 3, knit, knit, knit” or “1, 2, 3, tweet, tweet, tweet!” as you do the actions.

Why ‘Knitting’ or Baby Bird Pose is Good for Both You and Your Baby

As you do knitting or baby bird pose with your baby in either lying or sitting they will be:

1. Learning about their middle and crossing their ’midline’

‘Crossing the midline’ means that one hand spontaneously moves over to the other side of the body to work there. When your baby crosses their midline they will be starting to discover how the left and right sides of their body work together.

At about 3 months your baby may be bringing both their hands to the middle across their chest to grasp each other. They may be doing this action in either lying or sitting as it helps them to keep their body stable.

Working hard to sit!

By the time they are six months old, your baby may well be crossing the midline of their body to pick up toys on the opposite side. You can encourage this action by placing toys to the side and encouraging them to reach across their body to pick them up or by giving them safe, larger, things to play with which means they have to use both hands.

Perfect game for Halloween!

By about 12 months your baby may well have a preferred hand to pick up objects – their ‘dominant hand’. As they continue to use this preferred hand, it will slowly become more skilled at doing various fine motor (hand) tasks – this is important both for learning early pen skills and using cutlery.

2. Stimulating their proprioceptive sense

Proprioception is one of our body’s senses and it tells us where our body is in space.
It is stimulated by the stretch and pull of our muscles and joints as they move together.
Amazingly this sense starts to develop after only 12 weeks from conception whilst the baby is in the womb! Activities which stimulate this sense can either alert or calm i.e. pushing and pulling games can be alerting but then hugs are calming.
Knitting or baby bird pose if done slowly and held for a few moments will stimulate your baby’s proprioceptive sense, just like a hug, and can help them to calm.

3. Building their relationship with you

As you lean over your baby to do this calming activity with them, smile at them and make funny noises – you will be strengthening that very special bond between you both.

Snuggle in!!

So Remember –

Find out about your local Baby Bumpkin class at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html
Find out more about our Franchise opportunities at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/business/index.html.

Love Baby Bumpkin x

Monday, October 13, 2014

2014 Autumn Term Week 7 Tatty Bumpkin’s Kid’s Yoga Activity for this Week is 'Brushing your Teeth!'

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

In this blog I:

Describe how to do the activity with your child or toddler

Give some reasons why this week’s Tatty Bumpkin Yoga activity is beneficial for your child or toddler

Give you ideas on progressions for the activity and games you can play around the activity.

Movement, co-ordination skills - all made fun!

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 … One of my favourites!

If your child is going to a Tatty Bumpkin class this week they will go on an adventure with Tatty Bumpkin to visit a poor, little old lady :-( … Tatty Bumpkin works her magic and soon the little old lady’s knitting needles are going crazy :-) … In this class your child and will have a chance to:

Refine their co-ordination skills as they brush their teeth and knit with Tatty Bumpkin and friends!

Progress their communication and problem solving skills as they come up with ideas to help the little old lady …

Uuumm - just how can we help the little old lady?

Have fun with others as they move as elephants – cleaning the little old lady’s house!

Wash the windows .. was the walls!!

Brushing Teeth - Tatty Bumpkin’s Activity for the Week!

Description of Activity

Tatty Bumpkin always brushes her teeth before she goes on her adventures.

Guide your child's hand so they can feel the correct movement. Use a mirror to help your child see exactly where the brush is cleaning their teeth.

Make tooth brushing as fun as possible by using an egg timer to time it for about two minutes.

Don't let your child run around with a toothbrush in their mouth as they may have an accident and hurt themselves.

Want to make it Harder?

After your child has brushed their teeth (so they do not hurt themselves) they can practice balancing on one leg!

Start, with both hands on the sink, then see they can balance with one hand on the sink…then no hands! Make sure there are no obstacles near to the sink which your child could fall onto.

Tatty Bumpkin and friend do tricks at the sink!

Why Brushing Teeth is ‘Good for Me’?

Brushing teeth helps your child’s:

1. Dental health
Every few years the government does national survey of children’s dental health. In the last survey (2003) 40% of 5 yr olds had at least one tooth with decay. Among 8 yr olds, 57% had obvious tooth decay.

2. General health as they get older
Poor dental hygiene is connected with diabetes, obesity and heart disease in later life.

3. Hand skills
Brushing teeth gives your child another chance to practice their fine motor (hand) skills. The more opportunities your child has to practice these skills the better they will become at other hand skills such as writing.

4. Balance
After tooth brushing - standing at the sink is a great place to practice balancing on one leg as the sink provides a natural support. Once again practice makes perfect!

Jean Holgate, who manages Bolton’s oral health team, gives good advice on looking your children’s teeth see http://tinyurl.com/nvv5cb9

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, 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

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Children Feel Better when they Talk to their Parents and are Confident in their Body

by Sue Heron Head of Training Tatty Bumpkin Ltd

An Interesting report has just been published by the National Office of Statistics on -

‘Exploring the Well-being of Children in the UK’ (08.10.14)

see http://tinyurl.com/pnvfzwa

I think it is no surprise that being able to talk to close family and physical health were both found to be really important for our children’s general wellbeing. The report highlighted that:

Children who said they had a relatively high satisfaction with life also said that they communicated more with their parents

The percentage of overweight children aged 2-15 years has fallen since 20O4 from 38% to 25% - great news! Previous research suggests that being overweight in childhood is linked to immediate and long-term physical and mental health risks. Mental health risks arising from body dissatisfaction, social discrimination, low self-esteem and low quality of life.

At Tatty Bumpkin we recognise the importance of helping families to establish close bonds and for everyone to feel confident about moving their body right from the start. Indeed in our feedback survey for 2013 - 100% of families and children said that they had enjoyed our Tatty Bumpkin and Baby Bumpkin classes.

Discussing a Tatty Bumpkin Adventure Together

Making Activity Fun!

Six Further Interesting Facts About Children’s Wellbeing - See http://tinyurl.com/ouqv8r8

1. In 2011-12 boys in the UK were more likely to be happy with their appearance than girls 2. In 2011-12 girls in the UK were more likely to use a home computer for homework, boys for computer games
3. Around 1 in 8 children in the UK suffered bullying in 2011-12
4. The majority of children in the UK talked to their mother about things that mattered in 2011-12
5. In 2013/14, around 1 in 8 children were a victim of crime in England and Wales
6. The majority of children in Great Britain had moderate to high life satisfaction in 2013.

For details on how to

Find your local Baby or Tatty Bumpkin class see http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html or
Join our Tatty Bumpkin team see http://www.tattybumpkin.com/business/index.html

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

2014 Week 6 Baby Bumpkin's Yoga Activity for the Week is Lion!

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 Adventure this Week

If you are taking your baby to a Baby Bumpkin class this week you will go on an adventure with Baby Bumpkin to look for his friend the lion in the jungle. Your baby will have a chance to:

Progress their early communication skills and enhance their bond with you as they do Lion pose

Have fun with others and develop their social skills as they move and explore to the Tatty Bumpkin Lion song.

Progress their early visual and thinking skills as they play with the jungle parrot’s feathers!

And finally, at the end of the session, enjoy a very special relaxation time with you.

The Baby Bumpkin Lion Yoga Activity

For Younger Babies

Settle your baby on a mat in front of you and place a small pillow or rolled towel under their head so they can easily look at you.

Find a comfortable sitting position for yourself at your baby’s feet e.g. sitting back on your heels or kneeling up. If you find these positions uncomfortable then try sitting cross legged on a cushion.

Keeping good eye contact with your baby, push your arms straight out in front of you so your hands are over your baby. Remember your hands will be your baby’s favourite mobile!

Turn your palms upwards, wriggle your fingers and make a gentle roaring sound! Not too loud – you want to amuse your baby not frighten them!

Lion pose For Older Babies - Who are able to sit by themselves.

If your baby is able to sit up by themselves, encourage them to sit on the floor opposite you. Alternatively sit with your legs straight out in front of you and settle your baby over your lower legs so they are facing you.

Firstly gain eye contact with your baby, then say “1, 2, 3, roar!” (gently!) whilst straightening your arms out in front of you, towards your baby.

Turn your palms upwards, stretch your face wide like a lion as your roar, wriggle your fingers and then finish with a smile!

Repeat the pose several times, encouraging your baby to copy your arm actions, the roaring sounds and your expression. See if you can touch each other’s palms as you do lion pose together.

Why Lion Pose is Good for Both You and Your Baby

As you do lion pose with your baby - you will be:

1. Developing your baby’s communication skills
As you make gentle lion roars and funny lion expressions with your baby you will be encouraging them to look at you and possibly copy you. Making funny sounds and faces with your baby is a great way of progressing their early communication skills. Remember:

If your baby is under or about two months old they will be depending on others to interact with them. They will love to look at you and listen to your voice and will often show this by responding to you with coos and gurgles. Maybe at around two months, they will respond to your smile with a smile.

At about three months your baby may start to copy your facial expressions, sounds, and gestures.

Between three and four months, your baby might do squeals of delight and laugh out loud with you.

As their eyesight improves, your baby will become increasingly able to distinguish between different sights and sounds.

2. Strengthening the bond between yourself and your baby
Remember you are your baby’s best playmate! After doing lion rhyme several times, your baby will learn to anticipate the actions and the rhyme will develop into a playful game you both can enjoy doing together.

3. Progressing your baby’s visual skills
Your hands are the best ‘mobile’ for your baby, they will love looking at your fingers as you wriggle them as lion claws.

4. Giving yourself a good shoulder, arm and wrist stretch!
As you stretch out your arms in front of you and hold them over your baby you will be giving your shoulders, arms and wrists muscles a great stretch. Often new mums can have sore wrists, and it is important to gently move and stretch them so they do not become stiff.

Love Baby Bumpkin x

Remember –

find out about your local Baby Bumpkin class at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html or
to find out more about our Franchise opportunities visit http://www.tattybumpkin.com/business/index.html.

Monday, October 6, 2014

The Kind of Physical Activity which Helps our Kids to Think!

By Sue Heron, Paediatric Physiotherapist and Head of Training at Tatty Bumpkin

A study, just published in the well regarded American academic journal ‘Pediatrics’, found that a physical ‘after school’ club not only improved children’s fitness but also, crucially, enhanced their brain function and thinking skills http://tinyurl.com/pjbtj9a.

Interestingly, the children (221 in total, aged 7 – 9 years) did a mixture of activities in the after school club. They did some aerobic activities e.g. running, but they also did activities that refined their general motor skills and which required thinking and planning.
The activities included:

working with partners
moving to musical rhythms
games that required cooperation

Everyone off on an adventure - in a Tatty Bumpkin session!

These findings back up findings from a recent Spanish study which suggested that activities focusing on coordination and motor skills had a greater effect on children’s academic ability than those which only focused on strength and fitness. Although all were important! http://www.jpeds.com/content/JPEDSEstebanCornejo

In their conclusion the American authors commented that government policies that reduce or replace opportunities for physical activity during the school day e.g.during in break times, in an attempt to increase academic achievement may not have the intended effect.

They highlight that their research, and the research of others:

Provides evidence that physical activity benefits our children’s brain health

Justifies the need for changes in educational policies so that school children have more opportunities for a range of physical activities and exercise during their school day.

At Tatty Bumpkin we encourage movement which inspires friendship and ideas!
Find a class for your child, or their nursery or children's centre at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.html

Or if 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.

2014 Autumn Term Week 6 Tatty Bumpkin’s Kid’s Yoga Activity for this Week is Lion!

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

In this blog I will:

Describe how to do the weekly activity with your child or toddler

Give reasons why this week’s Tatty Bumpkin Yoga activity is beneficial for your child or toddler

Give ideas on how you can progress the activity for your child and games you can play connected with the activity,

Tatty Bumkin at nursery!

Discover your 'inner child' and keep fit too!

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 look for the lion in the jungle! Your child and will have a chance to:

1. Strengthen their ‘core’ muscles, progress their communication skills and build up their self-esteem as they roar as lions!

2. Develop their thinking skills as they imagine they are in the jungle and come up with ideas to help Tatty Bumpkin find her friend the lion.

3. Have fun with others as they go on a lion hunt!

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

Lion pose with your toddler

Kneel up to make Lion pose harder

Ideally, try to do Lion pose with your child as:

Children under 3 years, largely learn new movements by copying the actions.
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.
Lion pose will give you an great opportunity to release the tension on your upper shoulders and back.

Before you do the pose make sure you and your child are on a non-slip mat. This will stop you slipping as you do Lion pose.

Start by doing Lion Yoga activity yourself.. so your child can copy ..

Sit cross legged or back on your heels on the floor.

Stretch your arms out in front of you at shoulder height – show your child how you are keeping your elbows straight.

Bend your wrists to lift up your hands with your palms are facing outwards towards your child – your ‘lion claws!'

‘Roar’, gently at first, with your tongue pressed down on your chin.

Now encourage your child or toddler to do the Lion pose with you!

Want to Make it Harder?

Encourage your child to have a go at doing Lion pose in the kneeling position with their bottom off the floor. See picture above.

Then see if they can bring one foot in front – this is called the ‘half kneeling’ position.

Games to Play around Lion Pose

Make your own jungle at home

Scatter a few cushions on the floor – do make sure they are on a non-slip surface.

Bath mats make great jungle grass!

Fold a piece of fabric on the floor to make a narrow bridge.

Now go on a Lion hunt! Download the Tatty Bumpkin Lion song from http://tinyurl.com/kznxhnl.

Toddlers and young children will love stepping on and off the cushions and mats.

Older children will enjoy the challenge of walking down the narrow bridge.

Some ideas for your jungle obstacle course

Make your own Lion Mask

Not too scary!

Use part of an egg box or a paper plate to make your own scary lion mask ...then go creeping through your jungle once more!

Why Lion Pose is Good for your Child or Toddler

Lion pose will give your child the opportunity to:

1. Progress their balance skills. Lion pose is a great way for your child to develop their balance skills – step by step.
Start by encouraging them to do the pose sitting cross legged on the floor, then sitting back on their heels, then in kneeling, with their bottom off the floor, and finally in the ‘half kneeling’ position – with one leg in front.

2. Activate and strengthen their ‘core’ muscles. As your child does Lion pose they will be strengthening their hip, tummy, and back muscles – but especially their shoulder muscles. Strong, active shoulder muscles will help your child to write. They will be able to use these muscles to support the weight of their arms and their delicate hand muscles can be used to grasp their pencil accurately.

3. Develop their hand skills. In Lion pose your child will activate their ‘wrist extensor’ muscles – as they bring their hands up towards them. The ‘wrist extensor’ muscles are important for writing and ball skills. As your child stiffens their hands to make their ‘lion claws’, they will be strengthening their finger muscles.

4. Boost their confidence. Lion pose is great for your child’s confidence. It encourages them to feel strong and brave just like a lion! So that your child feels they are a strong lion encourage them to start doing Lion pose in sitting before they try the kneeling positions.

5. Progress their speech skills. If your child is a bit shy to talk out loud – roaring like a lion will help them to activate and stimulate their speech muscles in a fun way.