2014 Autumn Term 2 Week 4 Tatty Bumpkin’s Kid’s Yoga Activity for this Week is Boat!

 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 reasons why this week’s Tatty Bumpkin Yoga activity is beneficial for your child or toddler
• Give you some ideas on progressions for the activity and games you can play around the activity.

 Boat Pose – Tatty Bumpkin’s Yoga Activity for the Week

Row across the seas in boat pose!

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

• Young children, especially those 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.
• Rowing pose will give you a great opportunity to stretch out your lower back and hamstring muscles.

Cautions

If you have issues with either your back or hips - do check with a health professional first to make sure that this pose is appropriate for you.

• Sit with your child opposite you on a non-slip mat or area of carpet and take off your shoes.
  You may find it more comfortable to sit on a flattish cushion.

Row, row, row your boat!

• Stretch your legs out in front of you and encourage your child to sit in between your legs facing you. If your child is younger you can sit them on your thighs. Remember to keep smiling and talking to your child!

• Gently hold hands or hold each other’s wrists. Holding wrists is often more reassuring and supportive.

• Rock forwards and backwards together – keeping a steady rhythm. You can sing the ‘row, row the boat song as your sway back and forth!

• Once you child or toddler learns the movement - encourage them to ‘lead’ the rocking movements - as they do this they will be refining their balance skills.  

• If your child is older - they can work on their balance skills further by rocking side to side by themselves – putting their hands down to each side as they sway. 

Why Boat Pose is Good for Your Child

As you do boat pose with your child you will give them a chance to:

1. Gradually develop their ‘postural control’ and balance skills

• From about 8 months of age your toddler and child would have started to learn how to put their hands down to save themselves when they sway side to side and back and forth in sitting.  This ‘saving reaction’ is a mature ‘postural reaction’ which we all use to protect ourselves throughout their lives. 
• As your child moves back and forth and side to side in boat pose they will be refining their balance skills in sitting – which will help them to sit comfortably on a school chair without arms. 

2. Gently stretch their hamstring muscles 

• As your child rocks back and forth in boat pose they will be giving the muscles which run up the backs of their thighs a gentle stretch – their hamstrings. These muscles can become tight after sitting for long periods.

3. Activate their tummy and spinal muscles in a coordinated way 

• As your child gently rocks back and forth with you in boat pose they will be alternatively activating their tummy and back muscles. These muscle groups have to work together for activities such and sitting and rolling

4. Learn how to calm or alert themselves to help attention skills

• As your child does boat pose they will be stimulating their body senses: their proprioceptive and vestibular senses.  This can help to alert, organise and calm their brain. 
• If your child is fretful and over anxious – boat pose, if done slowly and rhythmically, can help to calm and ‘organise’ them. 
• If your older child is fidgeting and struggling to focus on their homework, doing boat pose for a few minutes may help them to raise their level of alertness so they can regain their attention.  

Row steadily and in a rhythm to 'organise' the brain!

The Tatty Bumpkin Adventure this Week

• 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.

• All the Tatty Bumpkin stores are aligned to the Early Years Foundation Stage this means the sessions not only enhance your child’s physical skills they also develop their communication, social and thinking skills.

If your child is going to a Tatty Bumpkin class this week they will go on an adventure with Tatty Bumpkin across the seas to visit the Island of Statues!

Your child and will have a chance to: 

• Physically, refine their sense of balance as they rock in boat pose and stand still as statues! 

• Progress their communication skills as they say ‘hello’ to the octopus and dance with him to the Tatty Bumpkin octopus song.  

• Develop their imagination and thinking skills as they come with ideas on how to build their boat or make their own statue.

• Have fun with friends as they row across the seas, wave at the octopus and build statues! 

Thinking of Working for Yourself?

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. 

Love Tatty Bumpkin x

2014 Week 3 Baby Bumpkin's Yoga Activity for the Week is Butterfly!

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. 

The Baby Bumpkin Butterfly Yoga Activity 

Butterfly Pose - Younger Babies

       

Flutter your butterfly wings! 

Cautions for your baby

• Remember never to force the movements of the poses. If your baby is younger, under 3 months, do smaller hip circles for the butterfly pose and keep your baby’s knees closer together, this is because your young baby’s hips are not designed to move through a full range of movement yet. 
• As your baby gets older you will notice their hips become gradually more mobile and they will be able to do bigger hip circles with their knees wider apart. 
• If you know your baby has any hip instability (hip dysplasia) ALWAYS consult a health professional before doing butterfly pose with your baby. 

Cautions for you 

• If you are a new mum doctors recommend waiting until any bleeding has stopped before doing gentle yoga postures. 
• It is important to get the ‘okay’ first from your health visitor or midwife before you roll out your yoga mat!  For women who have had a Cesarean section, the wait before doing yoga is likely to be a little longer.

Babies 0-2 months

• Settle your baby on a mat in front of you.

• Butterfly pose consists of three moves i.e. 
• Gently hold your baby’s lower legs and feet with each hand and bring the soles of their feet together – so they are facing each other. 
• Now carefully take your baby’s feet, their soles still facing each other, towards their tummy. Remember not to force the movement and keep smiling and talking to your baby to reassure them. Hold for 1-2 seconds and release. 
• Finish butterfly pose by bringing your baby’s feet gently towards you, so their knees have the opportunity to straighten out. Keep your baby’s ankles and feet together as this will guide their hips to rotate in the opposite way. Remember babies are not able to fully straighten their knees until they are about 5 months old – so only straighten your baby’s knees as far as they will comfortably go.

• Repeat the sequence about 2-3 times. You may notice that your baby closes their eyes when your guide their feet up to their tummy. 

Babies 2-4 months 

• Settle your baby on a mat in front of you.

• Gently hold their lower legs and feet then guide the soles of their feet together as described above. 

• Now, hold both your baby’s feet with one hand and gently push their feet towards their groin and tummy area. Hold for 1-2 seconds and release, bringing your baby’s feet back towards you as above. 

• At this age you can add some ‘foot circles’ i.e. Take your baby’s feet in one hand guiding them up to their chest, sole to sole, and now gently circle your baby’s feet in both directions. Only do small circles and if your meet with resistance do not force the movement.  

• After circling your baby’s feet in both directions finish the pose by once more holding your baby’s lower legs and feet in each hand and bringing their feet gently towards you. 

• Keep your baby’s ankles and feet together as this will guide their hips to rotate in the opposite way. Remember to straighten your baby’s knees as far as they will comfortably go. 

Babies 4-8 months 

• At this age you can try and do all the movements above in a sequence to a slightly quicker rhythm ..
• Take your baby’s feet to their tummy, sole to sole using one hand then back towards you still using one hand.
• Then take their feet once more up to their tummy, sole to sole, and do circles in both directions.

• Sing a nursery rhyme to your baby or listen to Tatty Bumpkin Butterfly song to help you keep a rhythm. (See below for download details).

• Repeat the whole sequence 1 – 2 times – then let your baby rest. 

Butterfly Pose - Older Babies

This pose is ideal if your baby sitting confidently needing only a little support. 

• Find a comfortable place to sit with your baby. 
• If it is comfortable to do so, sit with the soles of your feet together, letting your knees fall out to either side like fluttering butterfly wings. If this position is not comfortable either try sitting on a small cushion or sit cross legged. 
• If you have experienced symphysis pubis pain during pregnancy and are still experiencing pain do seek advice from a health professional before doing butterfly pose as, in this situation, the pose will not be helpful for your recovery. Remember if anything starts to feel painful do stop! Instead sit in either side sitting or back on your heels. 

• Now sit your baby in front of you so they can rest back against your body for support. 
• Try to encourage your baby to sit as straight as possible. If your baby is tending to lean back against you most of the time- do the butterfly pose for younger babies. Some babies may not be quite strong enough to do the pose in sitting - and you do not want them to learn a 'bad pattern' of sitting. 

• If you are sitting in butterfly pose yourself it is nice to let your baby sit inside the circle of your legs.

• Gently guide the soles of your baby’s feet together so that their knees can also fall out to the side in butterfly pose. 

Games Around Butterfly Pose for both Older and Younger Babies

Blowing Butterflies 

• Cut out some paper butterflies – origami paper is often the best to use as it is stiffer than normal paper.  
• N.B Cautions for your baby - do not make your ‘butterflies’ out of tissue paper as the dye can come off. 
• Remember to supervise your baby carefully whilst playing this game so they do not put the paper butterflies into their mouths. Never leave them alone with the butterfly props. 
• Gently wave or blow your paper butterfly over your baby in either lying or sitting. 
• Your baby will love to look at the paper butterfly and or try to ‘bat’ it with their hands and you will have the opportunity to take deeper and slower calming breaths. 

Butterfly pose and Blowing game to Tatty Bumpkin Butterfly Song

• The Tatty Bumpkin Butterfly song has a lovely, relaxing beat which you can follow as you do the pose with your baby. Download the song from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/bendy-giggly-clever-strong/id376349531

Blow those butterflies! 

Why Butterfly Pose is Good for Your Baby

Butterfly Pose 1 
Butterfly pose gives your baby the chance to: 

1. Gently stretch the muscles on the front and side of their thighs

• From about 2 months your baby will gradually be able to take their knees further out to the side and bring their feet closer to their chest. 
• This extra movement is due to the ‘capsule’ around your baby’s hip joint gradually stretching as a result of your baby constantly kicking out with their legs. 
• Remember though - do not force the movement. 

2. Experiment with bigger leg movements, strengthening their leg muscles 

• When your baby is about 3 months they may be able to pull their knees up by themselves and hold this position for a few moments. 
• So if your baby is this age or older, after you have done the pose with them a few times see if they can start to do some of the movement by themselves

3. Activate their tummy muscles

• From about 4 months your baby may start to automatically lift their buttocks off the floor when they do butterfly pose and to reach down with their hands to touch their knees. 
• When they do these movements, they will be activating their tummy muscles – providing them with a more stable base for overall control of their body.

Other Benefits 

• As you do the gentle foot circles with your baby you will be helping to relieve any tension in their lower back and hip areas.  
• As a result, butterfly pose is a great activity to do with your baby after they have been sitting in their buggy for a while!
• Butterfly pose can also help to relieve any wind or mild tummy cramps your baby might have.

Butterfly Pose 2  

1. As your baby sits against your in Butterfly pose for short periods they will be developing and refining their sitting balance:

• From about 5 mths your baby will gradually be able to put more of their thighs on the floor when sitting in butterfly pose – this means they have more stable base to sit on 
• Crucially from about 7 mths your baby will be starting to push down through their ‘sit bones’ against the floor or seat (The sit bones are the boney projections at the base of the pelvis - to feel your own ‘sit bones’ sit on your hands  and slowly rock forwards, you will gradually feel the two boney areas). When your baby starts to actively push down through their sit bones their arms will be able to do freer movements.

Our Baby Bumpkin Sessions – Nationwide

• Please remember though, for you and your baby to gain the full benefit of all the Baby Bumpkin Yoga and multi-sensory activities.
• 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. 
• 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.  
• Find your local class at http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes/find-class.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 visit the ‘Magic Butterflies’. Your baby will have a chance to: 

• Develop their physical skills as they do the butterfly, snake and train poses with you. 

• Have fun with others, progress their early communication and social skills and enhance their bond with you as they move to the Tatty Bumpkin Butterfly song. 

Enjoying Tatty Bumpkin Butterfly song together!

• Progress their early visual, hand and thinking skills as they play with the butterfly props!  

• Finally, at the end of the session, enjoy a special moment of relaxation and bonding with you.  

Tatty and Baby Bumpkin as a Career - Work for Yourself 

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. 

Love Baby Bumpkin x

2014 Term 2 Week 3 - Tatty Bumpkin’s Kid’s Yoga Activity for the Week is Butterfly!

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 reasons why this week’s Tatty Bumpkin Yoga activity is beneficial for your child or toddler 
• Give you some ideas on progressions for the activity and games you can play around the activity. 

Butterfly Pose – Tatty Bumpkin’s Yoga Activity for the Week

What colour are your butterfly wings? 

Try to do Butterfly pose with your child as: 

1. Children under 3 years, largely learn new movements by copying the actions.
2. Research is showing that 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. Butterfly pose will give you a great opportunity to stretch out your hip and back muscles and gently strengthen your tummy muscles. 

However, if you have either back or hip issues or pain - do check with a health professional first to make sure that this pose is appropriate for you. Alternatively adapt Butterfly pose and sit cross legged on a cushion if this is comfortable. 

• Sit with your child on a non-slip mat or area of carpet and take off your shoes. You may find it comfortable to sit on a flat cushion. 

• Start by putting your hands under your bottom and feel for the two boney areas in each buttock. These are your ‘sit bones’ - part of your pelvis. 
• Ideally you should be pushing up from your sit bones as your do the Butterfly pose. Because we get used to sitting in comfy chairs we often tend to roll back and actually sit on the area behind these boney points. Your young child does not need to do this exercise as they are likely to be sitting with a better posture!
• Take your hands away and, sitting as much as you can on your sit bones, gently straighten your back whilst keeping your legs stretched out in front of you.
• Bend your knees, and slowly slide your feet up towards you. Only take your feet up as far as is comfortable.
• Try to bring the soles of your feet together – so they are touching each other and your knees are falling out to the side. Once again, if you are stiff, don’t force the movement. If you cannot bring the soles of your feet together- don’t worry – concentrate more on keeping your back straight.
• Hold your feet tightly with both hands - you can place your hands underneath your feet for added support.
• Then take a deep breath in, and, as you breathe out, let your thighs and knees fall a little further out to each side and downwards towards the floor. Again do not force the movement. 
• Now, encourage your toddler or young child to copy you – obviously they will not be able to focus on the breathing pattern – but are likely to do it naturally. 
• If you feel comfortable, start flapping both your knees up and down like the wings of a butterfly, start slowly and keep breathing normally throughout. Once again, encourage your child to copy you. 

• Alternatively, if you are sitting in butterfly pose yourself, it is nice to let your child sit inside the circle of your legs. Gently encourage them to bring the soles of their feet together so that their knees also fall out to the side in butterfly pose.

• Whilst you are in Butterfly pose with your young child or toddler you can imagine what colour your wings might be?! 

Games to Play Around Butterfly Pose

Blowing Butterflies 
Cut out some paper butterflies – origami paper is often the best to use as it is stiffer than normal paper.  

Cautions.  

1. Do not make your ‘butterflies’ out of tissue paper as the dye can come off if your toddler puts them in their mouth! 
2. Remember to supervise your toddler or young child carefully whilst playing this game so they do not put the paper butterflies into their mouths. Never leave them alone with the butterfly props. 

• Encourage your young child or toddler to have a go at blowing the paper butterflies high into the air. If your child is younger they will probably find it easier to blow your butterflies off the back of your hand. 
• Make the game more meaningful for your child by putting a bowl or tray in front of them to be the ‘butterfly nest’. Your child then has to blow their butterfly into the nest!
• Very young children find it hard to blow – often this skill is not truly learnt until about 3 years old.  If your child is struggling to blow, encourage them to pick up their butterflies from the floor and putting them in the butterfly nest. 
• Remember to blow the butterflies yourself, to show your child what to do and also to give you a chance to take deeper, more calming breaths.
• Do not let your child do too many deep breaths in a row as this can make them dizzy.

Do Butterfly pose and Blowing game to Tatty Bumpkin Butterfly song 
The Tatty Bumpkin Butterfly song has a lovely, relaxing beat which you can follow as you do the pose with your toddler or young child. Download the song from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/bendy-giggly-clever-strong/id376349531

Why Butterfly Pose is Good for Your Toddler or Child 

As your toddler or child sits with you in Butterfly pose they will be:

1. Developing and refining their sitting position leading to improved control of their arm and finger movements – ideal for writing 

• Being able to sit well is crucial not only for lifelong back health but also for accurate arm and hand movements.
• From about 7 months your child would have started to push down through their ‘sit bones’ against the floor or seat (Remember our sit bones are the boney projections at the base of our pelvis). When they started to do this they would have been able to take their hands off the floor. As your child gets older the better their sitting posture the easier they will find arm and hand movements. 
• If you child is older, and at school, Butterfly pose will improve their sitting balance and posture by reminding them to push up through their ‘sit bones’ and extend their lower backs after sitting in a slumped position on their school chair. As your child reaches forward in butterfly pose, maybe to catch a paper butterfly, they will be learning how to move their chest and body over their hips and legs. Encourage your toddler’s ‘reaching skills’ by placing the paper butterfly to either side of them so they have to reach diagonally and/or twist round to pick it up.

2. Gently stretching their hip and thigh muscles
Butterfly pose will give your young child the chance to stretch the muscles on the front and inside of their thigh – an ideal pose to do, along with other games, after sitting in the buggy for a while! 

3. Improving their eye hand coordination for reading and writing skills
As your young child plays with the paper butterflies they will be improving their ability to follow an object with their eyes as it moves through the air (tracking skills) and time their hand movements to reach out for it. Paper butterflies are ideal as they float through the air slower, giving your child time to react. 

4. Becoming more aware of their feet fore improved balance

• As you guide your child to bring their feet together in butterfly pose you will be bringing their attention to their feet. 
• Even in the sitting position, your child will use their feet to keep themselves steady.
• Next time you are sitting with your child on their floor - look closely at how they change the position of their feet to balance themselves. 
• It is a great idea to give your child time to sit with just bare feet so they have a chance to actively move and strengthen their foot and ankle muscles. 
• In butterfly pose you may see your child curling their foot inwards and up strengthening these muscles around their ankle  see picture (courtesy of colourbox.com). 

Young toddler curling their feet to balance in sitting

5. Improving their hand (fine motor) skills 
Picking up paper butterflies in and out of butterfly pose will give your child the chance to perfect their finger movements. 

The Tatty Bumpkin Adventure this Week

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. 
• All the Tatty Bumpkin stores are aligned to the Early Years Foundation Stage this means the sessions not only enhance your child’s physical skills they also develop their communication, social and thinking skills.

If your child is going to a Tatty Bumpkin class this week they will go on an adventure with Tatty Bumpkin into the mountains to find the ‘Magic Butterflies!' 
Your child and will have a chance to: 

• Physically, activate and strengthen their hip, back and tummy muscles for a good sitting posture as they do Butterfly pose.  

• Progress their communication skills as they talk to the people and creatures living in the mountains and listen and move to the Tatty Bumpkin Butterfly song. 

• Develop their imagination and thinking skills as they come up with ideas on what to pack for their mountain trip and how to help the mountain folk. 

• Most of all have a happy time and fun with others as they fly as butterflies, slither as mountain snakes and make a mountain range! 

Tatty Bumpkin as a Career 

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. 

Love Tatty Bumpkin x

2014 Week 2 - Baby Bumpkin's Yoga Activity for the Week is Cat!

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. 

The Baby Bumpkin Cat Yoga Activity 

Cat Pose for Younger Babies

      

A gentle stretch for you and fun for your baby too!

N.B. 
Cautions for your baby 
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.  
Young babies are not able to fully straighten their elbows or take their arms right up over their head so only move your baby’s arms within their comfortable range of movement 

Cautions for you 
If you are a new mum doctors recommend waiting until bleeding has stopped before doing some gentle yoga posture. It is important to get the okay first from your health visitor or midwife before you roll out your yoga mat!  For women who had a Cesarean section, the wait for doing yoga will be longer.

Cat pose is an ideal pose to help gently stretch and mobilise your back muscles however: 

1. If you are a new mum your back will be slightly less stable so do the movements slowly and carefully. Be very careful not to over arch your back in either direction, but especially do not let it arch downwards towards the floor as this can cause back strain. 
2. If you know you have issues with your back always get advice from a health professional before doing cat pose. 
3. If anything starts to feel painful do stop

Description of Cat Pose

• Settle your baby on a mat in front of you and encourage them to look at you. 

• Keeping good eye contact with your baby, come up onto your hands and knees over your baby - this is ‘cat’ pose. 

• Make sure your hands are directly under your shoulders and your knees are under your hips. Keep your back level i.e. do not let it arch downwards towards the floor (see above), to do this you may have to tighten your tummy muscles – this is good!

• In cat pose you can smile, nod and shake your head at your baby, even make funny faces and meowing sounds like a cat - just for fun! 

• If you feel confident to do so, bend your elbows to kiss your baby on their forehead, then straighten your arms - like a mini ‘press up’. 

• This is a great way to bond and have fun with your baby and also to strengthen your arms in preparation for carrying your growing baby.

• If you feel comfortable in cat pose, and you do not have any back problems, tuck your chin in towards your chest and gently arch your back towards the ceiling – like a cat having a stretch (see picture below). 

Gently arch your back towards the ceiling

• Try to breathe out and tighten your tummy muscles as you do the movement. Hold this arched position for a few seconds, breathing normally but keeping your tummy muscles tight then gently bring your back down to the starting position. 

N.B. Some mums might find that it is hard to put their hands flat on the ground in cat pose because their wrists are sore, if this is the case, make a fist with your hands and balance on your knuckles. However do try to keep gently stretching your wrists so that eventually you can do cat pose with your palms flat on the floor. 


Cat pose 2 - For older babies 

Cat Pose variation 1

• Once your baby is starting to gain control of their head, they can try cat pose across your thighs. This is a great way for your baby to experience ‘tummy time’ as they are in close contact with you for that added reassurance. 

• Gather a few of your baby’s favourite toys or a safe baby mirror which you can use to entertain your baby with once they are in cat pose. 

• Make yourself comfortable, sitting on a mat or cushion on the floor with your legs stretched out in front of you. Try sitting with your back against a wall for added support. 

• Lay your baby on their tummy either:
• Across one of your thighs letting their knees rest on the floor (see variation 1 above). This is usually better for older babies.

• Across both of your thighs, gently tipping them upwards and backwards by lifting up your thigh which is under their shoulders (see picture below courtesy of pathways.org). Gently encourage your baby to push up from your thigh using their forearms this will help them to raise their head and chest up higher. Carefully place one hand on your baby’s bottom, this will encourage them to push through their hips and will also give them added support. 

 

Note: Whilst doing cat pose with your baby always be guided by them and be careful not to overtire them. Keep looking at your baby’s face to check they are happy and keep talking to them so they are reassured. 

Other Activities - Walking the cat! 

If your baby is older (4 – 5 mths), and they are confident in cat pose, you can add a bit of movement by alternately bending and straightening your knees under them. Remember to keep talking or singing to your baby and stroking down their backs as you do this movement. 

Why Cat Pose is Good for Both You and Your Baby

Benefits of Younger Cat Pose 1 

1. Bonding with your baby 
As you move into cat pose, over your baby, you will be making it easier for them to look at you and you will be building up the relationship between you both. Your baby will love to gaze up at you, remember you are the best play mate for your baby! 

2. Working on Early Communication Skills
As you do different expressions at your baby i.e. smiling at them, looking surprised or puzzled your baby will be encouraged to mimic you and will be learning the different ways they can move their faces to express themselves. If your baby is three months of age or older, they may start to copy your facial expressions, gestures and sounds. 

3. Benefits of Cat Pose 1 for You 
As you move into cat pose you will be:

• Strengthening your shoulders, arms and wrists
• Stretching out your back muscles.  As you arch your back in cat pose you will be stretching your back muscles and gently mobilising your spine. 
• Strengthening your tummy muscles.  Often after pregnancy it is hard to ‘feel’ your tummy muscles - cat pose will help you to become more aware of these muscles. As you arch your back up and tighten your tummy muscles you will be encouraging these muscles to become more active, this is important, as your deeper tummy muscles help to support your back. 

But always be advised by your midwife or health visitor if you have any concerns about doing cat pose. 

Benefits of Older Cat Pose 2 

• As part of their ‘postural control’ process, your baby gradually gains control of their body. They will be able to move and ‘control’ their head and shoulders before their hips and legs. 
• Cat pose gives your baby the chance to refine their head and shoulder movements whilst still feeling close to you. When you do cat pose with your baby for short periods during the day you will see their ever increasing skills i.e. 
• If your baby is 3 months old they will be starting to lift their head straight up and may be pushing down equally with both their forearms. You may also notice that they are now naturally bringing their elbows directly underneath their shoulders (younger babies position their elbows behind their shoulders). This change of elbow position will make your baby more stable on their tummy.
• At about 4 months your baby is likely to be lifting their head and chest higher off your thighs in cat pose. They will feel more stable as their shoulders, hip, spine and tummy muscles become stronger.
• When your baby is 5 -6 months they will start to be able to shift their weight onto one arm so they can reach forward with the other.  They may also be starting to push up on just their hands, straightening their elbows, when they are on the floor. These reaching and pushing movements are wonderful for the development of your baby’s shoulder and hand muscles. In addition as your baby pushes up on their hands, whilst on their tummy, they will be refining their propping skills ready for sitting
• At about 7 months your baby may well have a surge of activity! Whilst on their tummy they may tuck one knee under their chest and, crucially, at the same time push up with both hands so they move into the crawl position. Once on their hands and knees, they will enjoy rocking themselves forward and backwards as they stimulate their body senses. At this age you try a progression of cat pose – place your baby over one of your thighs with their hands and knees on either side (see picture). They can now experience crawl position whilst feeling supported and close to you. For information on the benefits of crawling for your baby see my blog http://tattybumpkinltd.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/2014-autumn-term-2-week-2-tatty.html

Our Baby Bumpkin Sessions – Nationwide

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. 

• 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.  
• 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.

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 and his friend Cat to find out what people do all day! Your baby will have a chance to: 

• Develop their physical skills as they do the cat and cycling poses with you. 

• Progress their early communication skills and enhance their bond with you as play as sleepy, stretchy cats to the Tatty Bumpkin cat song. 

Stretch out as a stretchy cat! 

• Progress their early visual, hand and thinking skills as they play with the building props.   

What house shall we build for cat?

• Have fun with others and develop their social skills as you ‘splash in puddles’ together to the Tatty Bumpkin instrumental track!  

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

Or Why Not Work for Yourself? 

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. 

Love Baby Bumpkin x

2014 Autumn Term 2 Week 2 Tatty Bumpkin’s Kid’s Yoga Activity for this Week is Cat!

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 reasons why this week’s Tatty Bumpkin Yoga activity is beneficial for your child or toddler 
• Give you some ideas on progressions for the activity and games you can play around the activity. 

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 cat to see what people do all day. They meet a bus driver, a farmer even some fire fighters! Your child will have a chance to: 

• Physically, activate and strengthen their shoulder and arm muscles as they do cat pose. It’s important for young children to keep their shoulder and arm muscles active as this will help their writing skills.  

Drinking milk with cat!

• Progress their communication skills as they say ‘hello’ to the people they meet on the adventure and listen to the rhythms and words of 'Tatty Bumpkin cat song'. 

• Develop their imagination and thinking skills as they think about being bus drivers, builders, fire fighters and more!  

• Have fun with others as they stretch out as cats and build houses as builders! 

What kind of house would you be?! 

Cat Pose – Tatty Bumpkin’s Yoga Activity for the Week  

Ideally, try to do Cat 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. Cat pose will give you a great opportunity to stretch out your back muscles and gently strengthen your tummy muscles. 

However if you do have issues with your back do seek advice before doing cat pose and always stop if it starts to hurt.

• Make sure both you and your child are on a non-slip mat. This will stop you both from slipping as you do cat pose. 
• Start on your hands and knees on the mat, facing each other. N.B. Keep your back level and do not let it sink downwards too far as this can cause strains.   
• If you do not have any back problems, tuck your chin in towards your chest and gently arch your back upwards towards the ceiling – like a cat having a stretch. Try to breathe out and tighten your tummy muscles gently as you do this movement. 
• Hold this arched position for a few seconds, breathing normally but keeping your tummy muscles tight, then gently bring your back down to the starting position. Remember not over arch your back the other way.  
• Repeat the action and encourage your child to copy you. 

Once you are both in cat pose you can:

• Make meowing ‘cat’ sounds and funny faces at each other e.g. be cold cats, or scary cats! Great for early communication skills. 
• Find a blanket or sheet and stretch it over a two chairs to make a little ‘cat house’. Do cat pose with your young child and crawl in and out of your new home! Be careful not to bump your head! 

Older Children - Want to make it Harder? 

N.B. These activities are great for older children but:

• If you know you have back issues do not attempt them yourself, without advice from a health professional, as they may strain your back. 
• As you do the movements breathe out and tighten your tummy muscles – this will help you to protect your back. Your child is likely to do this automatically. 
• Make sure you have a clear space around you both - so that you don’t fall on anything hard if you do lose your balance. 

Shaking your ‘cat paws’ 

• Place a favourite soft toy in front of you both. 
• First show your child what to do I.e. stretch out one arm or ‘paw’ towards the toy to wave ‘hello’ to it or to give it a stroke!
• Encourage your child to copy you. As they stretch out their arm towards the toy your child will be improving both their balance and their co-ordination skills. This pattern of movement is similar to writing so can be regarded as a ‘pre-writing’ skill. 

Waving your Cat Tails 

• Put both your hands flat on the floor and slowly lift one leg off the floor to wave your ‘magic cat tail’. 
• Put your leg back down and lift your other leg in the air – to wave your other magic tail! See picture above. 
• Once again encourage your child to copy you. 

Waving your Cat Paw and Tail!

• If your child is about 4 years or over, and you do not have any back issues yourself, you can make Cat pose even harder by lifting your opposite leg and hand off the floor at the same time! 
• Take it slowly and make sure the space is clear before you try this. 
• Put your hand and leg back down on the floor and repeat, this time lifting up out your other arm and leg.
• As you do these movements you will probably find you have to use your tummy muscles more to keep your balance. This is good!

Why Cat Pose is Good for Your Toddler or Child 

As you do cat pose with your toddler or child they will have the chance to refine and develop their crawling skills. Even if your child has been walking for a long time, crawling has many benefits - your child will have a chance to:

1. Strengthen their whole body
As your child crawls they will be lifting most of their body weight off the floor using their own muscles. As they push up against gravity they will be strengthening their back, tummy, shoulder, arm, leg, and hand muscles.  

2. Strengthen their shoulder and tummy and 'rib cage' muscles – essential for good hand skills 
As your child crawls they will be strengthening their shoulder and tummy muscles. These two muscle groups work together to stabilise your child’s rib cage. Rib cage stability is important as it provides the support for more complex arm and hand movements such as writing. 

3. Develop their hand arches and muscles – once again good for hand and fine manipulation skills
Your toddler or young child will put weight through their hands and stretch out their wrist joints as they crawl.  This helps them to keep on developing the arches in their hands and their fine hand muscles.

4. Refine their visual skills – excellent for writing and copying skills 
As your young child crawls round the room, negotiating furniture, they will be using their “distance vision” to look ahead.  Occasionally they will be stop to play with a toy, or look at their hands, as they do this they will refocus and use their ‘near vision’. This refocusing from 'distance' to 'near' vision is excellent training for their eye muscles and will help them to use their eyes together – binocular vision.  Good binocular vision is essential for reading and writing.

Tatty Bumpkin Classes Or Your Own Business

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. 
• All the Tatty Bumpkin stores are aligned to the Early Years Foundation Stage this means the sessions not only enhance your child’s physical skills they also develop their 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

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