2015 Spring Term Week 8. Tatty Bumpkin’s Kid’s Yoga Activity for this Week was Rabbit – ‘Hop into Spring’ with this great activity for fine motor skills!

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

In this blog I:

• Describe how to do a Tatty Bumpkin Yoga activity with your child or toddler 
• Give you reasons why the 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. 

This week’s Tatty Bumpkin Yoga Activity is Rabbit

All this week, Tatty Bumpkin has been doing rabbit pose as she visits her bunny friends. Rabbit pose is a fun activity to try at home, and has loads of benefits for your child - see below.  

When encouraging your child to have a go at rabbit pose – try to do pose with them, or encourage brothers and sisters to join in. This is because:  

• Children, and definitely younger children, learn new movements best by copying the actions.
• Research is showing that toddlers and young children bond with their parents and ‘key people’ not only through touch but also by moving with them.
• Rabbit pose is a great way to activate your own shoulder, tummy and hip muscles. Remember do check with a health professional before doing the pose if you have health concerns. 

Hopping like a rabbit!

• With your child, find a clear space on a carpet or mat. Do make sure you both have enough space around you so you are not likely to bump your heads!  

• Start by taking your shoes and socks off as it is safer and easier to do rabbit pose barefoot. Your child is less likely to slip and will gain accurate sensory information through their feet. 

• Squat down on the floor alongside each other.... 

• Keeping your feet still, reach forwards with both your hands and place them on the floor in front of you. 

• Lean forwards so you are taking more weight onto your hands - then hop both your feet towards your hands. 

• Repeat the movement again to 'lollop' like a rabbit!

Note to parents: Younger children (under 4 years approx.) will find rabbit pose difficult as the movement sequence requires quite mature co-ordination skills.

If your child is younger encourage them to either:

• Bend and straighten their knees whilst they are standing – the start of jumping or 
• To play in the ‘squat’ position – reaching down for toys on the floor and then putting them in little containers. Most young children can squat in a lovely position! 

Get ready to hop! 

Games to Play around Rabbit Pose

Place a scarf or streamer on the mat in front of your child and guide them to do rabbit hops over it. A green streamer could be 'spring grass', a blue streamer could be a river! 

Your child will find the rabbbit pose easier if they have something to look at and jump over. 

Remember to supervise your child closely with the scarf or streamer and never leave them alone with it. 

Why Rabbit Pose is ‘Good For Me’?

When your child does rabbit pose, they will:

1. Activate their shoulder and tummy muscles 

This means rabbit pose is an excellent prewriting activity, as strong, activated shoulder and tummy muscles are essential for writing i.e.

• To sit with correctly your child needs to have active tummy muscles, otherwise they may tend to slump forwards.
• If your child’s shoulder muscles are active and strong, they will use these muscles to support the weight of their arm, freeing their delicate hand muscles for writing. If their shoulder muscles are inactive or weak your child may try to support their whole arm with their hand muscles and this can lead to a very tight pencil grip and hand ache. 

2. Improve their co-ordination skills

Rabbit pose requires your child to move their hands first and then their feet. This movement sequence is quite hard to do – but is an excellent way for your child to become more aware of their body and how they can move in different ways. This is one of the goals for physical development in the Early Years Foundation Stage. 

3. Develop their visual skills for reading and writing

Your child will have to focus on the scarf or streamer as they hop over it, developing their visual skills. Your child will build on these early visual skills when they start to look at books and learn to read and write. 

A Rabbit Poem for A Spring Weekend!

I loved this poem as a child – goodness knows who wrote it. 

Remember to twitch your nose as you say it and get your rabbits and bunnies in the right order! 

Rabbit Poem 

There once was a rabbit who developed the habit of twitching the end of his nose, 

His brothers and sisters, and various others, said, “Look at the way he goes!” 

Now one clever bunny said “That’s very funny, I’ll practice it down in the dell” 

The rest said, “If he can, we’re positive we can” – and they did it remarkably well! 

Now all the world over, where rabbits eat clover and scribble and scratch with their toes, 

There’s isn't a rabbit who hasn't the habit of twitching the end of his nose! 

Our Tatty Bumpkin Classes

Remember, 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.

A New Start with Tatty Bumpkin?  

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 

Disclaimer - Sue Heron is a Chartered Physiotherapist.  The advice given in this article is not to replace medical advice from a physician or your paediatrician. Please consult their advice if you suspect any medical or developmental issues with your child. All activities are designed for complete adult supervision. Please use your own judgement with your baby or child and do not provide them with objects that could pose a choking hazard. Never leave a baby or child unattended during these activities. Tatty Bumpkin Ltd takes no responsibility for injury caused through actions taken as a result of using this article.