This week Tatty Bumpkin is in the land that time forgot - Dinosaur pose lets your child stretch their imagination and their body!

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. 

In the Tatty Bumpkin classes this week Tatty Bumpkin finds herself in the land that time forgot! Dinosaurs roam under strange looking trees...but ....they're friendly dinosaurs - and have invited Tatty Bumpkin to the strangest picnic ever!

Settle down to a dino-picnic!!

Why not have a go at Dinosaur pose at home and make your own dionsaur picnic. Research shows that if children have a chance to explore different foods, with all their senses, before they are asked to eat it they are far more likely to have a taste - http://bit.ly/1wHnXMk. 

We need to explore food safely - with all our senses!

Tatty Bumpkin Dinosaur Yoga Activity 

What kind of 'dino' are you??

In all the Tatty Bumpkin poses we encourage parents and carers to do the pose along with their child. Children learn a great deal from watching, they also ‘bond’ which other people when they are moving with them, and it gives you a chance to have a break and a stretch!

Pose Pointers! 

• Firstly find a non-slip mat or an area of carpet where you can both do the pose. Make sure you both have enough room around you to avoid bumps and knocks. 

• Take off socks and shoes as its far better to do the poses with bare feet. Barefoot your child will slip less and will be able to do the pose more accurately. Interestingly we rely on sensory information passed up through the soles of feet to balance.  

• Now imagine you are both dinosaurs! What kind of dinosaurs are you going to be? 

• Are you tall, thin dinosaurs? Stretch your arms up high to eat the leaves from the trees.

Tall dinosaurs

• Or are you big, heavy dinosaurs? Stretch your arms out wide and stomp your feet on the ground...

Stomp, stomp!!

• Maybe you're little dinosaurs creeping on the ground? Creep on your knees and forearms keeping your elbows bent...

Creeping under those weird trees! 

• Or maybe you have spines down your back? Take turns with your child to pat down each other’s backs - great for body awareness. 

Spines on the back!

Why Dinosaur Pose is Good for Your Child

The various dinosaur poses will give your child the opportunity to:

1. Develop their body awareness (spatial awareness)
As your child discovers and explores the different shapes they can make with their body they will be building up a more accurate picture or ‘map’ of their body. A growing awareness of their body shape and how it is changing will give your child ‘body confidence’ and encourage them to tackle new activities.

2. Enhance their creativity and imagination
Giving your child the time and space to come up with new ideas for dinosaur shapes and to think of different ways their dinosaur might move or sound will nurture their creativity, imagination and independent thought. Support your child’s ideas by demonstrating dinosaur shapes of your own, as your child will also learn a huge amount through looking at others. 

So ....The Tatty Bumpkin Adventure this Week

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 (England) and  the Curriculum for Excellence (Scotland) 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 have the chance to: 

• Improve their physical skills as they move in different ways as dinosaurs and explore the dinosaurs’ picnic!

• Develop their imagination and thinking skills as they imagine they are in a land from long ago - thinking about what the trees may look like and what kind of dinosaur they are going to be. 

• Progress their communication skills as they listen and dance to Tatty Bumpkin songs at the 'dino-disco' and share their dinosaur ideas. 

What is a dinosaur's favourite song? Roar by Katy Perry? 

• But most of all, your child will have fun with others as they work together to make a delicious dinosaur picnic!

Any one for a leaf burger? 

Love Tatty Bumpkin x

A New Start with Tatty Bumpkin?  

Or, maybe, you are thinking of a new career which gives you:

• The opportunity to work with kids and to have fun!
• A great sense of job satisfaction 
• Flexible working to fit around your own family - be there for school pick ups ..

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. 

Mindfulness is in the news this week – So why not try doing Tatty Bumpkin’s Volcano pose 'mindfully' with your child.

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

This week is Mental Health Awareness week - http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/mentalhealthawarenessweek/ and the Mental Health Foundation are talking about ‘mindfulness’. 

Mindfulness has already been shown to be successful in helping adults and children cope with stress and anxiety. Being mindful can improve concentration both in the workplace and in the classroom, see our Tatty Bumpkin blog on ‘Mindfulness in Schools’ http://bit.ly/1JBIs2w. 

What is Mindfulness?

On their website the Mental Health Foundation defines mindfulness as ‘paying attention to the present moment, without getting stuck in the past or worrying about the future’. 

For example, have you ever gone for a walk, breathing in the crisp, fresh air and then suddenly realised a few hours have passed? Have you ever listened so intently to a song that for a moment, you weren't thinking about anything but how beautiful the melody was? That’s mindfulness!

For a  child friendly, short animation on mindfulness see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNmMH6tqiMc.

Okay! Lets do Tatty Bumpkin’s Volcano Yoga Activity in a Mindful Way

Sleeping then erupting volcanoes! 

In all the Tatty Bumpkin poses we encourage parents and carers to do the pose with their child. This is because children learn a great deal from watching, they also ‘bond’ with other people when they are moving with them, and finally it gives you a chance to have a break and a stretch!

Pose Pointers

• Firstly find a non-slip mat or an area of carpet where you can both do the pose. Make sure you both have enough room around you to avoid bumps and knocks. 

• Take off your socks and shoes – it is far better to do this pose with bare feet as you and your child will slip less and will be able to do the pose more accurately. Interestingly we rely on sensory information passed up through the soles of feet to help us balance.  

• Start the pose, both curled up on your mats or the carpet, with your heads facing each other and tucked under your hands. You’re both sleeping volcanoes. 

• To make the pose more mindful – encourage your child to think about their breathing and how their body is feeling whilst they are curled up and still. For example – does their body feel ‘small’, ‘cosy’, ‘squeezed’ or ‘warm’?

• Then 1, 2, 3, whoosh! The volcanoes erupt! Guide your child to breathe out, and make a whooshing noise whilst they come up onto their knees and spread their arms out wide to either side.

• In this active position encourage your child to think about how their breath and body feels. Can they feel where their fingers are? Can they take big breaths? 

• Then the volcano quietens. Encourage your child to curl up to be a sleeping volcano again. Once again guide your child to think about how their body feels in this curled position. Does it feel quieter, softer? 

• Repeat volcano pose a few times with your child so they get the idea.

• If your child is older – they may want to try being sleeping and erupting volcanoes with their eyes shut – doing the pose slowly and all the time thinking where their arms and fingers are. Do make sure they have space around them before they do this though! 

• If your child is younger - they may enjoy doing volcano pose with ribbons in each hand – they will then be able to see how their arms are moving. If you are using ribbons please remember to supervise your child closely. 

Why Volcano Pose is Good for you and your Child

As you do Volcano pose with your child you will both have a chance to:

1. Strengthen their leg, arm & tummy muscles 

2. Progress their balance skills
 As your child moves quickly up to kneeling or standing they will be refining their mature balance reactions. These reactions are important not only for sporting activities like football or dance but also for sitting in a good position to write 

3. Let off steam! 
The explosive movement of volcano pose allows your child to express their emotions. Hence this activity will make a great ‘movement break’ if your child is getting frustrated with a complex task or problem. Be careful though do not do the pose too many times as then your child may find it hard to calm down!

4.  And of course – be more mindful


Love Tatty Bumpkin x

The Tatty Bumpkin Adventure this Week

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.

If your child is going to a Tatty Bumpkin class this week they will have the chance to: 

• Improve their gross and fine motor skills as they help the parrot find his feathers 

• Develop their imagination and thinking skills as they imagine they are in the rainforest near to a rumbling volcano! 

• Progress their communication skills as they suggest ways to get across the river… 

• But most of all, your child will have fun with others as they roar as lions, snap as crocodiles and, of course, erupt as volcanoes!! .

Helping the parrot find his feathers!

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. 

As new research indicates children ‘think better on their feet’ – Why not try Tatty Bumpkin’s ‘Growing Flower’ Yoga Activity with your child

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. 

Tatty Bumpkin's 'Growing Flower' pose encourages children to become more aware of their body in various positions as they move up to standing.
Interestingly new research, published last month by an American team, highlights how children, quite literally, think better on their feet. The team found that children who used a 'standing workstation' in the classroom, instead of sitting on a chair, were more attentive and engaged in the lesson - http://neurosciencenews.com/standing-classroom-engagement-psychology-1993/

This Week’s Tatty Bumpkin Yoga Activity is 'Growing Flower'

"I'm a Rainbow Flower!"

In all the Tatty Bumpkin poses we encourage parents and carers to do the pose along with their child. This is because children learn a great deal from watching, they also ‘bond’ which other people when they are moving with them, and finally it gives you a chance to have a break and a stretch!

Pose Pointers! 

• Firstly find a non-slip mat, or an area of carpet, where you can both do the pose. Make sure you have enough space around you to avoid bumps and knocks. 

• Take off your socks and shoes – it is far better to do this pose with bare feet as you and your child will slip less and will be able to do the pose more accurately. Interestingly we rely on sensory information passed up through the soles of feet to help us balance.  

• Start the pose curled up, with your heads facing each other and tucked under your hands. You’re both tiny seeds. Encourage your child to stay in this position for a few seconds as it's a calming and ‘organising’ position for them. 

• Now slowly you begin to grow! Guide your child to uncurl and come up into kneeling with you as slowly as they can - then to stand up and spread their arms out wide. 

• If you child is older encourage them to suggest which colour flower they are going to be? 

Why 'Growing Flower' Pose is Good for You and Your child

As you do Growing Flower pose with your child you will both have a chance to:

1. Progress their muscle strength
 When you child does this pose they will be strengthening both their leg and arm muscles.

2. Improve their core stability
As your child rises to standing they will be activating their core muscle groups i.e. their hip, abdominal & spinal muscles, as they spread their arms out wide they will activate their shoulder muscles.

3. Balance skills 
Growing flower pose gives your child a great opportunity to develop their balance skills as they rise from curled position to standing especially if they do not use their hands to help themselves up from the floor 

4. Imagination & creative thought
Encourage your child to think about the colour of their petals and to imagine what kind of flower they are and where they are growing. For example; are they a jungle flower, a mountain flower or maybe a spiky desert cactus! 

The Tatty Bumpkin Adventure this Week

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.

If your child is going to a Tatty Bumpkin class this week they will have the chance to: 

• Improve their physical skills as they help to save the Tiny Flower! 

• Develop their imagination and thinking skills as they imagine they are in a busy city and think how Tatty Bumpkin can save the Tiny Flower. 

• Progress their communication skills as they listen to the Tatty Bumpkin rhythm and feather songs, and suggest what colour flowers they might be. 

• But most of all, your child will have fun with others as they dig as diggers, fly as seagulls and explore the Tatty Bumpkin flower sensory props. 

Love Tatty Bumpkin x

A New Start with Tatty Bumpkin?  

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