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