tatty bumpkin-

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Wriggle into Autumn - Support your child’s nursery/classroom skills with Tatty Bumpkin's Snake Yoga Activity

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

We often think of tummy time for babies and little ones - but it's helpful for everyone!
Giving children the opportunity to play games on their tummy can help their: sitting posture, balance skills in the play ground or on the sports field and their ability to focus.

Tatty Bumpkin's Snake Pose

Find a clear place on a non-slip surface (e.g. mat or carpet) - where you and your child can do snake pose without bumping into anything with your head arms or legs!

Try to do snake pose along with you child – slowly and carefully so they can copy you. Do respect your body though - so if you know you have back or neck problems and always consult a health professional before you try the pose.

Remember to take off socks and shoes – this will enable you and your child to use your feet effectively as you wriggle.

Okay lie down on the floor together – prop yourselves up on your forearms and ‘hiss’ at each other - this is snake pose great for encouraging speech and confidence. As your child props on their forearms they will be activating their neck, shoulder and hand muscles - they may also push up onto their hands. Activity in these muscles groups will help support their fine motor skills i.e. holding a pencil or crayon to draw or write.

Look all around – to your right and left - to find objects round the room. Then see what you can spy when you look gently upwards or back down to the floor in front of you. This activity will help your child to refine their head and eye movements. In the nursery or classroom your child will be able to draw on these skills as they start to look up to a white board and back down to their paper.

Now start to wriggle together – reaching forward with one arm and then the other. Once again your child will be working their shoulder muscles but they will also be using their back and tummy muscles more. To sit well your child needs both their tummy and back muscles to be active.

After you have wriggled a little way – stop - and have a think - are you moving your legs? Often we forget our legs when we wriggle! Encourage your child to move their opposite arm and leg to perfect their 'snakey wriggle' - they will then be strengthening their hip muscles and developing co-ordination skills. Why not wriggle and hiss to the Tatty Bumpkin snake song see https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/this-is-the-life/id376347823.

If your child is finding it hard to move both their arms and legs as they wriggle – break the activity down into smaller steps. For example:

Guide your child to lie on their tummy with their elbows bent so they are propping on their forearms - as in snake pose.
Encourage them to move their right elbow forwards a little way and then to roll onto their right side.
As they roll to the right guide your child to look to their left – almost automatically they should bend up their left leg.
Try the same movements only on the other side I.e. encourage your child to roll back into snake pose - but this time guide them to move their left elbow forwards, then to roll onto their left side and to look to the right – this should encourage their right leg to bend up.
Guide your child to repeat the rolls – whilst moving their elbow, body, head and opposite leg - then see if they can link them together to commando crawl.

Wriggle forwards and backwards then take a rest and just wave your ‘snakey’ tail. Bend up your knees so your feet are up in the air and gently sway both feet from side to side. Once again this activity is great for tummy, back and hip muscles but it also helps your child to become more aware of the ‘middle’ of their body and how they can take their legs (and arms) across this middle section to the other side. This ability is often known as ‘crossing the midline’ – just think how many times your child will be using this skill to dress themselves in the morning!

After you have wriggled as snakes – curl up the other way to be a mouse or maybe a rock for the snake to hide behind! This movement makes sure you have stretched your back and neck the other way to snake pose - helping to release the back and neck muscles you have been working.

Curl up as a mouse!

If you want to read more about tummy time games and activities for young children I recommend this free New Zealand activity leaflet see http://www.sportnz.org.nz/assets/Uploads/attachments/managing-sport/young-people/Tummy-Time-Rolling-and-Crawling.pdf

Love Tatty Bumpkin x

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.

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.

Monday, September 7, 2015

Back to school and nursery? Support your Child’s Independence with Tatty Bumpkin's Tree Yoga Activity.

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

A recent survey into skills for starting school found that 75% of parents felt they would like their child to be as independent as possible in their self-care. See ‘WHAT DOES “SCHOOL READY” REALLY MEAN?’ Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years 2013 https://www.pacey.org.uk/Pacey/media/Website-files/school%20ready/School-Ready-Report.pdf

Tatty Bumpkin Tree Yoga activity is a fun way for your child to progress their balance skills – these skills provide the foundation for many basic school activities. For example with improved balance your child will be more able to:

Go up/down stairs safely and quickly in crowded situations
Change quickly into/out off their PE kit
Try new activities in the playground or on the sports field.

Tatty Bumpkin Tree Pose

Start by being a tree swaying in the wind

Find a clear place on a non-slip surface (e.g. mat or carpet) where you can do tree pose without bumping into anything.Take off socks and shoes – so your child can get accurate sensory information through their feet.
Try to do tree pose along with you child – slowly and carefully so they can copy you. Your child will love to do the activity with you – great for bonding! Remember, if you have any concerns about doing tree pose i.e. you have back pain or are pregnant do consult a health professional first.
Start by guiding your child to stand with their feet hip width apart, stretching their arms out to either side – these are branches!
Now imagine the wind is starting to blow – together take a few deep breaths and blow out softly. Then gently sway your bodies side to side! See below for why this is an important step.
After a few sways side to side, have a go at taking one foot off the floor. Either rest the sole of your raised foot against the calf of your other leg (as in the picture below) of just hold it off the ground by bending your knee on front.

Tatty Bumpkin Tree Pose

If your child is tending to squeeze their thighs together, or wrap one leg round the other, to gain extra stability try some of the activities suggested below.

Spark imagination to make Tree Pose fun and engaging for your child

Tree pose is essentially about standing on one leg. However, crucially, many children will feel far more motivated to try being a ‘big tree in the jungle’ or ‘an apple tree in an garden’ rather than to just keep trying over and over again to stand on one leg!

To make Tree pose more engaging for your child, give them two apples to hold in their outstretched hands - then they become an apple tree! The weight of the apples will also help your child to become more aware of their arm movements - which will help them to balance.

Tatty Bumpkin Apple Tree

Tree Pose in Small Steps!

When trying to do Tree pose (stand on one leg) young children often don’t realise that the first thing they have to do is to move most of their weight onto one leg. This is a crucial step - below are a few useful tips on how to encourage this weight shift:

Be a tree in the wind. Start Tree pose by encouraging your young child just to sway side to side with their arms out wide – like a tree in the wind. Whilst they do this they will be automatically learning how to transfer their weight from one side to the other. Start with little side to side movements then see if your child can move further to each side!

Be a tree on a hill! Place a low sturdy box, or a pile of 1-2 big books, in front of your child- on a non-slip surface - to make a low step. Encourage your child to step up with one foot onto their 'step'. See if they can hold this position for a few seconds - then guide them to bring their foot back down. To start with you may wish to give your child support as they step up/down. See note below on how to do this. This stepping activity helps your child to learn the subtle weight shifts they have to do to stand on one leg and to negotiate stairs. Start with a low step then increase the height a little as your child gains in confidence. Once they have had a go at stepping up/down with one leg see if they can do the same thing with their other leg.

Offer support by holding the trunk of the tree! Your child may well need some extra support as they try to do Tree pose for the first time. If this is the case, rather than holding their hands, kneel down alongside your child and support them by holding them round their hips. If you support your child in this way they will be able to use their arms to balance – much more normal.

Be a tree with tiny roots! If your child is getting the idea of moving their weight onto one leg, but has not yet mastered taking one foot completely off the ground, see if they can do Tree pose with one foot flat on the ground and just the toe of their other foot on the ground. They can rest the heel of their raised foot against their main supporting foot.

Tree Pose Progressions

Remember you can practice Tree Yoga activity throughout the day. For example, you can be a tree:

Whilst standing in a supermarket queue!
Just after you have brushed your teeth (using the sink for support if needs be)
When you are passing a tree whilst out for a walk. Pick up two leaves, hold them out wide in each hand - then copy the tree you are next to.

Practice little and often is the best way to learn a new skill!

Maths and Tree Pose

For a nice maths activity which could be played whilst doing Tree pose see http://www.fantasticfunandlearning.com/falling-apples-fall-addition-activity.html

Love Tatty Bumpkin x

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. All our sessions are linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Scottish Pre-birth to 3 years and Curriculum for Excellence.

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.

Monday, July 6, 2015

Tatty Bumpkin’s Kid’s Yoga activity for the week is Octopus - great for strengthening arm and tummy muscles whilst progressing counting skills in a fun way!

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 'Octopus'

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!
Remember if you have any concerns whether you should do octopus pose always consult a health professional. If you feel any pain - do stop.

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’s far better to do octopus pose 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.

Octopus Pose Pointers!

Wave hands and feet as octopuses!

Find 4 (blue/green) streamers or ribbons and sit facing your child on the floor.
Always use your own common sense about what objects may be dangerous for your child. Whilst they are playing with the suggested props supervise your them closely and NEVER leave them unattended, or with another child. Ribbons and streamers over 25 cm long can pose a strangulation risk.

Give 2 streamers to your child and keep 2 for yourself. Hold your streamers in each hand and wave them slowly at your child - using big arm movements. Hopefully your child will be encouraged to copy you and will start to wave their own streamers. Encourage your child to do big arm movements (see ‘Why it is Good for Me’ section below).

Carefully thread a streamer between your toes – support your child to do the same. Then show them how they can put their hands down behind their back on their mat and then lean back safely on their hands to wave their foot and their streamer in the air!

If your child is older they may be able to thread both their streamers between their toes of each foot – and then lean back on their hands to wave both their feet in the air!

Want to make it harder?

Guide your child to sit back to back with a friend or with you!

Encourage them to shuffle their bottoms a little way a way from each other – so they are leaning right back against each other for support.

Then see if they can lift one or both of their feet off the floor and wave them in the air. Can they wave their arms and legs in turn to count out 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 tentacles!

Be a 'giant octopus' with a friend!

If your child is younger

Find an area of wall which you can both safely lean back against.

Guide your child to sit with their back facing the wall and their legs stretched out in front. Thread your ribbons/streamers between your toes.

Then show your child how they can shuffle their bottoms away from the wall, and lean back against it for support.

In this position they may be able to wave one or both of their feet in the air- waving their steamer as they do so!

Once they have the idea of balancing on their bottom – you can show your young child how they can place their hands behind them on a mat and use their hands to support themselves as they lean back to wave one foot in the air. Take this slowly though – young children find it hard to get the idea of bracing their shoulders and elbows so they can support themselves through their arms – especially in this position. Once mastered though this is a really good activity for young children as often children lack good strength in their shoulders and arms and this can effect their fine motor (hand) skills.

Why Octopus Pose is Good for Your Child

As your child does octopus pose with you they will be:

1. Progressing their balance skills
As your child does octopus pose they will be refining their automatic ‘balance reactions’ or reflexes.

2. Stretching and strengthening their hamstring and thigh (quadricep) muscles
As your child bends and straightens their legs in octopus pose they will be stretching and strengthening both these muscle groups. The hamstring muscles run down the back of the thigh whilst the quadricep muscles run down the front. These muscle are the most important ones for movement, if they are strong and supple your child will find walking, running, going up/down hills and steps much easier and will be able to keep going for longer!

3. Activating their tummy muscles
As your child waves their legs and arms in the air they will be working their tummy muscles really hard. Encourage your child to keep their arms and legs well forward, in front of them, this will help them to find their balance and ‘wake up’ their tummy muscles.

4. Developing their social skills
Your child and their friend will be working together in octopus pose. They will have to trust each other, but once they can do the pose together they will share the joy of achievement! And - as they count their tentacles - they will improve their maths skills.

How many tentacles do I have?

The Tatty Bumpkin Multi-sensory Yoga Adventure This Week ..

Our qualified Tatty Bumpkin Teachers are fully trained in aspects of child development and Yoga and are kept up-to-date by our professional team of paediatric physiotherapists, Yoga teachers and musicians. All the Tatty Bumpkin stories 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.

This week Tatty Bumpkin finds herself on the beach – Yippee! But all is not well – mermaid is crying as she thinks everyone has forgotten her birthday! Tatty Bumpkin (of course) comes to the rescue – but she will need some help. In this week’s story your child will have the chance:

1. To improve their physical skills as they wriggle and wave in octopus pose and stretch out wide in starfish pose.

2. To use gestures or words to express their thoughts: Feeling ‘happy’ with Tatty Bumpkin on the beach, ‘caring’ for mermaid and feeling ‘curious’ and ‘brave’ as they explore the ocean.

3. Come up with their own ideas and feel confident to talk about them e.g. Wondering who is crying and deciding what they can make mermaid for her birthday.

4. Become more aware of their breathing as they blow out softly to make a sea breeze.

5. Learn to dance to a rhythm as they move to the Tatty Bumpkin Octopus and rhythm songs.

6. Most important of all - to have fun with their friends as they run over the hot sand, jump in the rock pools, wriggle and wave as octopus and make a card for mermaid!

Happy Birthday mermaid!

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
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.

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Tatty Bumpkin’s Kid’s Yoga activity for the week is Peacock – great for strengthening tummy muscles and stretching hamstrings!

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 Peacock

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! Remember if you have any concerns whether you should do peacock pose always consult a health professional - if you feel any pain - do stop.

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’s far better to do rainbow pose 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.

Peacock Pose Pointers!

Baby Peacocks!

Baby Peacock

Lie down on your back with you child and encourage them to copy your movements

Bend your knees, but keep your feet flat on the floor

Let your knees move away from each other out to either side, then bring them back together - just like a peacock opening and closing his tail.

Want to make it harder? Make a bigger peacock tail!

Lift up your tail and open it wide!

Lie on your back with your child - try to keep most of your back on the mat or the carpet and encourage your child to copy you

Bend your knees and carefully lift your feet up into the air, then gently straighten your knees as much as you can. Gently tighten your tummy muscles as you do this to support your back – your child will probably do this automatically

Now slowly move your feet apart - a little way out to each side –and bring them back to the middle. Repeat a few times

Help your child to think about how the peacock’s tail looks dull when it’s closed but is amazingly beautiful when it’s open. Maybe ask them if they can think of something special about themselves that people cannot see? Maybe being kind, or patient or friendly.

Younger children - Note to parents

To begin with, your child may need you to gently guide their knees out to the side and back to the middle - so they can feel the movement. Then see if they can do the pose whilst copying you.

Helping the peacock open his tail!

Why Peacock Pose is Good for Your Child

Peacock pose will give your child the opportunity to:

1. Stretch their hip muscles
As your child takes their knees out to each side and back to the middle they will be stretching the muscles around their hips.

2. Stretch their hamstring muscles
If your child does the harder version of peacock pose they will be stretching their ‘hamstring’ muscles. The hamstrings muscles run down the back of the leg, from the back of the pelvic bone down to just below the knee. Often these muscles can get tight in children, especially if they are growing fast and are having to sit for long periods. Tight hamstring muscles could affect your child’s overall sitting position as to relieve the tightness your child may slide their bottom forwards in their chair and this will cause them to slump.

3. Activate their tummy muscles
As your child lifts their legs in the air they will use their tummy muscles.

4. Develop their imagination and self-confidence
As your child does peacock pose, encourage them to think about the colour of their beautiful feathers. Then encourage your child to think of something about themselves they like - something as beautiful as a peacock’s tail. Do they like their clever fingers, their wavy hair, their smile, their eyes, their jumpy legs or their kindness to their friends?

The Tatty Bumpkin Multi-sensory Yoga Adventure This Week ..

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 stories 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.

This week Tatty Bumpkin finds herself in the rainforest - there, with the animals - she helps peacock to celebrate the differences which make us all special.
In this week’s story your child will have the chance:

1. To improve their physical skills as they wriggle as snakes, swing on the trees as monkeys, and open their peacock tails.

2. To use gestures or words to express their thoughts: Feeling ‘hot’ with Tatty Bumpkin in the Rainforest, caring for peacock with Tatty Bumpkin, feeling ‘confident’ with peacock as he realise he has a magnificent tail!

3. Come up with their own ideas and feel confident to talk about them - wondering which creature could make that squawking noise? Deciding which shape to wriggle their body into as a snake?

4. Become more aware of their breathing as they blow the Peacock’s feather.

5. Learn to dance to a rhythm as they move to the Tatty Bumpkin Monkey, Snake or Frog songs.

6. Most important of all - have fun with their friends as they: creep through the rainforest, swing with the monkeys and jump with the jumping Tree Frog!

A peacock's feather is full of wonder!

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
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.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Tatty Bumpkin's Rainbow Pose for your child- Encourage them light up the sky in their imagination as they stretch out their body

This week’s Tatty Bumpkin Yoga Activity is Rainbow

In all the Tatty Bumpkin poses we encourage parents and carers to do the pose along with their child. This is because:

Your child will learn a great deal from watching your movements.
Moving with your child is a great way to strengthen the bond between you both.
Finally it gives you a chance to have a break and a stretch!

However, do look after your own body - if anything hurts do stop. If you are not sure whether Fish pose is suitable for you - consult a health professional.

To Start ...

Firstly find a non-slip mat, or an area of carpet, where you can both do Rainbow pose. Make sure you both have enough room to avoid bumps and knocks. Take off your socks and shoes- it’s far better to do Rainbow pose with bare feet :-).

Pose Pointers..

You and your child can do Rainbow pose in many positions - here are our suggestions: sitting back on your heels, kneeling, standing up or lying down! We will start sitting back on our heels.

Sitting back on heels is easier - kneeling needs more coordination

Guide your child to sit back on their heels opposite you.

Start by saying “1, 2, 3, rainbow!” to your child. As you say ‘rainbow’, do Rainbow pose so your child can copy your movements i.e.

Stretch your arms up above your head so your elbow are straight
Bring your palms together and look up at your hands.
Then, slowly take your arms, in wide arc, down to your sides, and look straight ahead.
To make this pose even more effective and relaxing for yourself – try taking a deep breath in as you stretch your arms above your head and then breathe out as you take your arms down to your sides.

Reverse your arm movements - bring your palms back together above your head, once again encouraging your child to copy. You are now both back in the starting position - ready to do the pose again.

Repeat Rainbow pose several times so your child has a chance to learn the movement and enjoy doing it with you – Finally give them a hug!

Older children - Want to make it harder?

If your child is older you can sing or say the colours of the rainbow together as you do Rainbow pose lying down – repeating the pose seven times. I always remember the colour order by the phrase “Richard Of York Gained Battle In Vain!”

Older children can do Rainbow pose themselves whilst lying down

Then imagine it’s starting to rain... guide your child to stretch their arms out so their hands are above them and then to point their index fingers.

See if your child can bring their pointed index fingers down to touch their nose one at a time - like raindrops!

To make it even harder, encourage your child to ‘have a go’ at doing the same 'raindrop' movement - only this time with their eyes closed - be careful!! You can also do this 'raindrop' game sitting up.

Younger children

Young children may find Rainbow pose easier to do standing up

Younger children may enjoy doing Rainbow pose standing up.

Start sitting back on your heels with your child standing opposite, see picture.

Take your arms out to the side, bring your hands together above your head, then take them back down to your sides - encourage your child to copy you.

Make the activity more fun by making a ‘rainbow ribbon’ for your child to hold and wave. This is easily done by attaching several short, coloured ribbons to a shower ring. Remember - always use your own common sense about what objects may be dangerous for your baby. Whilst they are playing with the suggested props supervise your baby closely and NEVER leave them unattended, or with another child. Ribbons and streamers over 25 cm long can pose a strangulation risk.

Rainbow Ribbon Ring

Make a ‘ribbon ring’ for your child to wave and shake about! These can be made from a selection of coloured ribbons and a shower curtain ring - see http://blogs.babycenter.com/life_and_home/rainbow-ribbon-rings/ for ideas. Your child will love to hold these above their head and wave them across their body – developing their ‘midline’ skills. See ‘Why it is good for me’ section.

A rainbow ring!

Why Rainbow Pose is Good for Your Child

Rainbow pose will give your child the opportunity to:

1. Stretch out and activate their shoulder muscles
Even young children can spend a great deal of time sitting, this can result in them adopting a poor sitting posture. Rainbow pose offers your child a great opportunity to carefully stretch out their neck, upper back, shoulder and arm muscles. After doing the pose they will have a clearer idea of how they should be sitting or standing.

2. Activate their tummy muscles
As your child raises their hands above their chest and takes them back down to their sides they will be gently using their tummy muscles. Active tummy muscles are essential for good posture and more complex physical skills.

3. Increase their awareness of their ‘midline’
Your child will be taking their hands towards and then away from their ‘midline’. This is the imaginary ‘line’, down our body, which separates our left and right hand sides. Interestingly, it is quite hard for children to move their hands away from their midline and back down to their sides. Activities, like Rainbow pose which encourage children to work in their ‘midline’ area are great for developing pre-writing skills

The Tatty Bumpkin Multi-sensory Yoga Adventure This Week ..

Feeling ‘excited’ with Tatty Bumpkin when she finds herself on a cloud!
Feeling a bit ‘anxious’ with Tatty Bumpkin when it starts to rain.
Feeling ‘amazed’ with Tatty Bumpkin when she sees the fairies.

3. Come up with their own ideas and feel confident to talk about them i.e.
Which cloud shape they are going to be?
Wondering which item of washing the fairies are missing?

4. Become more aware of their breathing pattern, and progress their sense of rhythm, as they blow different coloured butterflies to the Tatty Bumpkin Butterfly song.

But most important of all - to have fun with their friends as they: change shapes as clouds, fly with the fairies, and make rainbow shapes across the sky.

Relaxing under our rainbow!

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
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.

This week Tatty Bumpkin’s Yoga activity is Rainbow Pose – A chance for your child to bring colour to their imagination and to find their ‘mid-line'!

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

This week’s Tatty Bumpkin Yoga Activity is Rainbow

To Start ...

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’s far better to do rainbow pose 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.

Pose Pointers..

You and your child can do Rainbow pose in whatever position you like – but here are our suggestions: standing up, sitting back on heels or kneeling up or lying down!

Young children may find Rainbow pose easier to do standing up

Sitting back on heels is easier - kneeling needs more coordination

Older children can do Rainbow pose themselves whilst lying down

Guide your child to sit back on their heels, kneel or stand opposite you.

Start Rainbow pose by saying something like “1, 2, 3, Rainbow!” to your child.

As you say ‘Rainbow’ - do the pose yourself i.e.

Stretch your arms up above your head so your elbow are straight
Bring your palms together and look up at your hands.
Then, slowly take your arms, in wide arc, down to your sides, and look straight ahead.To make this pose even more effective and relaxing for yourself – try taking a deep breath in as you stretch your arms above your head and then breathe out as you take your arms down to your sides. If you have any concerns whether you should do the movement always consult a health professional. If you feel any pain - do stop.

Encourage your child to copy your movements.

Continue the pose by reversing the movement i.e. bring your palms back together above your head. You're now back in the starting position.

Repeat Rainbow pose several times so your child has a chance to learn the movement and enjoy doing it with you – Then give them a hug!

If your child is older you can sing or say the colours of the rainbow together – repeating the pose seven times. I always remember the colour order by the phrase “Richard Of York Gained Battle In Vain!”

Want to Make it Harder?

Guide your child to imagine it’s starting to rain - encourage them to stretch out their arms so their hands are away from their body and point their index fingers.
Then see if they can touch their nose with their pointy fingers one at a time-like raindrops!
To make it even harder – encourage your child to ‘have a go’ at doing the same movement only this time with their eyes closed. Be careful!!

Younger children

Younger children they find rainbow pose easier if you show them what to do.

Start sitting back on your heels with your child in the same position facing you, see picture above.

Take your arms out to the side, bring your hands together above your head, then take them back down to your sides - encourage your child to copy you.

Make the activity more fun by making a ‘rainbow ribbon’ for your child to hold and wave. This is easily done by attaching several short, coloured ribbons to a shower ring. Remember - always use your own common sense about what objects may be dangerous for your baby. Whilst they are playing with the suggested props supervise your baby closely and NEVER leave them unattended, or with another child. Ribbons and streamers over 25 cm long can pose a strangulation risk.

Rainbow Ribbon Ring

A rainbow ring!

Why Rainbow Pose is Good for Your Child

Rainbow pose will give your child the opportunity to:

1. Stretch out and activate their shoulder muscles
Even young children spend a great deal of time sitting, which often results in the adopting a poor sitting posture. Rainbow pose offers them a great opportunity to carefully stretch out their neck, upper back, shoulder and arm muscles. After doing the pose they will have a clearer idea of how they should be sitting or standing.

2. Activate their tummy muscles
As your child raises their hands above their chest and takes them back down to their sides they will be gently using their tummy muscles. Active tummy muscles are essential for good posture and more complex physical skills.

3. Increase their awareness of their ‘midline’
Your child will be taking their hands towards and then away from their ‘midline’. This is the imaginary ‘line’, down our body, which separates our left and right hand sides. Interestingly, it is quite hard for children to move their hands away from their midline & back down to their sides. Activities, like Rainbow pose which encourage children to work in their ‘midline’ area are great for developing pre-writing skills

The Tatty Bumpkin Multi-sensory Yoga Adventure This Week ..

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.

This week Tatty Bumpkin finds herself way up in the sky, amongst the clouds. As the wind blows around her, so the clouds change shape … what cloud shape would you be, I wonder? But Tatty Bumpkin is not alone … there are also some very busy fairies flying around her hanging out their washing!

This is perhaps one of my favourite Tatty Bumpkin stories. In this story your child will have the chance:

1.To improve their awareness of their ‘midline’ (to aid early writing skills) and to stretch out tight muscles as they do Rainbow pose.

2.To use gestures or words to express their thoughts i.e.
Feeling ‘excited’ with Tatty Bumpkin when she finds herself on a cloud!
Feeling a bit ‘anxious’ with Tatty Bumpkin when it starts to rain.
Feeling ‘amazed’ with Tatty Bumpkin when she sees the fairies.

3.To come up with their own ideas and feel confident to talk about them i.e.
Which cloud shape they are going to be?
Wondering which item of washing the fairies are missing?

4.To become more aware of their breathing and promote their sense of rhythm as they blow different coloured butterflies to the Tatty Bumpkin Butterfly song.

5. Most important of all - to have fun with their friends as they: change shapes as clouds, fly with the fairies, and make rainbow shapes across the sky.

Relaxing under our rainbow!

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
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.