Caterpillar Pose
Lay belly down on the mat
Begin to wiggle through hips
Either arm extended overhead or alongside hips
Practice inching forward without using hands and feet
Puppy Dog
Come to hands and knees on the mat in a table position
Walk hands forward until chest comes to the mat
Keep arms outstretched
Keep knees on the mat, lift ‘tail’ high
Can make funny puppy faces, and ‘wag tails’
Puppy Dog Pose is a nice setup and/or release from Down Dog Pose. It can be used to initiate the strength to create Down Dog Pose as well as provide a softening release from it. Similarly, it can be helpful in revving up energy for Down Dog Pose (especially in a group line of Down Dogs) and bringing that same energy back down.
Down Dog
Come to hands and knees on the mat in a table position
Move hands forward one handprint
Curl toes under
Lift hips to the sky
Breath work: Begin to pant with tongue hanging out, then close mouth keep the same ‘panting’ out the nose (Breath of Fire)
Down Dog Pose can be used to connect with others. Kids can take their Down Dog’s for a ‘walk’ moving off their mats and around the room, greeting other ‘Dogs’. Another option for Dog Pose in a group is to form a line of Down Dogs making a tunnel like opening beneath their bodies. One at a time, have a kid come onto their belly for Caterpillar and inch worm their way beneath the lifted Dog Poses.
Lion Pose
Come to hands and knees on the mat to create a table position
Face soft to start
Draw hips back towards heels in a pre-pounce
Pounce forward on the mat, staying on hands and knees
“ROAR!” sticking tongue out and looking up towards the ceiling
Lion Pose is useful to teach kids to identify and manage their emotions. By linking sound and movement through the yogic practice, kids yoga poses such as Lion, create the teaching of healthy anger outlets and helps to limit emotional outbursts.
Balloon Balance Obstacle Course
Learning Outcome
Gross motor tasks involving coordination on, balance, and body awareness.
Activity Description
Explain the objective at each part of the course, ie: “weave around the red cushions”, “jump over the small cushions”, “crawl through the chair tunnel” etc. and allow children to practice going through the course. This should be pretty easy on their own.
Now have the children complete the same course, but this time they must do it whilst balancing a balloon on their balloon carrier! (Much tricker now and no hands are allowed to hold the balloon on!) Can they complete the course without the balloon falling off their carrier?
For an added challenge, you can use a stopwatch to time the children as they complete the course. You could have children start the course again if their balloon falls off and touches the ground or add a small time penalty. Who can complete the course the fastest whilst still balancing their balloon?
Tip: Let the children help set up various obstacle stations. Children always have excellent creative ideas so be sure to listen to them for input when setting up.
Glow Balloon Obstacle Course! Try playing in the dark with illuminated balloons for an added challenge!! Lots of fun and laughing!
Required Material
4 Boundary cone, Pillows, cushions, and other low items such as cardboard boxes, hula hoops, tunnels, etc.
Set up a little obstacle course using things you have available, such as cushions, chairs, skipping ropes, etc.
Make up your little balloon carriers by sticking a ruler onto a paper plate (this is the same as is used for “Balloon Tennis”)
Balloon wall Tennis
Learning Outcome
Balloon tennis is a fun indoor exercise game designed to help kids practice hand-eye coordination, learn the basics of net sports, and burn off excess energy ⏤ all while not destroying your house in the process.
Activity Description
Make up your little balloon rackets by sticking a ruler onto a paper plate (We’ve found that just a couple of pieces of standard sticky tape are enough to secure a paper plate onto a ruler)
Hit the balloon into the wall, trying to keep it off the floor.
Count how many hits you can do before the balloon touches the ground. Try to beat your own score.
-If a “winner” is required, the pair that can hit the balloon between the two of them the most amount of times before it touches the ground, is the winner!
Variation: Pretend to be playing tennis in slow motion. This adds plenty of giggles!
Glow Tennis! Try using light-up balloons for even more fun and challenging game of balloon tennis in the dark!
Required Material
1 balloon,1 paper plate for each player,1 ruler for each player, sticky-tape
Activities
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Date 06/24/2021
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Date 06/24/2021
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Date 06/24/2021
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Rolling a Ball to a Target Fitness Activity
Date 06/24/2021
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Date 06/24/2021
