Sara J. Weis's Blog: Go Go Yoga Kids: Empower Kids for Life Through Yoga, page 7
August 28, 2020
How to Make Slime at Home
Who doesn’t love slime?!
August 23, 2020
Back to School Help
Every Fall, there is a rite of passage for kids aged preschool through college which involves preparing to go back to school. Usually, this means gathering school supplies, going school clothes shopping, registering for sports and activities, as well as Meet the Teacher Night or visiting the school before the start date which are usually part of back to school help.
This year with Covid-19, it is all different. We are all feeling a different amount of stress and so many new decisions to make. Do you have the choice of hybrid, in-person classes or online? Or was the decision made for you? The start of this school year feels very different.
The worries and fear of the unknown are real. Parents and children may feel nervous about contracting Covid-19 at school. They worry about social distancing and mask mandates. The information from the schools and state is continuously shifting and changing information as well as the reopening process and protocols. This definitely leads to more feelings of worry and uncertainty.
While levels of anxiety and stress may be high, parents play an influential role in helping children cope, encouraging a positive back-to-school transition and helping to reduce children’s anxiety and worries. These mini yoga brain breaks can help.
Enjoy the Following Back to School Help and Tips
Have Honest Discussions
It is important to sit down and really talk to your child. It doesn’t matter their age. Spend some time talking about how things may be different. As them if there are are specific things they are worried or concerned about, and talk these through with them.
Talk to them about what they can do to stay safe such as hand washing, using hand-santizer, keeping their distance from others avoid touching their face.
Get a Routine in Place
This is very important for children! Kids thrive on routines in place because they know what to expect and they feel like they have control.
Even if school is online; continue to have your children wake up at the same time and follow a morning routine such as eating breakfast, brushing teeth and getting dressed for the day.
If your children are headed to school in person. Plan on certain places to keep masks easily accessible such as on hooks by the door. Have children help prepare the night before with homework completed and packed into a backpack, lunch prepared and in the fridge, and school clothes laid out. These simple steps will save so much time in the morning and really help with building a routine.
Children ages 3 and older are also old enough to have chores and to contribute positively to the family. Chores such as putting away dishes from the dishwasher, watering plants, walking the dog, taking garbage out, all help build responsibility and community within a family.
Establish a bedtime routine as well. These structures will help create rhythm and flow to the days. Try these yoga and mindfulness tips that can be done together as a family.
Enjoy physical activity together every dayFocus on the Positive
It’s important to acknowledge children’s worries, but parents also need to encourage their children to focus on the things that are positive and they are forward to.
Before school starts, you can ask, “What are you looking forward to about school school?” or “What have you missed about school?” Once school starts, you can ask, “What was something great that happened today?”
At dinner, we like to take turns sharing something positive about our day. With so much negativity going on, it is important to truly be intentional about looking for the positive.
Be a Role Model
Children are watching and looking to us. They are noticing how we are responding to the changes and new challenges. Children even pick up on the nonverbal with our facial expressions.
It’s OK for us to feel uncertain and worried. However, as much as possible, try to model calm and confident attitudes about returning to school for your child and use cheerful, positive messages.
Please take the time to care for your own well-being and mental health. Be kind to yourself and one another. Seek out help if you needed. You are not alone. Make time for what makes you happy.
Conclusion:
While this year’s back to school is different, we can help children feel optimistic by listening to their worries, helping them feel confident by establishing routines and coping strategies. Our kids need us to lead the way for a successful back-to-school transition and to develop the lifelong skills they will need in the future.
See our E-Store for immediate access to all kids yoga lesson plans, games, and posesYou May Also Enjoy:
3 Breathing Exercises for Anxious Kids
Teach Mindfulness to Kids with this One Quick Tip
The post Back to School Help appeared first on Go Go Yoga For Kids.
August 4, 2020
Win a FREE Kids Yoga Book
Win a FREE Go Go Yoga for Kids Book
Simply fill out this Form Select which Go Go Yoga for Kids book you would choose.Winners will be announced through email on August 18th, 2020!
Which Go Go Yoga for Kids book is right for you?
Our three Go Go Yoga for Kids books all build upon one another and each serve a different purpose based on the varying needs of how to introduce and teach yoga to children at home, school, camps, clubs and online classes.
Go Go Yoga for Kids: A Complete Guide to Yoga with Kids
Go Go Yoga for Kids: A Complete Guide to Yoga with Kids is perfect for those that want to teach yoga to children in a school, studio, camp or club setting. It offers a breakdown of how to prepare for your classes and what to do and say throughout the class.
Go Go Yoga for Kids: A Complete Guide to Yoga With Kids
Go Go Yoga for Kids: A Complete Guide to Yoga with Kids breaks down the step by step parts of an engaging kids yoga class. It also includes detailed lesson plans, yoga games, breathing exercises, partner yoga poses and yoga challenges for children ages 3-16. This book also details how to teach yoga in schools, teaching yoga to children professionally as well as how to teach yoga to teens and tweens.
Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Lessons for Children
Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Lessons for Children
Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Lessons for Children is perfect for those wanting to teach yoga to children ages 3-11. It includes 35 ready-to-use, step-by-step lesson plans that will engage children right from the start and get them excited about yoga.
More favorite components of this book include the best (free or inexpensive) yoga props and read-aloud books with ways on how to incorporate yoga and movement. Popular with readers are the additional Quick and Easy No-Time-To-Plan Kids Yoga Lesson Plans as well as the downloadable games including the Go Go Yoga for Kids Bingo Cards and Poses.
Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Games & Activities for Children
Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Games & Activities for Children
Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Games & Activities for Children is all things game and activity related to yoga and children. This book includes over 150 games, activities, crafts, and challenges for ages 3-14.
Each game is broken down into the recommended ages, group size, and leader notes. These games include categories such as large group yoga pose games, mindfulness games, balance games, breathing exercises, and more. This book is a perfect resource for those who work with kids in any capacity. Bonus items of this book include the Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Pose Memory Game and game templates.
You May Also Enjoy:
Kid Yoga Teacher Favorite Props & Resources
The post Win a FREE Kids Yoga Book appeared first on Go Go Yoga For Kids.
July 29, 2020
Favorite Yoga Games
Summer Fun Giveaway!
I love sharing my favorite kid-tested and approved Yoga Games for children of all ages.
Kids love playing yoga games and they are a great way to get kids moving in good and healthy ways while practicing yoga poses and building strength.
Games are also perfect for allowing opportunities to work together as a team and practice yoga poses in fun and engaging ways.
Below are a few of our Featured Kids Yoga Games. Enter to win one of our bestselling Go Go Yoga for Kids books.
How to Enter and Win:
Click on the image to learn how to play the Yoga Game
Vote for Your Favorite Game on the form below.
Select which Go Go Yoga for Kids book you would choose!
What is Your Favorite Yoga Game?
Click on image to learn how to play and then vote below for a chance to win!
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Kids Need Yoga More Than Ever
Kids need yoga. Our world is changing, and our kids face different challenges and commitments then they have in the past.
There are many demands on kids’ time and pressure to do well and be successful at what they are involved in. This includes school, family, friends, sports, quickly changing technology and other interests.
Conclusion:
Kids need to learn how to be able to work through these demands in healthy and responsible ways.
Yoga is a skill that can benefit all kids no matter what activities they are involved in or what their interests and abilities are. Yoga meets everyone at any stage and provides incredible extrinsic and intrinsic benefits.
By introducing yoga to children through playing games, this helps create high interest and engagement. The children will better retain the poses and skills they have learned, will practice teamwork and leadership skills while having a lot of fun!
You May Also Enjoy:
5 Fun Yoga Games to Do With Your Child
Power of Partner Yoga Poses for Kids
Kids Yoga Teachers’ Favorite Props
The post Favorite Yoga Games appeared first on Go Go Yoga For Kids.
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Kids love playing yoga games! Games are a great way to get kids moving in good and healthy ways while practicing yoga poses and building strength.
They are also perfect for allowing opportunities to work together as a team and practice yoga poses in fun and engaging ways.
What is Your Favorite Kids Yoga Game?
Click on image to learn how to play and then vote below for a chance to win!
Loading…
Kids Yoga More Than Ever
Kids need yoga. Our world is changing, and our kids face different challenges and commitments then they have in the past.
There are many demands on kids’ time and pressure to do well and be successful at what they are involved in. This includes school, family, friends, sports, quickly changing technology and other interests.
That leaves us with kids who have a lot going on as they try to figure out a way to balance it all. This brings us to the benefits of yoga for children.
Kids need to learn how to be able to work through these demands in healthy and responsible ways.
Yoga is a skill that can benefit all kids no matter what activities they are involved in or what their interests and abilities are. Yoga meets everyone at any stage and provides incredible extrinsic and intrinsic benefits.
By introducing yoga to children through playing games, this helps create high interest and engagement. The children will better retain the poses and skills they have learned, will practice teamwork and leadership skills while having a lot of fun!
You May Also Enjoy:
5 Fun Yoga Games to Do With Your Child
Power of Partner Yoga Poses for Kids
Kids Yoga Teachers’ Favorite Props
The post appeared first on Go Go Yoga For Kids.
July 24, 2020
Mirror Mirror! More Fun Games to Practice Yoga Poses
Yoga Mirror is a fun yoga game that allows kids to practice yoga poses and take turns being the leader.
Grab your FREE Kids Yoga Games Guide to follow along and PLAY!
Why Kids Love to Play Yoga Mirror:
Yoga Mirror is a wonderful game to practice slowing down, mindfulness and working together. I know that kids learn best by doing as opposed to us telling them about how to do it.
With Yoga Mirror, one child gets to be the leader and their partner needs to follow them exactly. This is empowering and fun for kids!
How to Play Yoga Mirror:
With Yoga Mirror, one child gets to be the leader and their partner needs to follow them exactly.
The leader needs to move very very slowly so their partner can keep up. It is almost as if you are looking into a mirror and seeing the movements happen at the same time.
I like to have the partners begin facing one another.
Model how slow they will move such as raising one hand and then the other, rolling their neck or looking up at the ceiling.
Once they have that mastered they can begin moving slowing into Cat/Cow stretches, Warrior 1 or other poses that allow them to still face one another so they can keep track of what is happening.
Over 150 yoga games and mindfulness exercises are found in our bestselling book; Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Games & Activities.
Leader Notes:
By letting kids take a turn being in charge and making decisions on what poses they are going to do, allows a deeper level of understanding. It is the simple act of doing, rather than telling.
Be sure to jump in and play along too. That makes it even extra special. How often do children get to lead and have adults follow? They love it!
Allow children to change who is the leader and follower each time.
Allow each turn to last 45 seconds to a minute. They do not need long!
Find more Favorite Kids Yoga Games
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The post Mirror Mirror! More Fun Games to Practice Yoga Poses appeared first on Go Go Yoga For Kids.
July 17, 2020
How to Play Quiet Ball
How to Play Quiet Ball
Quiet Ball is a perfect mindfulness game to help bring the energy level down when working with a group of kids.
It is also a great game for building mindfulness and teamwork as everyone must work together.
Find your Free Yoga Games Guide below and get ready to follow along and play!
Quiet Ball is also found in our new bestselling book, Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Games & Activities for Children.
Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Games & Activities Includes:
Over 150 yoga games, activities, poses, and challenges broken into categories and easily modified
Detailed descriptions for all activities including suggested age groups, needed props, ideal group size, and leader notes
Suggestions for organizing engaging kids yoga classes and incorporating games
Benefits children can receive from yoga, games, teamwork, and mindfulness
Characteristics of age groups and the types of games that best fit each level of maturity
Ways to incorporate challenges for older kids
Teaching tips for tweens and teens
Breathing exercises for relaxation, mindfulness, and stress reduction
Secrets to successfully teach yoga to children
Ideas for yoga-inspired crafts that can be used both inside and outside of class
Ways to incorporate yoga into family time
Game and yoga pose illustrations
Downloadable yoga pose memory game
Available in hard copy and e-book.
How to Play Quiet Ball: A Mindfulness Game for Children:
Number of Players: 4+
Materials: Small ball (or other seasonal type balls; beach ball, soccer ball, etc)
Recommended Ages: 5 and up
How to play
Have the children sit in a circle. Depending on the ages of the kids, determines how far away everyone sits. The younger the ages, the closer they sit together.
One child gets to toss the ball to anyone they wish as long as that person is quiet and paying attention.
The ball is continually passed around the circle with each person making eye contact to the person they will pass it to.
The ball cannot be passed to someone who is not paying attention because they will may not to catch it.
See how long you can keep the ball going without it being dropped.
Leader Notes:
If I am playing this game at school, I would allow the children to sit on top of their desks or tables. How often do they get to do that? That alone ups the fun factor for sure!
To sometimes change the game up, I also have the class count aloud to see how many times we can catch it in a row without dropping the ball.
This doesn’t necessarily keep the game quiet, but it does provide a change in pace and definitely keeps everyone paying attention.
More Favorite Kids Yoga Games
Are you ready to learn to more about how to easily & effectively Teach Yoga & Mindfulness to Children?
Our online Kids Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Training will completely prepare you to teach yoga to children ages 3-15. Join thousands of others from all over the world in this fun and engaging training that will empower you to make a difference in the lives of children.
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The post How to Play Quiet Ball appeared first on Go Go Yoga For Kids.
July 10, 2020
Play Hot Lava: Yoga Game for Kids
Welcome to the Best Yoga Games for Kids. Kids love playing yoga games and it is a wonderful way to build strength, teamwork, flexibility and have fun moving their bodies in good and healthy ways.
Find your FREE Games Guide with directions, game downloads, resources and more.
Do you remember as a kid playing a game where you cannot touch the ground at the park or playground?
Hot Lava is similar to that, but played with yoga mats. It one of the most popular yoga game for the kids! They love to play Hot Lava and cannot get enough.
Thisis a wonderful game to get bodies moving, hearts pumping and smiles on faces while they practice the yoga poses that they just learned.
Hot Lava is found in our newest bestselling book; Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Games & Activities for Children.
Get your book on any device and save! Use code TEACHER25 and save 25% off your order in our Go Go Yoga for Kids E-Store.
Find hundreds of Kids Yoga Games, Lesson Plans, Mindfulness Exercises, Poses and more.
How to Play Hot Lava: Yoga Game for Kids:
Number of players: 6+
Materials: Music, yoga mats, Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards
Recommended Ages: 3 and up
40 Pose Cards
TheHot Lava Game Directions:
Introduce the yoga poses that you will be using for this game. This is my favorite way to teach yoga poses to kids.
Place yoga mats in a circle so they are stepping distance apart. Here is where I find my Kid-Sized Yoga Mats.
Place a Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Card at the top of each mat. Play music. Players go in a circle being careful not to touch the floor (hot lava). When the music stops, they must stay on the mat they are on and make the yoga pose.
The Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards
Leader Notes: This is a fun game for all ages. The younger children tend to stay at the top of the mats so the distance is not as far. The older children enjoy leaping from one mat to another from the back of the mats.
I do not generally have the children get out “out” if they are the last one to make their yoga pose. The goal is after all to get the children moving in positive ways, practice yoga poses, and have fun.
Variation: This game could also be called Musical Mats (played similarly to Musical Chairs found in Go Go Yoga for Kids: A Complete Guide to Yoga with Kids).
More Favorite Kids Yoga Games:
Yoga Hurdles
Be a Bubble
Alphabet Yoga
The Kids Yoga Challenge App available for iPhone and Android.
More Favorite Kids Yoga Games
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The post Play Hot Lava: Yoga Game for Kids appeared first on Go Go Yoga For Kids.
July 2, 2020
Be a Bubble Yoga Game
Welcome to our Summer Yoga Games for Children, I’m so happy that you’re here! Welcome to the first of our yoga games for preschoolers.
Grab your FREE Summer Yoga Games Guide with directions, poses and downloads.
Be a Bubble a mindfulness game that I play with my younger aged yoga students. This game is perfect for kids ages 2-5 years old and they love this mindfulness game. It also teaches them body awareness and respecting one another’s personal space.
This game is a lot of fun because kids get to pretend, they get to move their bodies in good and healthy ways, plus you get to incorporate bubbles which is always a good time!
This game and dozens of others are found in our new book, Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Games & Activities for Children. This bestselling mindfulness book includes over 150 yoga games. Be a Bubble is included in the mindfulness chapter of this book.
New Book Release! Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Games & Activities for Children. Now available for immediate use in our Go Go Yoga for Kids E-StoreHow to Play Play Be a Bubble
First introduce Bubble Breath or Bubble Breathing. Have kids think about how they would blow a big bubble. They will need to breathe in and then they exhale. They’re going to pretend to blow a big bubble. The greater the exhale then they are going to have and the bigger bubble!
Have the children move their hands and arms to show how they are blowing the bubble and how big it gets. So breathe in then they’re blowing the bubble. And that is a great way to practice breathing exercises with be a bubble.
Practicing our Bubble BreathingAfter Bubble Breathing, it is time to get the kids moving! Have a Bubble Dance! Play music, use real bubbles, and blow them into the center of the dance floor.
Let the kids dance and try to stomp on the bubbles. Let them try to catch them on their hand, on their elbow, on their knee, on their foot, on their head, on their nose, let them try to catch bubbles on different places and body parts. They love this!
After the Bubble Breathing and the Bubble Dance, it is time to bring down the energy a little bit. and play the Mindfulness Game with Be a Bubble. I would tell the children that they have already played with bubbles and they know what happens if we are too rough with it. It pops!
The Kids Yoga Challenge App is Available for iPhone and Android
Now it is time to pretend to be a bubble. We don’t want our bubble to pop, so everyone needs to blow up their bubble really big. Now let’s put ourselves into it. Be very careful! Now everyone needs to walk very mindfully and carefully around the room.
Play some slower music, quieter music and I would demonstrate tiptoeing and moving quietly. I don’t want my bubble to pop, I don’t want to bump into anyone or anything, I want to be mindful of my own space.
This is also a great way to teach kids about being mindful of their own bodies, their personal space and other people’s personal space.
When the music stops, have the kids stay “inside their bubble. It is time to make a yoga pose. So this is tons of fun and it’s a great way to practice both mindfulness and yoga poses. So some great ones for kids, I would have from our Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards which include 40 kid-friendly yoga poses and games.
Want the poses sooner? You can immediately download the
Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards here.
Call out the pose that everyone can make and show the corresponding Yoga Pose Card Visual. For example, “Everyone moves into Chair Pose. The kids would very carefully make their Chair Pose inside their Bubble. They must be careful not to be too rough, as they don’t want their bubble to pop.
Now we are going to go into a Tree Pose and the kids would practice holding that pose “inside their bubble”.
Be very careful to hold Tree Pose inside your bubble so it does not pop!Next turn the music would turn on again and the children would resume moving around carefully and trying not letting their bubble pop.
This is a great game to bring the energy level back down, bring mindfulness back in and the younger kids love this.
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The post Be a Bubble Yoga Game appeared first on Go Go Yoga For Kids.
June 26, 2020
Yoga Alphabet for Kids
The Best Alphabet Yoga Poses for Kids
Kids love yoga games! Games are a great way to get kids moving, build strength, practice following directions, working together and learning yoga poses in fun and engaging ways.
Get Your Free Yoga Games Guide Below and get ready to learn and play!
Get Your Yoga Games Guide Here
Why Kids love Alphabet Yoga:
Alphabet Yoga is a great mental and physical game. It’s a wonderful way to practice different yoga poses and it really gets kids thinking creatively.
Kids don’t need to have lots of experience with yoga poses to be able to play this game. It’s one that they can use their creativity and use their imagination.
How to Play Alphabet Yoga
You can play this with ages five and up. You can do this with 1 child, 15 or 20! Alphabet Yoga is very flexible on the numbers of players.
I use the Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards for this game. You don’t need to have the Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards but it is nice to have a visual for the kids with yoga poses and helps if they get stuck.
Have everyone sit in a circle.
The first child takes the first letter of the alphabet which is A. They must come up with a yoga pose or make one up that starts up with A. The child may choose Airplane Pose. Everyone says A Airplane Pose and they practice it.
Then the next child in the circle has one. This child could say; Boat Pose , Butterfly Pose, Bird Pose, etc.. Everyone then practices the B letter pose.
Next they go on to letter C. There’s a lot of good C yoga words. You could practice Cat Pose, Cobra Pose, Cow Pose would work, if you really want to up the game with kids and make it very challenging you could do Crow Pose.
Continue with letter D. The kids could come up with Dancer Pose or Down Dog. Again these poses are all in the Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards.
E is the next letter of the alphabet. Eagle Pose is tons of fun and great to work on balance. You could do Elephant Pose and pretend to sway your trunk up and down.
F could be Flower Pose or Fire Log Pose which are great to practice.
G is for Gorilla Pose or Goddess Pose which is a fun one too.
The game continues on throughout the alphabet.
Alphabet Yoga is included in our new bestselling book; Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Games & Activities for Children.
This book includes over 150 yoga games and activities that can be played with kids of all ages.
Game Variations:
For an extra challenge with the older kids, I would have them remember each pose and repeat from the top.
For example Each time there’s a new pose added they must go back to A Airplane Pose, B Butterfly Pose, C Cat Pose. This is such a wonderful way to practice memory and repetition.
Are you ready to take Kids Yoga to the next level? Our online Kids Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Training will completely prepare you to effectively teach yoga to children ages 3-15.
Join thousands of others from all over the world in our popular Kids Yoga Teacher Training.
Find more favorite Kids Yoga Games Below.
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The post Yoga Alphabet for Kids appeared first on Go Go Yoga For Kids.
Go Go Yoga Kids: Empower Kids for Life Through Yoga
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