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!
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:
