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!
