By Sue Heron – Training Co-ordinator Tatty Bumpkin and Paediatric Physiotherapist
It could be cold this week in the UK and Tatty Bumpkin is off exploring the Antarctic learning to how to do ‘penguin pose’ with her penguin friends!
Penguin pose is a fun way to bring activity into your child’s day. Ten minute movement breaks all add up! For other ideas the British Heart Foundation has some handy ideas see http://www.bhfactive.org.uk/userfiles/Documents/helpyourchildmove.pdf
General Advice
Try to do penguin pose with your child, or encourage brothers and sisters to join in. Research shows toddlers and young children bond with their parents and ‘key people’ not only through touch but also by moving with them. For further ideas on games to improve your relationship with your little one see http://pro.psychcentral.com/child-therapist/2014/08/5-attachment-based-activities-to-strengthen-parent-child-relationships/#
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| Enjoy a Baby Bumpkin class with your child |
"I tried to teach my child with books.
He gave me only puzzled looks.
I used clear words to discipline,But I never seemed to win.
Despairingly, I turned aside.“How shall I reach this child?” I cried.
Into my hand he put the key:“Come,” he said, “Play with me.”
Author unknown (adapted by Aletha Solter)
Tatty Bumpkin’s Penguin Yoga Activity
- Find a clear space on the carpet or a mat with your child. Make sure you both have a clear space around you so you are not likely to bump your heads!
- Start by taking off your shoes and socks as your child will benefit from doing penguin pose barefoot. They will be able to move their feet and toes properly so receiving accurate sensory information through their feet.
- Stand up tall with your child and show them how they can rock back on their heels so their toes and the balls of their feet are off the floor.
- Now just balancing on your heels see if you and your child can shuffle forwards, backwards or even sideways!
- Put your arms by your side then turn your hands up so they are like little penguin wings.
- Want to make it harder? Carefully place a bean bag or a rolled up pair of socks on your feet, then move onto your heels as you did before seeing if you can keep the beanbag balanced on your feet – just like a penguin carrying its egg!
Picking up your Penguin Eggs – with your feet!
Supervise your child closely during this game to prevent banged heads.
After balancing your egg on your feet have a go at picking it up with your child, but not with your hands - with your feet!
- Sit down with your child and your egg props (bean bags or rolled up socks are ideal) and a shallow tray or basket.
- Guide your child to put their hands down on their mat by their sides so they can safely lift their feet off the ground whilst taking weight through their hands.
- Then show your child how they can pick up the egg with their feet and put it in a container! A shallow container will be easier than one which is deeper.
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| Picking up apples with your feet! |
- Encourage your child to watch you for a few goes to get the idea. You might have to help them though - place your ‘egg’ toy between your child’s feet and encourage them to wrap their feet round it so they are holding it between the soles of their feet.
- The final step is for your child to lift their egg up with their feet and place it in the tray.
- Keep practising and then enjoy the look of triumph on your child’s face as they realise they can use their feet like their hands!
Why Penguin Yoga Activity is ‘Good for Me’
Penguin pose will help your child to:
1. Activate tummy muscles - As your child balances on their heels in penguin pose they will increase the activity in their tummy muscles. This will help their overall posture.
2. Improve balance skills - When your child walks on their heels in penguin pose, they have less of their feet on the floor and as a result they will be improving their balance skills.
3. Calf muscle stretch - Penguin pose also provides your child with an excellent calf muscle stretch hence this pose is ideal, fun activity if your child has a tendency to walk on their tiptoes.
3. Co-ordination skills - To improve their co-ordination skills, especially their eye foot co-ordination (for football), your child can practise standing and walking with a bean bag balanced on their feet – just like a penguin with an egg!
4. Activate their foot muscles – As your child picks up their penguin eggs, they will be working their intrinsic foot muscles. These tiny muscles which support and control the foot are vital for balance and maintaining a good foot position.
Love Tatty Bumpkin x
A New Start with Tatty Bumpkin in 2016?
Or, maybe, you are thinking of a new career for 2016, 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.
