Yoga & Early Childhood Literacy: Oh, A-Hunting We Will Go

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Children’s yoga classes have many benefits for young children. In addition to teaching skills directly related to the practice of yoga, including: increased emotional self-regulation, strength, flexibility, and concentration, early-childhood yoga classes also have the added benefits of incorporating early-childhood literacy, musical skills, and more.

Although there are many wonderful yoga books for children, one of my favorite things to do in early-childhood yoga classes is take a “non-yoga” children’s book and add yoga to it.

Below are yoga pose suggestions for a yoga class built around the classic song and book, Oh, A-Hunting We Will Go by John Langstaff and illustrated by Nancy Winslow Parker. Note, in order to comply with copyright laws, only select words/phrases from the book that are linked to the yoga pose will be posted below.

Directions:

1. Read/Sing through the entire book. Singing is a wonderful way of practicing pranayama (deep breathing) to familiarize the children with the book and song.

2. Read/sing through the book a second time, this time stopping to do the following yoga poses and breathing (pranayama) activities:

Put him in a box - box pose (table pose with cat/cow spinal stretch)

Instruct children to look down and say hello to the fox in the box (“hello Mr. Fox!”) and then look up to see if there are any other foxes around. Repeat this 3-4 times (note for yoga teachers - this is the cat/cow spinal stretch)

Put him in a pram - pram pose (crab walk).

Explain to children that pram is another word for stroller. This helps build vocabulary. Have them roll the pram forward (crab walk forward) and roll the pram backwards (pram walk backwards).

Put him in a boat - Yoga pose: Boat pose

Put him in underwear -first and very important remind the students that this is just pretend and everyone needs to keep their clothes on!

Yoga pose/stretch: Stretch arms and legs up, take a deep breath in and then roar like a bear!

Put him in a pail - curl up in pail pose (child’s pose) and take 3 deep breaths

Put him in a cake - Snake pose

take 3 snake breaths (hiss). Then sing the “Happy Birthday” song to Mr. Snake. After the song, blow out the birthday candles and eat a piece of cake.

Put him in a house - Crescent pose - stand up feet apart, arms overhead. Lean forward and look down into the house - eek! There’s a mouse!

We’ll catch a pig - be a pig rolling in the mud (Happy Baby pose rocking side to side)

Optional Science extension - explain to children that pigs roll in the mud to help them cool off.

Put him in a bunk… - anahatasana (puppy dog pose)

And put him in a pillow - seated forward fold

And put him in a dish… - fish pose (locust) kick arms and legs to swim

And put him in a chorus… - Dinosaur pose (dog with one leg lifted - like a long neck)

Last verse of the song/end of the book - seated wide angle stretch arms right and left

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Images of Some of The Yoga Poses Described Above

Click Here to Purchase Kids Yoga Card Deck Or Kids Yoga Cards Digital Download

Book Extension Opportunities

To build creativity: After the book is over, ask the children to create their own verse of the song and select or create their own yoga pose to go along with it.

To connect to yoga philosophy: Discussion on Ahimsa (kindness/non-harming towards self and others) - Ask the class why does the song say “and then we’ll let them go” and at the end of the song “we’ll always let them go?”

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Andrea Creel, MSW, LCSW-C, E-RYT 200, YACEP

Andrea is the founder of Shining Kids Yoga, which began as an after-school program at her son's elementary school in 2014. She has been teaching yoga to all ages since 2005.  Andrea completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Tranquil Space Yoga in Washington, D.C. In addition, she received specialized training in children’s yoga from the Radiant Child Yoga program, training in postnatal yoga from Baby OM,  and training in therapeutic yoga from  The Samarya Center.

Andrea is the author of Mystery Pose: A Yoga Guessing Game (affiliate link) and the creator of two yoga card games for kids: Double the Fun Yoga Cards and Yoga Pose or Dare. She is also the creator and facilitator of the Shining Kids Yoga Kids Yoga Teacher Training, a 17-hour certification program in teaching yoga to kids.

When not teaching or practicing yoga, Andrea enjoys playing board games with her son, Quinn, singing at open mics, trying out new vegetarian recipes, and building community in ways big and small!

The Alphabet Yoga Game: Flexibility, Literacy + Fun!

One of my favorite things to do as a children’s yoga teacher is create new and fun yoga games to help children engage with yoga in a developmentally appropriate way. The Yoga Alphabet game is a great way to engage children ages 2-6 in the practice of yoga while also reinforcing and developing early literacy and phonics skills.

Materials:

To play this game with children, you will need a deck of yoga pose cards

(Optional) A set of alphabet flashcards or an alphabet poster

Warm Up:

Sit in Criss Cross Yoga Sauce (Sukhasana) and sing the Alphabet Song while stretching arms side to side

How to Play:

Note: This game works best with children who are already familiar with the names of yoga poses and how to do the poses.

1. Pick two yoga pose cards (make sure the names of the poses start with different letters). Based on the cards, decide which letter you are going to use and ask the kids “Which pose starts with the letter ______?” If you have an alphabet poster or flashcards, you can point to the letter on the poster.

2. Children call out the name of the pose that starts with the selected letter

3. Everyone does that pose!
   

   Example:

   Hold up the yoga pose cards below and ask “Which pose starts with the letter D? D-D-Dancer? or F-F-Frog?” Emphasize the starting sound for each word to help children guess the correct pose name.

   For younger children (ages 2-3) you can add in/turn the question into a song: Which pose starts with D song

Depending on the age and skill level of the children, you may need to assist the children in figuring out the correct pose. Once the children have guessed the pose, everyone does the pose together!

If you sang a song during the guessing portion, you can sing again while the kids are doing the pose to reinforce the starting letter/sound and help synthesize this knowledge for the kids by combining sound/song with the physical movement of the pose. In this example, you would sing the Dancer Starts with D song. You can adapt the tune to fit with whatever letter and pose you are using.

This game can be played for as long as the kids are having fun, and you can repeat poses/letters as a tool to help with learning and mastery of the poses and letter sounds. Children love guessing the correct answer, so if there is a card/pose they did not guess, y9ou can come back to it again later in the game.

This simple activity “gamifies” yoga and helps develop gross motor and literacy skills in the littlest yogis.

I’d love to hear how this game goes in your yoga classes or at home with your children! Please comment below or send me a note and share your experiences!

Wishing you peace, love, and yoga!

- Andrea

Note: As an Amazon Associate, Shining Kids Yoga earns from qualifying purchases from some of the links in this blog

Andrea Creel, MSW, LCSW-C, E-RYT 200, YACEP

Andrea is the founder of Shining Kids Yoga, which began as an after-school program at her son's elementary school in 2014. She has been teaching yoga to all ages since 2005.  Andrea completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Tranquil Space Yoga in Washington, D.C. In addition, she received specialized training in children’s yoga from the Radiant Child Yoga program, training in postnatal yoga from Baby OM,  and training in therapeutic yoga from  The Samarya Center.

Andrea is the author of Mystery Pose: A Yoga Guessing Game (affiliate link) and the creator of two yoga card games for kids: Double the Fun Yoga Cards and Yoga Pose or Dare. She is also the creator and facilitator of the Shining Kids Yoga Kids Yoga Teacher Training, a 17-hour certification program in teaching yoga to kids.

When not teaching or practicing yoga, Andrea enjoys playing board games with her son, Quinn, singing at open mics, trying out new vegetarian recipes, and building community in ways big and small!

Online Yoga Games That Kids Will Love!

As an Amazon Associate, Shining Kids Yoga earns from qualifying purchases from the links in this blog

“In every job that must be done 

 there is an element of fun.

 You find the fun and snap!

 The job’s a game.” 

- Robert B. Sherman, Richard M. Sherman, “A Spoonful of Sugar,” Mary Poppins

As anyone who has taught or watched a kids yoga class knows, teaching yoga to kids is very different from teaching an adult yoga class.  Keeping the attention of students and presenting material in a way that is accessible and engaging means that we need a lot of tricks in our kids yoga teacher toolbox. In my classes, I use many different modalities to make yoga more exciting and fun for children including songs, creative & imaginative play, art, and games.  However, especially for the elementary school age group (ages 5-10), games are one of my favorite and most well-received activities. 

In yoga class, games turn learning and challenges into fun by finding creative ways to engage children in learning yoga poses (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation (dharana). I’ve also used games to teach children the sanskrit names of yoga poses and help them understand the yamas and niyamas. Games also teach important developmental skills including: cooperation, teamwork, honesty, concentration, rule-following, and strengthening short-term memory.   In a 15 minute yoga game, children can practice upwards of 20 yoga poses and breathing techniques.  Games also allow for repetition of poses which leads to mastery.

Some of the games we play in my kids classes are “yoga-ized” adaptations of traditional and ubiquitous children’s games like “Duck Duck Goose” “The Floor Is Lava” and “Simon Says”. Other games I created specifically for use in yoga class and a few were created by students themselves.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when yoga classes moved online, I had to think carefully about how to adapt or create new games that would work in this novel medium. Some games that I had used in my in-person classes translated easily with few or no adjustments.  Others required rule changes or creative adjustments to get them to work. And some work even better online than in-person due to the ability to show images close up and larger on the screen, the new possibility of having digital props (images and videos shared through the screen-sharing function), and children having props at home that they wouldn’t have at school or at the yoga studio (dice, stuffed animals, pillows, etc).  Being online also facilitated the creation of new games.  

 In online classes, visuals are a lot more important so having yoga cards that could be held up or digital cards that could be screenshared was a must. Utilizing tools embedded in Zoom are also helpful - including using the chat function where kids can share guesses in a game or answer a question if they don’t want to speak out loud. Given the physical isolation kids have experienced throughout the pandemic, It’s also important to me that the games we play in yoga class foster connection. Many of the warm-up games that I teach include opportunities for children to share about their day or week as well as opportunities to find shared interests and make connections with other children in the class. Despite our physical distance, these games help kids feel more connected and provide them an outlet to share about their lives.

Online yoga games are simple to learn and play, work well with a wide range of ages and abilities, and create an atmosphere of fun and engagement in yoga class. If you are looking for more ideas and demonstrations on how to incorporate yoga games into your online yoga classes or as brain breaks during virtual school, check out my recorded workshop Adapting Yoga Games for Online Kids Yoga Classes, which includes 7 teacher-tested/kid approved games that you can play in your online yoga classes with children, including one game that gets requested by students almost every single class.

If you’re ready to dive into the world of games in yoga class, check out these great resources in the Shining Kids Yoga online store:

• Double the Fun Yoga Card Deck

• Yoga Pose or Dare Card Game

• Original Yoga Card Deck (digital download)

• Yoga Bingo (digital download)

• Yoga Teacher Games Bundle (digital download)

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Andrea Creel, MSW, LMSW, E-RYT 200, YACEP

Andrea is the founder of Shining Kids Yoga, which began as an after-school program at her son's elementary school in 2014. She has been teaching yoga to all ages since 2005.  Andrea completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Tranquil Space Yoga in Washington, D.C. In addition, she received specialized training in children’s yoga from the Radiant Child Yoga program, training in postnatal yoga from Baby OM,  and training in therapeutic yoga from  The Samarya Center.

Andrea is the author of Mystery Pose: A Yoga Guessing Game (affiliate link) and the creator of two yoga card games for kids: Double the Fun Yoga Cards and Yoga Pose or Dare. She is also the creator and facilitator of the Shining Kids Yoga Kids Yoga Teacher Training, a 17-hour certification program in teaching yoga to kids.

When not teaching or practicing yoga, Andrea enjoys playing board games with her son, Quinn, singing karaoke, and trying out new vegetarian recipes!

How To Play the Yoga Memory Game with Kids

The Yoga Memory Game is a playful way for kids (and adults!) to improve their short-term memory while learning and practicing a variety of yoga poses designed to improve balance, strength, flexibility, and gross motor skills. During the game, children get to practice 20 different yoga poses, as well as become familiar with the English and Sanskrit yoga pose names.

This game is always a hit as part of a kids yoga class and is a great addition to family game night! Scroll down to read through simple instructions for playing this game as a family, with a small or large group, or for solo play - plus some extra hints for adapting the game for younger children!

Materials Needed:

Double the Fun Yoga Cards OR Original Kids Yoga Card Deck (Digital Download)

If using the Original Kids Yoga Card Deck - print out and laminate 2 copies of each card. You will need matching sets of yoga pose cards in order to play the game.

Set up:

Shuffle all cards (40 cards).  Place all cards face down in rows of 8 cards across and 5 down.

Gameplay:

Select one player to go first.  That player flips over 2 cards to see if they are a match. The cards must be completely flipped over so all players can see the cards.  If a match is made, the player takes the cards and places them in front of them, and everyone does the yoga pose shown on the card. The player can take another turn if they make a match.  If a match is not made, both cards are left in place and turned face down. 

End of the game:

The game ends when all cards have been matched and removed from the play area.

The person who has made the most matches wins the game!

Finish your yoga practice with a relaxing savasana (final relaxation) by lying down on your yoga mat, closing your eyes and listening to a calming relaxation story

Variations:

• Large Group: To play the game in a larger group (like a yoga class) remove the matching card “bonus” turn.  Play goes around clockwise with everyone getting one turn each until all cards have been matched.

• Ages 3-5: For younger children, play with 20 cards (10 sets) to make the game easier

• Solo play: 1 player plays as instructed above and counts the number of turns it takes to make all matches. 

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Andrea Creel, MSW, LMSW, E-RYT 200, YACEP

Andrea is the founder of Shining Kids Yoga, which began as an after-school program at her son's elementary school in 2014. She has been teaching yoga to all ages since 2005.  Andrea completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Tranquil Space Yoga in Washington, D.C. In addition, she received specialized training in children’s yoga from the Radiant Child Yoga program, training in postnatal yoga from Baby OM,  and training in therapeutic yoga from  The Samarya Center.

Andrea is the author of Mystery Pose: A Yoga Guessing Game (affiliate link) and the creator of two yoga card games for kids: Double the Fun Yoga Cards and Yoga Pose or Dare. She is also the creator and facilitator of the Shining Kids Yoga Kids Yoga Teacher Training, a 17-hour certification program in teaching yoga to kids.

When not teaching or practicing yoga, Andrea enjoys playing board games with her son, Quinn, singing karaoke, and trying out new vegetarian recipes!

Mystery Pose Awarded in International Book Awards 2021

Congratulations to Shining Kids Yoga Founder, Andrea Creel! Her book, Mystery Pose: A Yoga Guessing Game was honored as an Award Winning Finalist in the 2021 International Book Awards in the category of Children’s Mind/Body/Spirit Books!

Mystery Pose is the first book for yoga educator and business owner, Andrea Creel. The book was illustrated by Deran Deegala, a 13 year old Indian-American artist from Rockville, MD. The book uses rhyming clues and colorful illustrations to introduce young children to the calming practice of yoga.

A book and game rolled into one, children will delight in following the clues to guess all of the yoga poses. Colorful illustrations and rhyming poems help children gleefully discover the yoga pose hiding on the next page. This adorable book includes 18 child-friendly yoga poses and ends with an inspiring relaxation. Mystery Pose is a playful introduction to yoga for young children. For ages 3-8.

Purchase Mystery Pose on Amazon

For an author-signed copy of the book, visit bit.ly/mysterypose

Note: As an Amazon Associate, Shining Kids Yoga earns from qualifying purchases from the links in this blog

4 Hidden Supplies Every Kids Yoga Teacher Should Have

Note: As an Amazon Associate, Shining Kids Yoga earns from qualifying purchases from the links in this article.

When most people think about what supplies a yoga teacher might need, they usually think of mats, maybe blankets and blocks. For yoga teachers who teach classes to children, one can assume books, cards, and other assorted child-specific props might also be needed. In fact, you can read my recommendations for some of those props here. But many people may not realize that there are hidden supplies that are essential to a kids yoga teacher’s supply list.:

My number one recommendation for any kids yoga teacher is to invest in a color printer. A printer can be used to download printable yoga cards, activity sheets, photos, and even custom-created yoga bingo cards to liven up your yoga classes. There are lots of great printers on the market. The one I use and love is the HP Office Jet Pro 6978. Especially if you’re printing a lot, a home printer is much more cost effective than running out to FedEx or Office Depot for your copying needs.

Along with a printer, I also recommend a A laminating machine and laminating sleeves which will allow you to reuse printed materials.

I’ve gotten so much use out of these office supplies that they have more than paid for themselves with the amount of items I have created to use in my yoga classes.

One last recommendation is specifically if you are teaching yoga online. It is a set of camera lenses that you can clip over the camera on your phone, tablet, or laptop to make the camera view wider. This is a benefit if you are teaching yoga online and want your camera to capture a larger space so you don’t have to place your yoga mat so far away from the camera in order for the camera to capture your whole body. Being able to stay closer to the camera/computer also means less of a need for an external microphone!

Are there any “hidden” props or supplies YOU want other kids yoga teachers to know about? Share in the comments below!

Happy Teaching!

Wishing you peace, love, and yoga!

~ Andrea

Andrea Creel , MSW, LMSW, E-RYT 200, YACEP

Andrea is the founder of Shining Kids Yoga, which began as an after-school program at her son's elementary school in 2014. She has been teaching yoga to all ages since 2005.  Andrea completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training & prenatal yoga training at Tranquil Space Yoga in Washington, D.C. In addition, she received specialized training in children’s yoga from the Radiant Child Yoga program, training in postnatal yoga from Baby OM,  and training in therapeutic yoga from  The Samarya Center.

Andrea is also a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) through the State of Maryland, having received her MSW degree from University of Maryland, Baltimore.

She has taught yoga for children at yoga studios throughout the DC area, including Tranquil Space, Budding Yogis, Rock Creek Yoga and Warrior One Yoga. She also teaches classes for adults at Yoga Bliss Studios and Extend Yoga, where she is on the yoga teacher training faculty.  

When not teaching or practicing yoga, Andrea enjoys playing board games with her son, Quinn, singing karaoke, and trying out new vegetarian recipes!