Easy Guide to Yoga for Preschoolers and Toddlers
/“I want to do ‘yohhhdahh’! Mommy do ‘yohhhdahh’ too!” This was a daily refrain in my house when I introduced my son to yoga as a toddler.
He still loves it: the yoga mat, the animal yoga poses and all their fun noises, and the “breathing ball” a.k.a. Hoberman sphere we use to visualize big belly breathing. His joy is a constant reminder of the yoga benefits I have received over years of practice, though I don’t always approach my mat with such enthusiastic glee.
Does Preschooler and Toddler Yoga Look like a Yoga Journal Cover? No way!
We are lucky to move through an entire sun salutation; usually he picks a few of the poses I am doing, creating his own sequence. We sing songs as we move and play with rhythm and sound effects.
YOGA IS A TIME FOR US TO BE TOGETHER, FULLY PRESENT AND FREE OF ALL THE OTHER DISTRACTIONS THAT CROWD OUR DAY.
The Benefits of Yoga for Preschoolers and Toddlers
Yoga at this age (toddler and preschool) is about nurturing and supporting a child’s natural progression through developmental milestones, and engaging their innate curiosity and playfulness while affirming security, safety and belonging.
Yoga helps children experiment with breath, stillness and self-regulation while the physical poses assist in building gross and fine motor skills, coordination, balance and strength.
Through specific preschooler and toddler yoga poses, we can also address any potential developmental delays.
Studies show the benefits of yoga for school-aged children include:
Enhanced Learning
Improved Behavior and Self-Regulation
Heightened Mental, Social and Emotional Health
Improved Sensory Processing
Relieved Stress
Increased Feelings of Well-Being
Community
Increased Self-Awareness
Developing Fine Motor Skills
READ NEXT: Learn More About the Benefits of Yoga for Preschoolers
6 Simple and Fun Yoga Poses for Preschoolers and Toddlers
Here are yoga poses that are accessible for children ages 2-5 (toddler and preschool). These poses support child development by building self-regulation skills and social emotional learning (SEL), reducing tension, promoting strength and balance, and fostering improved sensory integration.
1. Downward Facing Dog Pose
Downward facing dog is quite accessible to young children, as most kids move through this pose when transitioning from crawling to standing. There are many creative ways to make downward dog interesting for toddlers and preschoolers: try pretending you’re a dog and wag your tail, or pitch a tent with your body and go camping!
2. Tree Pose
Tree pose calms the mind while helping learn how to build focus. Can you balance on one leg while pretending to be a tree? We love tree pose for children, and they love pretending to eat apples from the tree!
3. Sphinx pose and Cobra Pose
Spinx phose is a gentle beginner backbend for toddlers and preschoolers, and helps stretch the abdomen and strengthen the spine to eventually try cobra pose. Both poses are great for calming the nervous system!
3. Mountain Pose
Stand tall like a mountain! Mountain pose builds confidence and balance. It also promotes grounding. Mountain pose pairs great with call-and-response and affirmations. Let’s work on building strong foundations with mountain pose by singing along:
4. Tabletop pose
Table pose helps us use our imagination. While strengthening our arms and shoulders, we can use tabletop pose to help us become jungle cats! If arm and leg balances aren’t accessible yet, feel free to remain on all fours.
5. Butterfly Pose
Sit into a deep groin stretch with bound angle pose! Also known as butterfly pose. While this seated yoga pose may feel difficult for adults, it actually comes quite easy to most children — perfect for yoga for preschoolers and toddlers.
6. Child’s Pose
Child's pose allows us to slow down, tuning out noise and distractions around us and drawing focus inward by calming our nervous system. It is the perfect place to come “home” to after a yoga session, providing space to wind down and connect with our breath.
READ NEXT: Breathing tools and activities to promote calm
How Yoga Can Help Children Manage School Stress
As children enter school, yoga becomes important to combat both the physical and emotional stressors of their new environment. Sitting for hours at desks and carrying heavy book bags, children quickly lose their effortless posture and ability to squat fully as they develop tight hips and hamstrings.
“In 2013, less than half (48%) of high school students attended physical education classes in an average week.”
Often, academic achievements become priority and children don’t have enough opportunities throughout the day to move their bodies, leading to hyperactive or inappropriate classroom behavior.
When we implement Yo Re Mi’s music, yoga and mindfulness enrichment program into schools, surveys show that more than 95% of NYS certified teachers and school administrators find it to have a positive impact on their children’s physical, emotional and mental well-being.
When kids have access to yoga in the classroom and at home, it builds a strong foundation for mindfulness and self regulation. It allows the calm, energy, breath and connection we find together on our mats ripple through the rest of the day.
Save this article for later and don’t forget to download the Yo Re Mi app for children’s mindfulness and musical yoga videos.
