Games are a great way to get kids moving, build strength, practice following directions, working together, and the opportunity to practice yoga poses in fun and engaging ways.
Once you have your Kids Yoga Games Guide: Open Your Guide Up and find the Princess Tiptoe Game! You are ready to begin!
As we teach the game, record your notes, questions, and how you would use this game with kids.
Shhhhh…..don’t wake up the Princess in this new favorite game
Are you needing a game that young kids love to play AND it keeps them quiet?
Princess Tiptoe is a game that I regularly rotate in for my younger kids yoga classes (ages 3-6).
We play this game right before our Stillness and Savasana and it s the perfect game for winding down and bringing a calming sense and energy to the group.
Materials: Magic Wand or something similar deemed magic
Recommended Ages: 3-6
Directions:
Select one player as “Prince Tiptoe” (or Princess Tiptoe).
The other players spread over the room and go into Child’s Pose (see image below). If you are able, turn the lights turned low as tat creates a calming feeling.
Princess Tiptoe begins by putting a finger to their lips and whispering: “shh! Here comes Prince Tiptoe” as they tiptoe around the room.
When the players are tapped by Prince Tiptoe they join in a line behind the Prince, tiptoeing at the same speed.
When all of the players are in line, Prince Tiptoe slows the movement and turns to the player directly behind them and says, “shh.”
The Player behind should quickly tiptoe back to their original spot and go back into Child’s Pose.
This continues until all of the players have returned to their spots.
This is great for transitioning from a noisy, loud active group game to a quieter time for younger children. I love to use this game as a simple and effective transition into Stillness and Savasana at the end of our yoga class.
Discover how to make your own Mini Zen Garden. This is a perfect mindful activity for children and adults!
A Zen Garden is a simple item to make with kids and it is absolutely loved by all ages. It is also an easy strategy to help kids relax and calm down after a busy day or stressful time. I also love how it can be used indoors at any time and doesn’t take up much space!
When I think on all the times I’ve done art activities with children, it is truly a time that has allowed for creativity, self-expression and connecting. Our hands were busy, and the creative juices were flowing.
The creativity and self-expression that shines when a child is involved in crafting and creating is important in childhood development.
Merging yoga with craft time will only expand the benefits children receive as they move their bodies and allow imaginations to flow.
Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Games & Activities for Children
How to make your own Mini Zen Garden is included in our new bestselling book, Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Games & Activities includes over 150 activities to keep kids engaged, thinking creatively, and practicing self-expression.
How to Make a Mini Zen Garden:
Supplies:
Baby plates or a container that won’t break easily
sand
rocks, crystals, melted crayon (for jewels!) or any other small item
wooden or plastic fork
Directions:
Add sand to your container. Include rocks, or crystals. Use your rake (fork) to draw designs in the sand.
See More Yoga Crafts and Activities Below:
Conclusion:
When you become inspired through your creating your energy is lifted. Just like yoga, there are a number of benefits that come along with crafting, which is known to help kids develop fine motor skills, teaches children to follow instruction while also allowing them to express themselves, and creates bonds, whether that’s with a parent, teacher, or peer.
Exploring art with children is the perfect way to connect. This is true for all ages!
It is so important to think not just about physical health, but also our emotional and mental health. This is true note only for adults, but especially the kids that we love and care about.
One easy and fun way to increase the well being of kids is through simple art and mindfulness art therapy.
In our newest book; Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Games & Activities, we share our favorite kids yoga crafts and activities. These crafts and activities are perfect for home, school, camps and clubs.
Yoga Mirror is a wonderful game to practice slowing down, mindfulness and working together. I know that kids learn best by doing as opposed to us telling them about how to do it.
With Yoga Mirror, one child gets to be the leader and their partner needs to follow them exactly. This is empowering and fun for kids!
How to Play Yoga Mirror:
With Yoga Mirror, one child gets to be the leader and their partner needs to follow them exactly.
The leader needs to move very very slowly so their partner can keep up. It is almost as if you are looking into a mirror and seeing the movements happen at the same time.
I like to have the partners begin facing one another.
Model how slow they will move such as raising one hand and then the other, rolling their neck or looking up at the ceiling.
Once they have that mastered they can begin moving slowing into Cat/Cow stretches, Warrior 1 or other poses that allow them to still face one another so they can keep track of what is happening.
By letting kids take a turn being in charge and making decisions on what poses they are going to do, allows a deeper level of understanding. It is the simple act of doing, rather than telling.
Be sure to jump in and play along too. That makes it even extra special. How often do children get to lead and have adults follow? They love it!
Allow children to change who is the leader and follower each time.
Allow each turn to last 45 seconds to a minute. They do not need long!
How to Play Quiet Ball: A Mindfulness Game for Children:
Number of Players: 4+
Materials: Small ball (or other seasonal type balls; beach ball, soccer ball, etc)
Recommended Ages: 5 and up
How to play
Have the children sit in a circle. Depending on the ages of the kids, determines how far away everyone sits. The younger the ages, the closer they sit together.
One child gets to toss the ball to anyone they wish as long as that person is quiet and paying attention.
The ball is continually passed around the circle with each person making eye contact to the person they will pass it to.
The ball cannot be passed to someone who is not paying attention because they will may not to catch it.
See how long you can keep the ball going without it being dropped.
Leader Notes:
If I am playing this game at school, I would allow the children to sit on top of their desks or tables. How often do they get to do that? That alone ups the fun factor for sure!
To sometimes change the game up, I also have the class count aloud to see how many times we can catch it in a row without dropping the ball.
This doesn’t necessarily keep the game quiet, but it does provide a change in pace and definitely keeps everyone paying attention.
More Favorite Kids Yoga Games
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Kids love playing yoga games and it is a wonderful way to build strength, teamwork, flexibility and have fun moving their bodies in good and healthy ways.
Find your FREE Games Guide with directions, game downloads, resources and more.
Do you remember as a kid playing a game where you cannot touch the ground at the park or playground?
The Hot Lava Yoga Game is similar to that, but played with yoga mats. It one of the most popular yoga game for the kids! They love to play Hot Lava and cannot get enough.
Thisis a wonderful game to get bodies moving, hearts pumping and smiles on faces while they practice the yoga poses that they just learned.
Place yoga mats in a circle so they are stepping distance apart. Here is where I find my Kid-Sized Yoga Mats.
Place a Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cardat the top of each mat. Play music. Players go in a circle being careful not to touch the floor (hot lava). When the music stops, they must stay on the mat they are on and make the yoga pose.
Leader Notes: This is a fun game for all ages. The younger children tend to stay at the top of the mats so the distance is not as far. The older children enjoy leaping from one mat to another from the back of the mats.
I do not generally have the children get out “out” if they are the last one to make their yoga pose. The goal is after all to get the children moving in positive ways, practice yoga poses, and have fun.
The Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards include 40 Yoga Poses, Starred Difficulty Level, and corresponding Mantra
The Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards
