I do not post about fine motor or gross motor skills very often. I am not sure why since my kids are always on the move! Maybe that is the problem with unplanned motor skills that are always happening. This time I decided to plan some gross motor skills as part of the Still Playing School’s A to Z Gross Motor Blog Series. I have included links to Amazon resources in case you are needing to purchase some items for your gross motor time.
I choose Y is for Yoga because it’s something we’ve never done. I must be totally honest right now and say we are not into meditating or using Yoga as a spiritual practice. SO those of you who know us do not need to fear. The rest of you just take it for what it’s worth but we like the stretching and strengthening that yoga can provide if done on a regular basis.
We do happen to own a book called Yoga for Kids which was bought many years ago at one of those discount book stores. You know the ones that have super cheap books that you just MUST buy,lol. This book has been sitting on a shelf for a handful of years but proved helpful for this yoga exploration.
At first my kids groaned at the mention of the word YOGA? I am not really sure why but they did. Then Princess saw a very unique pose on the front of the book that she wanted to try right away. Here is her posing like a “flower”.
I then decided to grab hubby’s yoga mat that was bought for his birthday a few years ago and only used a couple of times. He wants to tone and strengthen his back and abs and feels that Yoga could be just what he is looking for. The little boys both thought that the mat was more of a running and landing strip. If only I had taken some video footage instead of blurry pics,lol.
Princess tried to engage Big Red ( 4 1/2 yrs.) and Lil’ Red ( 1 1/2 yrs.) in a few simple stretches and poses. They still didn’t quite get the idea of this being a calm and relaxing event. They still were jumping and wrestling and horse playing around. I would have demonstrated a few simple poses but I have never done Yoga and someone needed to take the pictures!
I would definitely have a book or a yoga video handy as well as a clear and soft surface for your little acrobats. Also be sure that each person has their own mat even if it’s just a beach towel. That will hopefully help keep each little body in their own space a little better.
I hope you enjoyed seeing our first attempts at Yoga and what you can do during the cold weather months to get some energy out or practice your gross motor skills. Be sure to stop by and check out all the other A to Z activities!
Some of our favorite INDOOR gross motor items:
Mini Trampoline I bought ours for $10 at a consignment shop and it was brand new!
Tunnel I picked one of these up with a tent for under $15 from an After-Christmas sale.
Hopper Balls We bought our’s from Amazon January 2014 and still use them! I love to keep only half of what we bought inflated. The other half stays tucked away since storage is at a premium at our house.
Plastic Slide or climber We have been known to have a slide or climber equipment in our livingroom from time to time.
Honestly I am one of those crazy mom’s who has been known to allow roller skating and tricycling around the kitchen table from time to time. Or the new and ever popular couch diving. I will have to share that in another post because words do not describe, lol.
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