I represented New York Family magazine at WebMD's launch of their latest website Fit yesterday. I learned so much at the event. Like did you know weight is the hardest topic for parents to talk to their kids about? Above sex, smoking, and drugs? Some parents fear that having a conversation about weight will somehow trigger an eating disorder. The doctors behind this study believe that if parents can have discussions on weight in a loving, nurturing environment, eating disorders will not be the result. Fit gives parents the tools to know how to talk to kids about weight. It's great!
At the Fit event yesterday, my favorite part was the lesson that taught how to make yoga fun for kids. One of the ways the instructor teaches kids to have awareness of their breathing is have them blow pom poms around the room. She suggests that kids do races. Or have the children count how many breaths it takes to get across the room. She sometimes spreads the pom poms around the room and has the children blow them back into a big pile. We all got to try it. It was fun.
It just so happened that the drug store next to my house carried pom poms and straws. So after work and school, I let the kids give it a try. Don't you love activities that are simple AND beautiful? I'm hooked. Ella took it one step further and made pom pom snowmen. This delighted her to no end when she knocked it down with one breath.
This activity was such a success. It was like blowing out birthday candles without the fire! What other activiries can you do with pom poms and straws?
That's an amazing opportunity! Not to mention a ridiculously creative way to involve kids.. its kind of genius :]
ReplyDelete-ashley
my son is almost 3 years and I believe this idea will AMAZE HIM TOTALLY! And I may have a chance to talk about colours with him:):)as an simple idea from my side, is giving your toddler two/three dishes (some cup,bowl..) some rice/peas and small spoon... my guy would have fun for 30 minutes at least:):):)lots of hugs from Poland, Monika (monika_hes@yahoo.com)
ReplyDeletei am on my way right now to get pom poms!!! this will be the fav game for the week! what a fantastic idea. thanks for sharing (i might have to do a little post about this) :)
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteThat is such a great idea! I am sure kids will love this (don't have mine own yet), but I will definitely file this away. Sounds like this event was super fun and interesting.
ReplyDeleteWHAT A GREAT IDEA SHARON. I love discovering new activitis for my kids and this is something i have to let them try.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing Sharon...
Gyda.
This is a great idea for my daughter! She needs to strengthen her lips for speech - this looks like a fun way to help her do that.
ReplyDeleteI am the Program Director for REACH Grenada, a non-profit which runs programs for caregivers and youth in orphanages on the island of Grenada and we have a youth yoga life skills program where we teach breath awareness with straws and pom poms too! In order to promote team work and cooperation we play "pom pom breath pass" and "keep away". To play both games the kids lay on their bellies in a circle. For the first you pass the pom pom around in a circle (no touching) which really teaches them about the strength of their breath. For keep away all pom poms are in the center and you blow to keep them away from you. Get ready for lots of spit and laughter!!! Our curriculum draws from Karma Kids Yoga which is where we learned about pom poms!! They have many more fun yoga games for kids of all ages. To see pictures from our programs in Grenada check out our website- www.reachgrenada.org
ReplyDeleteI taught children's yoga for 3 summers and love this idea! I did a lot with bubbles. Part of me wishes I was still teaching. Great photos too, I want to jump in & play.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter loves doing yoga videos with me. She's only three, but she always wants to know the names of the poses, then practices them for her grandparents. HA!
ReplyDeleteThis would be great for kids with oral-motor problems!
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