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Calm down or deep breath bottles

Working video of it: https://pin.it/1GIT60M

Materials:

1. Voss plastic water bottles $25.20 (Amazon) $8.29(ACME https://www.acmemarkets.com/shop/product-details.960542376.html)

2. Water $free (everywhere)

3. clear glue $20.42 (1 Gallon, Amazon), clear hair gel $13.71 (32oz, Amazon), white corn syrup $24.99 (pack of 2 32oz bottles, Amazon), clear dish soap $ 20.81 (pack of 6 19 fl oz bottles Amazon) or glycerin $13.49 (32 oz bottle, Amazon)

4. Oil $19.19 (1 gallon, Amazon)

5. pom-poms $9.99 (1,000 piece multicolor and multiple sizes, Amazon

6. Other little trinkets to put inside

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Sep 18, 2019 - This Seasons and Weather Sensory Bottle set captures something unique about each season: spring rain, summer sky, autumn leaves, and winter snow.

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Materials

-yoga mats $49.99 (10 yoga mats, Amazon)(these were the cheapest ones I could find)

-cards them selves ($15.49)

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Stretch your way to a fun and healthy lifestyle with each of the 50 yoga poses in this colorful activity deck for kids. These sturdy cards include forward bends, back bends, partner poses, balance poses, mindfulness, visualizations and breathing. Clear step-by-step instructions with illustrations make yoga easy for children from preschool to high school and beyond. Discover why parents, teachers, therapists and kids love this bestselling wellness tool!

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Yoga Pretzels (Barefoot Books Activity Decks)

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Stretch your way to a fun and healthy lifestyle with each of the 50 yoga poses in this colorful activity deck for kids. These sturdy cards include forward bends, back bends, partner poses, balance poses, mindfulness, visualizations and breathing. Clear step-by-step instructions with illustrations...

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“Although that sounds like a lot, extracurricular activities are even more important to US universities. In fact, extracurricular activities and leadership account for about 30% of your application!“

“Engaging in extracurricular activities can help reduce stress, improve mood, and provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment. It can also provide a sense of community, making students feel more connected and supported. Additionally, participating in physical activities like sports can also help release endorphins and provide physical benefits for mental health.”

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Top 10 Benefits of Extracurricular Activities in High School - Crimson Education US

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Extracurriculars are a critical part of your university application, as they demonstrate who you are outside of the classroom and provide an opportunity to showcase your leadership skills and community involvement. However, it takes years to build an authentic extracurricular profile that strategically enhances your candidacy.

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This is a cool book a found -$15.00

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Swami Cat and his trusty assistant Yoga Girl teach Yoga to children through books, music, video and workshops. He is the first cat to be published on Amazon and teaches Yoga with humor, a lot paw-sitive compassion and suggestions to help little ones remember that Yoga is not a purr-fect, it's a practice.

Swami Cat was born to a large litter in Purramus, New Jersey and named Bob. He was raised in the lap of luxury (literally in the lap of ) by a distinguished Professor of Philosophy who sparked Bob's interest in reading the great minds of the 20th century but secretly he watched hours of Josie and the Pussy Cats. In his teenage years he was distracted by a lovely young feline performer who had just received a small role in the touring company of the Broadway show CATS. When the opportunity presented itself (the screen door was left open) Bob dropped out of Garfield High and took off as a roadie and learned many skills including how to take a cat nap anywhere, even during the showstopper, "Memories." Bob made many friends and enjoyed his reputation as a party animal. For a while Bob was the lead singer and base player of a band he formed called Heavy Cream. They were quite successful and almost toured as a warm up band with Hot Tuna until Eric Clapton began proceedings to halt Bob's band from using their name since it too closely resembled Eric's band, Cream. Depressed, Bob took off on a friend's catamaran sailing to the resort coastline of Great Yarnmouth. He pussy footed around England for the fish and chips were especially good at cheering him up. Because he was worried about his growing waste-line, Bob took up hiking and ended up becoming quite the athlete, climbing mountains and being the first domesticated cat to climb Annapurrna the 10th largest mountain in the world. He sat on top of the mountain feeling very proud of his accomplishment but then realized that he had a deep inner need to do something to help others, yet did not know what. Just then he saw a flash of a face that he had never seen before. His furry satisfied smile shocked Bob but then an overwhelming need to surrender and find this peace washed over him. Bob asked everyone if they had heard of this peaceful cat, but he had no lead until one day at a bookstore he picked up a copy of the Yoga Sutras translated by Swami Purrananda. Turning over the book he saw the same furry face, smiling and tranquil. He knew he would have to study with this man but he had no money to buy the book, and so he scratched the address of Swami Purrananda's institute onto his scratching post and took off for the remote village of Litterahari, which loosely translates as Litter box to the Gods. Bob ran into the temple in the middle of the holy ritual of I AMs (of which one of Swami Purrananda's disciples created a very lucrative cat food of the same name). Bob interrupted the ceremony and because all eyes were on him, he almost turned to leave out of embarrassment when Sri Swami Purranandaji saw him and said, "Ah there you are. I've been waiting for you." Swami Cat was a quick study of the Vedas and soon became head of the "KT's" (kitten trainees).

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The Candle Who Lost Her Light: A Story to Practice Yoga, Perform, Read and Color

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A Story to Practice Yoga, Perform, Read and Color. Flicker is a candle who dances so much, she loses her light. Join her as she tries to find it and you can practice the cat, cow, downward dog and butterfly pose along the way.

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Family income shape the sports that youth play. Children from high-income homes were at least twice as likely to play field hockey, lacrosse, and tennis, or to participate in skiing/snowboarding than kids in low-income homes. Children from low-income homes were more likely to play tackle football and basketball.

Kids from wealthier families try more sports. The high-income parents reported that their child on average regularly plays 2.07 sports. That was higher than low-income (1.93) and middle-income (2.02) households.

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At the outset of Project Play in 2015, we profiled a boy named Tyriq, a sixth-grader at Schaumburg Elementary - a charter school on the east end of New Orleans. The school's halls and cafeteria are lined with banners of colleges from around the country to help the students keep their "eyes on the prize," as the faculty put it. "I know I have to get good grades so I can play in college," Tyriq said.

Almost all students at Schaumburg, most of them African-American, qualify for free or reduced lunch. Tariq picked up basketball at 8 years old at a neighborhood hoop, and then played one season of "park ball" - what the area residents call the parent-coached recreational leagues based in neighborhood playgrounds. He wanted to play park-ball football too, but his mother couldn't afford the cost of equipment.

Today, we have new insights into the challenges faced by children like Tariq. Youth ages 6-18 from low-income homes quit sports because of the financial costs at six times the rate of kids from high-income homes, according to a national survey of parents by the Aspen Institute's Project Play initiative and Utah State University's Families in Sport Lab.

In the coming months, the Aspen Institute will release and explore more findings, which offer new insights into the causes of sport attrition. The first set of results were released in July 2019 before the launch of the #DontRetireKid public awareness campaign inspired by Project Play 2020, a working group convened through Project Play. Those results showed the average child spends less than three years playing a sport and quits by age 11.

In this post, we break down the data by family income - an important factor given that youth sports have become an estimated $17 billion industry, often leaving behind families who cannot afford to keep up with the escalating arms race. We explore participation rates, free play, pressure on kids, and costs to play by evaluating responses from low-income households (less than $50,000 in gross annual income), middle-income households ($50,000 to $100,000), and high-income households (more than $100,000).

Our nationally representative survey, distributed by Qualtrics International, collected insights from 1,032 adults in all 50 states whose children played sports. The median household income of respondents was $70,000, compared to the U.S. average of $61,937. Each of the three financial brackets that were tracked accounted for about one-third of the sample. Parents whose kids were not active youth sport participants were not sampled.

One of the main reasons poorer kids quit sports, according to our survey: time constraints. Their parents were two times more likely to cite lack of time as why their child quit sports than wealthy parents. This likely speaks to lower-income kids' family responsibilities, such as caring for siblings or earning money from a job, and transportation challenges to attend practices and games.

However, the survey showed that the more money a family earns, the less likely the child enjoys sports. High-income parents (41%) were more likely to say their child quit a sport because it stopped being fun than middle-income parents (38%) and low-income parents (31%). Interestingly, middle-income parents were three times less likely to identify burnout as the reason for quitting than the wealthier and poorer parents.

More high-income parents said the lack of quality coaching is why their child left a sport. "This is an interesting finding because it confirms that kids from more-affluent families have more social mobility in sport," said Dr. Travis Dorsch, founding director of the Utah State University Families in Sport Lab and lead investigator on the Aspen study. "If they don't have a good coach, if they experience a little adversity, their parents are able to step in and find them another team, sport or coach. Less-affluent families are often time stuck with not too many options on the table."

Other key findings from the new analysis (see related charts at the bottom of this page):

Family income shape the sports that youth play. Children from high-income homes were at least twice as likely to play field hockey, lacrosse, and tennis, or to participate in skiing/snowboarding than kids in low-income homes. Children from low-income homes were more likely to play tackle football and basketball. Children from all households participated at relatively equal rates in bicycling, flag football, golf, gymnastics, skateboarding, swimming, track and field, and wrestling. "While most sports remain relatively accessible, it is evident that certain sports are easier for low-income youth to engage in while others are more aligned with high-income families," Dorsch said. The survey asked parents how often their oldest child regularly participates in sports, which the Aspen Institute defined as at least 35 practice, training or competition days within the previous 12-month period.

Kids from high-income homes start and end sports participation earlier. The average child in the high-income homes began regular playing sports around age 7 - almost a year earlier than the low-income youth, who stuck around slightly longer before quitting. Still, the high-income kids on average played one sport longer (3.16 years) than youth classified as middle-income (2.85) and low-income (2.74).

Poorer children who still play sports spend more hours on free play and competitive games; wealthy children participate more in dedicated practice and training. Parents from low-income households reported that their kids spend 12 hours a week on sports - one hour more than youth in the high-income homes. The biggest reason was low-income kids spend more time in pickup games and free play (3.94 hours per week, compared to 3.07 for the wealthiest kids). High-income kids spent slightly more time on practices and training (4.79 hours per week) than low-income youth (4.62).

Parents from low-income households believe their kids are more stressed. On a scale of 1 to 5, they reported their kids feel a moderate level of stress (3.16 average) while participating in sports - more so than high-income (2.99) and middle-income (3.06) families. When asked to rate what sources their child feels pressure from in sports, low-income and middle-income parents pointed the most to coaches. High-income parents reported the most stress on kids came from sport organizations.

Kids from wealthier families try more sports. The high-income parents reported that their child on average regularly plays 2.07 sports. That was higher than low-income (1.93) and middle-income (2.02) households. Project Play along with many national sports organizations and doctors encourage multisport sampling to reduce the risk of burnout and overuse injuries. Lately, there are anecdotal signs that kids may be sampling more sports - but often they are doing so in the same season, meaning their bodies and minds could still be stressed.

Wealthier parents spend much more money on sports. This is no surprise, though it's still worth noting. The high-income households reported spending on average $1,099 annually for one child, compared to $719 for middle-income homes and $476 for low-income homes. High-income parents paid twice as much on registration fees, travel and lodging, lessons and instructions, and camps as low-income parents. "This is an important stratification," Dorsch said, "as it provides an added and sometimes unnecessary barrier to participation for many middle- and low-income kids and their families."

Even some kids are noticing the costs. Owen Norwood was a 10-year-old baseball player from Mobile County, Alabama when his team reached the Cal Ripken World Series in 2017 and traveled to Hammond, Indiana. The cost for each child to attend the World Series: about $3,000. Owen's mom, Kimberly Gordon, wasn't prepared for fees this high, so fundraisers helped them get there - something not all kids can manage.

"It's very crazy. It's ridiculous," Owen said of the costs. "Maybe make sports not cost so much. Like, why can't we not pay for the uniforms? Maybe the park can pay for the uniforms."
Over the next year, Project Play will share and explore more findings from our national parent survey. Read Follow us on Twitter and Facebook as new analyses and resources are released. Do you have a question about youth sports? Send it to jon.solomon@aspeninstitute.org for consideration to publish in our monthly Project Play Parents Mailbag. Part 1 of the survey analysis. Find free tools that can be used to get and keep kids involved in sports are our new Parent Resources page. Sign up for our newsletter via the Parent Resources page.

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Survey: Low-income kids are 6 times more likely to quit sports due to costs - Project Play

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In this post, we break down the data by family income. Youth sports have become an estimated $17 billion industry, often leaving behind families who cannot afford to keep up with the escalating arms race. In our latest analysis of the parent survey, we explored participation rates, free play, pressu

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Materials
1. Balloon
2. Play-Doh ( or alternatives)
3.Sharpie

Cost

Balloons - 6$
Play-Doh- 24 pack = 20$
Sharpie/Black markers - 12 pack for 10$

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The objective of the game is to keep the tissue from falling off your head while dancing to the  song! If the tissue falls off, you're out.

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Materials
1.Tissues(Depending on the amount of kids)
2. A way to play music is loud enough for everyone to hear.

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Materials

- pipe cleaners $21.99 (1,000 piece, Amazon

- pony beads (the big plastic beads) $14.99 (3600 piece, Amazon)

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Aug 29, 2022 - These breathing bracelets are a great activity for those who need a hands on technique to calm down. Breathing bracelets help you remember to slow down and breathe during stressful or overwhelming situations. This approach is a great way to help your children to be mindful of their em…

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Materials 1. A piece of tape for some kind of divider 

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Overview
Someone put tape in the middle of the room and then assigned one side as the "River" and one side as the "Bank". The objective of the game is to be on the right side at the right time. When the person says "In the river every one has to jump to the river side. Same thing when someone says" In the bank". If on the wrong side you are out of the game. If you jump when you are already on the right side your also out.

Rules
1. You have to jump with both feet at the same time( No stepping!)
2.You have to be in the right place at the right time( Ex: If I say on the bank and you jump in the river you are out. Ex 2 : If you are already in the river and I call in the river and you jump to the bank side you are out)
3.You can only touch the ground with your feet( If you fall down you are out)

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Bunny breath, five finger breath, etc.

The yoga cards I previously put also have breathing exercises.

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Materials

-stuffies $26.99 (8 piece, Amazon)

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The Sports & Fitness Industry Association conducted a survey in 2021 that found that only 24% of six to 12-year-old kids from households that brought in $35,000 or less per year played sports whereas those from homes with $100,000 salaries saw 40% of children participate in sports.

The three least expensive sports were track and field at $191 a year, flag football at $268 a year and skateboarding at $380 a year.

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PENNSYLVANIA (WHTM) - For many, childhood is associated with late nights at the ballpark, early mornings at the gymnasium, and team pizza parties after the end of a season. But some children don't get to build these memories, not by choice, but because of their family's economic status.

The economic divide

According to Project Play, the average family pays $833 annually for one child's participation in their primary sport. However, some families' financial focus is on putting food on the table and they can't spare that much money for one child's extracurricular activity. This creates a divide between who can and can't participate in sports.

The TeamSnap youth sports 2022 parent surveys from the Aspen Institute, Utah State University and Louisiana Tech University show the disparity in sports participation formed between different economic classes based on average income.

A family that makes less than $50,000 a year spends an average of $523 on one child's primary sport; families that make $50,000-$149,999 spend $940; and families that make over $150,000 spend about $2,068 on one child's sport.

This means children whose household falls in the lower income spectrum will likely compete in a less expensive sport, if they are able to play one at all.

The Aspen Institute and Utah State University found from the 2019 National Youth Sport Survey that the top three most expensive sports were ice hockey at $2,583 annually, skiing/snowboarding at $2,249 annually, and field hockey at $2,125 annually.

The three least expensive sports were track and field at $191 a year, flag football at $268 a year and skateboarding at $380 a year.

Of the three most affordable sports, only one of them can you compete at collegiately and earn a scholarship in, although it can be argued that flag football can lead to children competing in traditional football. Still, the top three most expensive sports are all played at colleges.

Sports participation in high school is the path some people rely on in order to gain admittance to colleges and fund their education. To make some high school teams, unless the students attend a small high school, students must undergo tryouts.

The Sports & Fitness Industry Association conducted a survey in 2021 that found that only 24% of six to 12-year-old kids from households that brought in $35,000 or less per year played sports whereas those from homes with $100,000 salaries saw 40% of children participate in sports.

Of course, kids who have more experience and started playing at a younger age are more likely to excel and earn a spot on the team and according to Project Play, household income is the number one factor in whether children will be introduced to sports at a young age.

No spot on a team means no chance of earning an athletic scholarship. For some, this is the end of their collegiate hopes.

Even if an athlete, whether they play for a local club or their high school, does not get offered a scholarship to continue their sport collegiately, they are still more likely to have successful college careers.

According to the Healthy Sport Index and the Women's Sports Foundation, high school athletes have a higher chance of graduating from a four-year college than those who do not participate in high school sports. 73% of girl athletes and 59% of boy athletes are likely to attend college while 67% of girls who aren't athletes and 53% of boys who aren't athletes are likely to attend college.

The National Education Longitudinal Study reported similar outcomes that showed sports participation resulted in educational achievements and college degrees for athletes. However, that study also found that not only were kids more likely to attend college, but they also had better behavior and higher self-esteem.

For those whose route isn't college, it's been proven that athletes still develop tools through sports which can make them more marketable and valuable on whatever road they travel. Not every path to success is lined with a college degree, but for many that is the first step towards a lucrative career.

Sports equality in the keystone state

In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) continues to campaign for the importance of high school sports because they see it as a place where all kids can participate and a place where economic background doesn't matter.

All are welcome, and encouraged, to play at PIAA schools.

"We want [sports programs] to be for all kids; we want any and all students to be able to benefit from it," said PIAA Associate Executive Director Melissa Mertz. "As long as that student has an interest in it and certainly wants to put in the time and the effort, then I don't think there's as much of a barrier economically for the high school scene."

Some PIAA schools charge for athletic participation and some don't. Mertz noted that the PIAA doesn't track what schools charge for athletic programming but said that from talking with schools they have found that those that do charge purposely keep costs low because they want students to join teams.

There are also programs at some PIAA schools that use a similar structure to the free and reduced lunch programs for students with their athletic fees.

"We always say this: high school sports are the best bang for your buck," Mertz said. "They make it very cost effective and the value of it I think exceeds the cost."

Mertz also commented that NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) has started to change the scene and is allowing students who wish to benefit from their participation in high school sports, potentially economically, to do so. It empowers the youth to take charge of their own financial situations, should they choose to.

Although high school sports may be a better equalizer for sports participation, there are still other barriers related to economics that may not allow students to play sports after school. Some may be expected to, or feel they have to, work after school to make money which would take away any opportunity for extracurricular activities.

Having the ability to participate in high school sports, outside of the personal welfare benefits, can be important to college access as has been stated.

Sports and higher education

In Pennsylvania, the largest University is Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, known for its athletic prowess in the Big Ten, which is home to 46,000 undergraduate students. According to US News, first-year students earn about $7,280 in scholarships or grants for those who qualify for need-based funding. In the fall of 2020, 45% of first-year students got financial aid based off of need.

However, in-state tuition was $18,898 for the 2021-22 school year and room and board was $10,958. That means that most first-year students who demonstrated need received only 24.38% of the funding required to attend Penn State. The remaining $22,576 for the first year had to be made up through outside scholarships and grants, family funding or loans.

Consider a child who comes from a family with little income. One of those options to make up the difference, potentially two, are impossible to achieve.

What would fill the gap between the dream and the opportunity would be an athletic scholarship.

Penn State reported on their 2022 Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act that they awarded a total of $22,362,565 ($12,641,841 for men's teams, $9,720,724 for women's teams) in athletically related student aid.

Students can only get a portion of this aid if they performed well enough in their respective high school sports. As was already noted, low-income students can sometimes be gatekept from this initial opportunity and therefore college. It could be argued that college and its relationship with athletics, and athletics' reliance on monetary status to enter into the world of many sports, is continuing the cycle of locking families into generational socio-economical classes.

The ladder rungs are being chopped lower with every child that is missing from the roster of the local sports team and who instead watches longingly through a chain link fence. And Pennsylvania is not immune to this plight - every child in America and across the world is affected by the rising cost of sports participation.

In the fall of 2022, travel costs to play sports increased by 19% compared to the years before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Project Play.

Bridging the gap

All hope might not be lost, however. People spent 23% less on individual sports lessons in the fall of 2022 according to the Team Snap parenting survey, however it is not clear whether this was because of a change in cost, or if people enrolled their children in less sports lessons.

Places such as Lancaster Rec are trying to make a difference in the future of Pennsylvania's youth by offering scholarships for their youth sports programs, which were started in 2012. The scholarship is awarded to children who receive free or reduced-price lunch and live in Lancaster Township or the City of Lancaster.

"Even though Lancaster Rec strives to keep our programming at really low cost, typically 30 - 70% less than other programming in the area, we still find that families have a hard time accessing those programs without the scholarship fund," said executive director at Lancaster Rec Heather Dighe.

According to the LancasterREC 2021 scholarship report, they provided 459 Youth Athletic Scholarships and 86% of families said that they could not participate in activities without the scholarship. Dighe noted that the pandemic did cause a drop in numbers as the 2019 report showed that 2,641 Youth Athletic Scholarships were provided. In 2019, 90% of families reported they would not have been able to participate without a scholarship.

"It's not just numbers," Dighe said. "It's a kid who actually got to play this year because of these resources."

Dighe noted that they offer over 40 different sports programs, including clinics that are either free, or at most $20, which run for a week to six weeks, depending on the program, and which allow kids to experience a sport without any huge financial commitment. The clinics are run by Lancaster school district high school coaches and athletes.

"Really my biggest hope for children and families that take part in our programs is that they feel like they are able to access something without barriers," Dighe said. "That we are a welcoming and inclusive space that anyone can come to us and participate."

Many of the scholarships are supported by local businesses and members of the community. These scholarships allow all kids to have an opportunity to form skills that are developed through sports. Some of these life lessons Dighe highlighted include having self-confidence, learning to work on a team and how to work to achieve a goal.

Even if these kids do not perform well in a sport and do not go on to play collegiately or earn a college scholarship from athletics, they still get equipped with skills to help them succeed in life.

The Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative (PYSC) is also working in the city of Brotherly Love to "expand and improve the delivery of youth sports in the city of Philadelphia" by providing "equitable access for all children to high-quality sports-based youth development programs". The PYSC serves as an advocate organization.

"We do it [through] supporting the existing community, finding new opportunities [and] advocating to find policy solutions to the barriers that exist so that kids don't play," said executive director of the Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative Beth Devine.

A huge goal for the organization is to bring back recreation. Devine said that in Philadelphia, and in many places across the country, kids used to be able to go to a recreation center or a park and join t-shirt leagues. Now, youth sports have become commercialized and charge money for participation in any activity.

"We want to bring rec back," Devine said. "We want that introductory pathway, and we want it to be something that's staffed by trained individuals who know how to use sport to build relationships with kids."

In Philadelphia, Devine estimates that it costs on average anywhere from $1,000 to $15,000 a year for one child to participate in a sport, depending on the activity.

"Every kid should play; it's a fundamental right for a child to play," Devine said. "And good cities provide that option and that opportunity. We're proud of some of the solutions that we've put together in Philadelphia and how many people we have around the table saying 'Yes, we believe kids should have access to play.' All we can do is chip away at that and try to create opportunities."

Programs such as these are helping to soften the harsh differences between economic classes and access to sports. Through initiatives like this, Pennsylvania kids will hopefully have a brighter future in sports, education and in life.

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How economic background affects sports participation and future success

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For many, childhood is associated with late nights at the ballpark, early mornings at the gymnasium, and team pizza parties after the end of a season. But some children don't get to build these memories, not by choice, but because of their family's economic status.

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"Studies show that growing up in a poor household is linked with long-term consequences in educational outcomes, physical health and brain development that can follow a child well into adulthood."
In fact one 2009 study conducted by the National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia University, researchers found that children who grew up poor were more likely to experience poverty as adults. "One factor at play for why poor children go on to struggle as adults is education. Whether it’s because they didn’t have access to good schools, or their parents didn’t have the time or resources to help them, children who grow up in poverty often start at a disadvantage that can make it harder to achieve later in life." According to the American Academy of Pediatrics,

“Poor families are more likely to reside in homes without functional smoke detectors and with open fires, unprotected windows and unsafe roofs or stairs,” an AAP report from 2016 noted. “Children in poor neighborhoods are at increased risk of cycling accidents, pedestrian injuries, falls, burns, poisonings and chemical burns.”

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At the height of the recession in 2012, nearly one in four American children were living in poverty.

Today, five years after America went through the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, children are still more likely to live in poverty than adults. In fact, while the national poverty rate sits at 14 percent, for children, it's 18 percent.

The problem is particularly acute for children of color. While white children experience poverty at a rate of 11 percent, around 27 percent of Hispanic children, 31 percent of black children and 34 percent of Native American children in America today are growing up poor.

There are the obvious side-effects of growing up in poverty: deprivation, worry, and sometimes hunger and the risk of homelessness.

But just as troubling, experts say, is that growing up in a poor household is linked with long-term consequences in educational outcomes, physical health and brain development that can follow a child well into adulthood. Here are just a few ways how:

Children who grow up poor are more likely to be poor as adults

Studies show that children who grow up poor have a harder time escaping poverty as adults. For example, in one 2009 study by the National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia University, researchers found that children who grew up poor were not only more likely to experience poverty as adults, but that the likelihood of being poor in adulthood went up with the number of years spent in poverty as a child.

According to the study, around five percent of adults who never experienced poverty as children were poor at ages 20 and 25. If they were poor anywhere from one to seven years as a kid, that number went up to approximately 13 percent. For those who spent eight to 14 years in poverty as children, 46 percent were poor at age 20, and 40 percent were poor at age 25.

The longer you grow up in poverty, the harder it is to graduate

One factor at play for why poor children go on to struggle as adults is education. Whether it's because they didn't have access to good schools, or their parents didn't have the time or resources to help them, children who grow up in poverty often start at a disadvantage that can make it harder to achieve later in life.

In a 2017 report from the Urban Institute, researchers found that 62 percent of children who spent at least half their childhoods in poverty went on to attain a high school diploma by age 20. By comparison, that number was 90 percent for those who never experienced poverty.

The gaps only widen when it comes to college. A 2015 report from the Urban Institute found that 23 percent of children who spent at least half their childhood in poverty enrolled in postsecondary education by age 25, compared to 70 percent of children who were never poor. While roughly 37 percent of children who were never poor completed college by age 25, only 3 percent of children from persistently poor backgrounds were able to do the same. The study found that poverty played a role, even when race, gender, parent's education, and other factors were taken into account.

Overall, the Urban Institute found that only 16 percent of kids who spent half their childhoods poor were either consistently working or in school and mostly out of poverty by their late 20s.

Growing up poor can carry long-term health implications

Poverty itself can be dangerous. Children growing up poor are more likely to be injured in accidents, and five times more likely to die due to accidents, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

"Poor families are more likely to reside in homes without functional smoke detectors and with open fires, unprotected windows and unsafe roofs or stairs," an AAP report from 2016 noted. "Children in poor neighborhoods are at increased risk of cycling accidents, pedestrian injuries, falls, burns, poisonings and chemical burns."

But the risks go deeper than that. Research shows that children who grow up in poverty are also more likely to develop chronic illnesses such as asthma or obesity - the latter can lead to further health problems, including diabetes and heart disease. Poor children are also more likely to be sedentary and exposed to tobacco, which in turn may increase the risk of heart and lung problems when they grow up.

Poverty can also harm a child's brain development and lifelong mental health

"There are definite impacts [of poverty] on physical health," said Benard Dreyer, former president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, in an interview with FRONTLINE. "But in addition, and perhaps more importantly, there's an impact on brain development and the ability to succeed in life."

Dreyer was referring to a growing body of research that shows exposure to "toxic" stress can actually impact a child's brain development.

All children experience stress, and caring adults or support networks can help them cope and figure out how to respond. However, the constant stresses of living in an impoverished household - and in some cases, dealing with abuse or neglect - can create a toxic stress response.

Such levels of stress "impact children's brain development in the first couple of years of life," said Dreyer, and can result in permanent changes to brain structure and function. These changes can manifest as increased anxiety, impaired memory and mood control - making it harder to learn, solve problems, follow rules and control impulses. The release of stress hormones can also create a "wear and tear" effect on the child's organs, including the brain.

How toxic stress effects a child may depend on their innate ability to cope with the stress, and on whether or not they have a support system, Dreyer said. "It doesn't doom all children, but on the average, it causes a very significant problem in their ability to react to other stress, their ability to behave, to pay attention and to learn cognitively."

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How Poverty Can Follow Children Into Adulthood

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Poverty can follow children into adulthood, affecting their long-term physical and mental health, and making it harder to finish school and climb out of poverty.

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If you've ever felt anxious or overwhelmed, some well-intentioned person has probably given you the advice, "Just breathe." When you're in the midst of a stressful moment, though, that can be much easier said than done.

Integrative medicine specialist Melissa Young, MD, explains how to do the box breathing technique, a simple but powerful method of focusing on your breath that can help you get - and stay - calm.

What is box breathing?

Box breathing is a form of yogic deep breathing employed by the United States Navy SEALs and by stressed-out people everywhere. It's also known as sama vritti pranayama, born of the yogic practice of pranayama, or focusing on the breath.

Its common name, "box breathing," refers to the fact that a box has four sides, a concept represented here by breathing while you slowly count to four for a total of four times - four counts of breathing in, four counts of holding your breath, four counts of exhaling and four more counts of holding after your exhale.

This technique goes by other names, too:

4×4 breathing.

4-4-4-4 breathing.

Equal breathing.

Four-square breathing.

Square breathing.

The benefits of box breathing

"I love breathwork because it's easy, it can be done anywhere and it has a potent effect on your physiology," Dr. Young says. "It's really very powerful."

She explains what box breathing, like other forms of breathwork, does for your body.

Lowers stress

The biggest benefit of box breathing is relaxation, especially in times of stress. Studies show that regulating your breath can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and maybe even help lower blood pressure.

Activates the parasympathetic nervous system

In times of stress, your sympathetic nervous system is on high alert. Box breathing can help you move out of that state by tapping into the bodily system responsible for rest and digestion - the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is the opposite of the sympathetic nervous system, otherwise known as "fight or flight."

"When we're anxious, we breathe shallowly and quickly, which actually creates more anxiety within your body," Dr. Young explains. "We can use breathwork to move out of the fight-or-flight state and into that parasympathetic nervous system."

Calms the mind

You don't have to be stressed to benefit from this breath exercise. Practicing box breathing is an opportunity to bring mindfulness to your breath, which is a valuable practice even in tranquil times.

"It allows you to slow your breath, and it also has an aspect of meditation," Dr. Young says. "As you're breathing, you're also silently counting, which is a kind of mantra meditation that, again, calms the nervous system and brings you into the present moment."

How to do box breathing

Don't put too much pressure on yourself to master the box breathing method right away. "You don't want to go too slowly or too quickly," Dr. Young says. "Stay at your comfort level, making sure you're breathing very gently and not straining."

1. Breathe out slowly, releasing all the air from your lungs.

2. Breathe in through your nose as you slowly count to four in your head. Be conscious of how the air fills your lungs and stomach.

3. Hold your breath for a count of four.

4. Exhale for another count of four.

5. Hold your breath again for a count of four.

6. Repeat for three to four rounds.

How simple is that? In fact, box breathing's straightforwardness is what makes it so accessible - and so impactful.

"Box breathing's simplicity is its greatest strength," Dr. Young says. "When you start out with other forms of breathwork, you can almost get more anxious by overthinking it. But this is just very simple breathing and counting."

She recommends practicing one or two times a day, regardless of how you're feeling. Try it out first thing in the morning or after a stressful day of work.

Keep practicing

At first, you may have a hard time keeping your breath steady for all those counts of four. But as with anything, you can get better at it with a little bit of practice.

"Over time, this becomes easier, and you'll be able to extend that count to four more easily and slow your breathing down for even more benefit," Dr. Young says.

And working on your box breathing in times of calm can help you harness it in times of anxiety, even going so far as to lessen your body's overall response to stress.

"The nervous system is not fixed; it's plastic," Dr. Young says. "We can change it by learning how to be less responsive to stress and how to calm that response."
To hear more on this topic, listen to the Health Essentials podcast episode "Breathwork for Beginners." New episodes of the Health Essentials podcast publish every Wednesday.

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In times of stress or anxiety, the box breathing technique, a simple but powerful method of focusing on your breath, can help you get - and stay - calm.

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A way to make simple yoga poses fun for kids! https://www.pinkoatmeal.com/circus-yoga/

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Translation ( Any pose can be modified)

Unicycle- Tree pose

Bear- Downward dog pose or walking on your hands and feet

Lion – Lion’s breath pose added with a roar

Clown – Forward bend and make clown faces between your legs.

Ringmaster- Mountain pose. Concentrated on breathing in and out.

Juggling – Not a traditional yoga pose but a way to get the kids moving.  Pass a ball around the class and encourage big movements.

Cannon – Dancer Pose. With your free hand reach forward like you are shooting out of a cannon ball.

Circus Performer – Partner Chair Pose

By-Aditi

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A calming activity for artistic children.

Materials:

White paper – A3 or A4 size

Various sized circular plates, bowls, cups etc – or a compass

Pencil

Ruler

Eraser

Something to color with

-Arthi

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How to Draw a Mandala: Easy Step-by-Step Tutorial for Beginners!

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Walking can be a splendid activity for kids, because it is calming, mindful, and fun. Even though it is a simple pleasure it can be enjoyable for all. As a bonus it's free and the only materials you need are people and a place to go.

The Physiological Benefits Of Walking With Children

Increased stimulation and learning opportunities. ...

Improved mental health. ...

Better sleep patterns. ...

Strengthens children's bodies. ...

Helps develop motor skills. ...

Reduces risk of disease.

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Health Benefits Of Walking For Kids
We all know that movement is a must for a healthy body, no matter how old you are. However, as technology continues to make life easier and more convenient, it also tends to result in more inactivity, even in children.

Encouraging kids to move is a great way to balance out screentime, and according to the experts, walks are an essential part of healthy development for kids.
Here are a few benefits of walking for your little ones: Increased stimulation and learning opportunities
Walks can be beneficial even if the kids can't technically walk yet! The mere act of heading out into a new environment is an opportunity to discover the world. Babies get to hear, see, smell, and feel different things from the comfort of their stroller seat, even if they can't interact with the world around them yet.
Improved mental health
Research has proven that walking can improve mood and boost feelings of well-being. This applies to toddlers and children just as much as adults! These effects are amplified if the walk takes place in a natural, green space.
Better sleep patterns
Do the babies and toddlers in your care have trouble going to sleep sometimes? Try letting them burn off some of that energy during a walk. Regular physical exercise can improve sleep cycles as well as the quality of sleep that children get.
Strengthens children's bodies
Walking helps build strength in bones, muscles, hearts and lungs. Research shows that even walks as short as three minutes can help improve the health and metabolism of children. All that arm waving babies do from the pram seat contributes towards strength building too.
Helps develop motor skills
Although the act of walking feels effortless to adults, it's still a skill in progress for toddlers. A research study from Loughborough University reported that nearly 30% of four-year-olds are not physically ready to start school because they're lacking in essential motor skills, such as the ability to hold a pencil or sit up straight. This is attributed to a lack of physical activity overall during the early years. Every walk improves balance, posture, flexibility and coordination.
Reduces risk of disease
Regular physical activity, such as walking, can reduce children's risk of developing heart disease, cancer, and type-2 diabetes later in life. Keeping them moving throughout the day helps to build healthy bodies.
How To Manage Walks With Multiple Children
The beauty of walking is that it's an all-inclusive activity that everyone can enjoy. You don't need special skills, training, a gym membership, or special gear to experience the benefits of walking. You can do it anywhere, at any time.

However, it can be a little more challenging to get out the door if you're caring for multiple children - especially if they are at different ages and you don't have a support crew to help wrangle them all!

With a KinderPod multi-seat stroller, the task is much more manageable. Our strollers effortlessly transport up to six children of various ages. You can let the pre-schoolers walk with you while the baby (or babies) is safely secured in their pod seat. If the bigger kids run out of steam, they can kick back in their comfy seats for the return journey.

Even better, KinderPod strollers are versatile, so you can easily add or remove extra seats to suit your needs on any given day.

If you'd like to know more about how KinderPod strollers can help you and your children enjoy the benefits of walks, head over to our website to see for yourself.

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The Physiological Benefits Of Walking With Children

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Health Benefits Of Walking For Kids We all know that movement is a must for a healthy body, no matter how old you are. However, as technology continues to make life easier and more convenient, it also tends to result in more inactivity, even in children.

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A creative way to keep kid entertained with yoga ! https://www.pinkoatmeal.com/superhero-yoga-pose-ideas/

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Translations ( Any pose can be modified)

Super Star -Star Pose

Super Strong-Triangle Pose

It’s a bird, It’s a plane-Airplane Pose

Super Steady-Boat Pose

Super Moon-Moon Pose

Super Power-Chair Pose

Super Sneak-Bear Walk. Walk on your hands and feet

By-Aditi

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Bowling bubbles on a hot or cold day can be fun. It's even more fun when you make your own bubble solution.

Materials:
4 cups tap water
1/2 cup dish soap
1/2 cup sugar
A bowl
Something to mix with
A measuring cup

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A way for kid to love yoga! https://www.pinkoatmeal.com/space-yoga-pose-ideas/

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Translation ( Any pose can be modified)

Meteor -Airplane pose

Rocket-Chair pose

Moon-Moon pose

Astronaut-Mountain pose

Star-Star pose

Asteroid-Child’s pose

Telescope-Cobra pose

Shuttle-Tree pose

Star Gaze-Resting pose

By-Aditi

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https://www.pinkoatmeal.com/yoga-for-kids/

This website has a lot of yoga themes like Ocean yoga and sports yoga for each kids interest! :)

Aditi

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A fun way to add kids interest to yoga!https://www.pinkoatmeal.com/sports-themed-yoga/

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Translation ( Any Pose can be modified )

Biking -Bicycle Pose

Basketball-Chair Pose

Football-Warrior 1

Gymnastics-Tree Pose

Bowling-Happy Baby Pose

Sailing-Boat Pose

Diving-Forward Fold

Soccer-Stand with your legs spread apart.  Turn your feet so they are slightly facing outward.  Then slightly bend your knees and hold

Aditi

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Materials:
Coloring books
Colored pencils or crayons

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The “I Am” series is all about mindfulness and compassion.

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Having putty to play with or play doh can be good for stress relieving

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The "Breathe like a Bear" book is about teaching kids about different breathing techniques. There are 30 different breathing techniques that can be performed anywhere.

https://www.amazon.com/Color-Monster-Story-About-Emotions/dp/0316450014/ref=pd_bxgy_img_sccl_2/147-4699577-9900448?pd_rd_w=8OjJK&content-id=amzn1.sym.43d28dfc-aa4f-4ef6-b591-5ab7095e137f&pf_rd_p=43d28dfc-aa4f-4ef6-b591-5ab7095e137f&pf_rd_r=R859EF0FJETAK8SCCGM7&pd_rd_wg=TP2Nu&pd_rd_r=14c521be-16de-4f4f-8c56-52f07575d28f&pd_rd_i=0316450014&psc=1

Cost
Paper Back - 13$
HardCover - 17$

Aditi

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The color Monster series is all about emotions and how to manage them.There are 3 books in the series.

https://www.amazon.com/Color-Monster-Story-About-Emotions/dp/0316450014/ref=pd_bxgy_img_sccl_2/147-4699577-9900448?pd_rd_w=8OjJK&content-id=amzn1.sym.43d28dfc-aa4f-4ef6-b591-5ab7095e137f&pf_rd_p=43d28dfc-aa4f-4ef6-b591-5ab7095e137f&pf_rd_r=R859EF0FJETAK8SCCGM7&pd_rd_wg=TP2Nu&pd_rd_r=14c521be-16de-4f4f-8c56-52f07575d28f&pd_rd_i=0316450014&psc=1

Cost
Borad book - 7$

Hardcover- 14$

Aditi

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Peaceful Like a panda is a book that teaches kids 3 simple ways to be calm and navigate their day from sunrise to sunset.
https://www.amazon.com/Peaceful-Like-Panda-Playtime-Bedtime/dp/0593179269/ref=d_bmx_dp_nj4c4pyn_sccl_2_4/147-4699577-9900448?pd_rd_w=IkmyK&content-id=amzn1.sym.ac0e4415-4980-44d9-aed6-ed7c7ceaa14f&pf_rd_p=ac0e4415-4980-44d9-aed6-ed7c7ceaa14f&pf_rd_r=R859EF0FJETAK8SCCGM7&pd_rd_wg=TP2Nu&pd_rd_r=14c521be-16de-4f4f-8c56-52f07575d28f&pd_rd_i=0593179269&psc=1
Cost
Paper Back - 16$

Hard Cover -21$

Aditi

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Another breathing toy.

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DIY Pencil Topper Fidget Toy - The OT Toolbox

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Today, we have a DIY pencil topper fidget toy. This DIY pencil topper fidget toy is an occupational therapy toy that can be just the tool to help kids write and focus on their writing assignment or the classroom activities. Sensory needs may impact a child's ability to attend or a child may present ...

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Fidget Idea using paperclips and beads.

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Last year I spent an evening with Debra (from FindingDebra.com) and her daughter before Debra and I flew to Quebec City, Canada to attend a blogging conference. It was an absolute blast! Since I don't have girls, I soaked up every minute of my time with Debra's daughter. She gave me a tour of their house, we put puzzles together, played games and she gave me a fidget paper clip craft!

** Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Fidget Paper Clip Craft Tutorial -
Supplies:

Directions:

1. Open the Perler bead package.

2. Select 6 - 10 (or more, depending on the size of the paper clip) perler beads.

3. Slip the beads onto the paper clip.

4. That's it! Carry them in your pocket and use them to fidget with when you're feeling anxious.

The Fidget Paper Clip Craft is cheap and easy but also incredibly useful! Plus, you can make the craft in under two minutes - probably more like 30 seconds. Once made, use it to relieve anxiety or just to keep your hands busy.

As opposed to regular fidget spinners, the Fidget Paper Clip Craft is basically silent. Kids and adults alike can use these DIY fidget toys to help with attention and sensory needs in the classroom, at work or at home.

This craft would be great for keeping the kids busy during Spring Break, over the summer and so many other times of year. I think it'd be great fun to have the kids make heart-shaped Fidget Paper Clips for Valentine's Day gifts, too.

Will you make the Fidget Paper Clip Craft?

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Are you a Fidgeter? Make this Fidget Paper Clip Craft!

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Kids and adults alike can use this Fidget Paper Clip Craft to help with attention and sensory needs in the classroom, at work or at home.

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"4-Yogi Says Game:

Game Proceedings:

One person is selected as the Yogi.

The other players must do the yoga poses that the Yogi tells them to do if the instruction starts with “Yogi says.”

If the Yogi doesn’t use “Yogi says,” then players do not do the pose.

Keep changing the person who is Yogi, so that everyone gets a turn."

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Every yoga teacher needs a few good yoga games when teaching classes for kids and teens. However, you do not have to be a kids' yoga teacher to play these fun yoga games with children. These games are great for improving attention and concentration.
Moreover, there are ten short yoga games, which take only five to ten minutes and are great to use at the beginning of class as a warm-up, during the last few minutes if you still have time. Furthermore, you may like to add some partner yoga poses for kids and teens to your kids yoga lesson plans.
When it comes to a child's health and development, playing with kids is a serious business. Thus, enjoy your business!
1-Blind man's Buff Yoga Game:

Materials Needed: A scarf to blindfold, small objects or toys as many as you like*, a box or a small cloth bag to put these objects or toys (*the toys you choose must match with the yoga poses, such as small animal toys)

Game Proceedings:

Fill the toys of your choice in a bag or box.

Tie the player's eyes with a scarf.

Help the player choose an object from the box.

The player will guess what he/she is holding in his/her hand.

If the player knows, he/she will do the yoga pose of the toy he/she is holding.

If the player cannot guess the toy, the other player will do the related yoga pose.

2-Grandmother's Yoga Steps:
Game Proceedings:

Stand one person at one end of the space, facing away from the others in the group. This person is 'Grandma'!

The others make a line (side by side) some distance (a good ten paces ideally) back from Grandma.

When Grandma isn't looking, the line of others has to tiptoe quietly, without running towards her.

Every time Grandma turns around, everyone freezes into a yoga pose - so all she sees are trees, houses, flamingos, dogs surfers etc!

3-Red Light, Green Light Yoga Game:
Game Proceedings:

One person is chosen as the Stoplight. He or she stands at the front of the room.

The other players are the "cars," and they start at the opposite wall.

The Stoplight starts the game by calling "Green light!"

The other players then use yoga poses to move forward.

When the Stoplight calls "Red light!", each player needs to be in a yoga pose and remain still.

Everyone takes a turn being the Stoplight.

4-Yogi Says Game:
Game Proceedings:

One person is selected as the Yogi.

The other players must do the yoga poses that the Yogi tells them to do if the instruction starts with "Yogi says."

If the Yogi doesn't use "Yogi says," then players do not do the pose.

Keep changing the person who is Yogi, so that everyone gets a turn.

5-Mirror Yoga Game:
Game Proceedings:

One person starts as the leader. The leader chooses a pose to do and shows it to the others.

The other players copy the leader's pose as if they are looking into a mirror.

Change the leader with each round of poses, so that everyone has a turn at being the leader.

This game is a good warm-up exercise to increase focus.

6-"Let's Tell" Yoga Game:
Played by splitting into two groups with 4 or more people
Materials Needed: Image Cards (You can cut them from magazines), a timer/stopwatch.

The aim of the game is to tell the word on a card to group members and to collect cards without using that word. At the end of the game, both groups create a yoga flow from their accumulated cards. For this purpose, at the very beginning of the game how long a word be explained is determined. A timer/stopwatch can be used.
Game Proceedings:

The players are divided into two groups. The cards are stacked on one another with the pictures facing on the bottom. The cards are placed in a place where all the players can reach. It is decided which group will start first.

One of the players in the first group becomes the narrator and get the top card. The narrator looks at the picture on the card and gives the card to one of the players in the second group. The narrator does not show the picture in the card to the players in his/her group.

He tries to explain the word of the picture on the card to the players in his/her group within the specified time until one of his/her group mates finds the right word or until the time is up. For example, if there is a "Sun" picture on the card, the narrator tries to tell the Sun without using the word "Sun". He/she can tell "It warms the world. In the morning it rises", etc.

Meanwhile, the players in the second group follow whether the narrator uses the word "Sun".

If the players in the first group know the word before the time is up, they take the card back from the second group and put it in front of themselves. Thus, they win the card. The queue passes to the second group. If they do not know the word, they put the card at the bottom of the cards and wait for their turn again.

The game continues until the cards finish. When the cards are finished, each group brings their cards together, creates a yoga flow and displays the postures.

7-Animal Guessing Yoga Game:

Materials Needed: Yoga Cards
Game Proceedings:

The players sit on the floor in a circle. A player chooses a card from yoga cards, which is made up of animals only. He/She does not show that card to his/her friends.

Then his/her friends ask questions in order to guess the animal: where does it live, what to eat, what color, how many feet, can it fly, etc?

The player who wants to guess raises finger; instead of saying the name of the animal verbally, he/she makes the yoga pose of that animal.

The player who chose the card also looks at the pose and tells whether it is the right animal.

The game continues until the animal on the card is guessed.

Then, another player chooses a new card, and the game continues.

In this game, both the person who chooses the card and the one who guesses must know the yoga poses.

8-Yoga Ball Game:

Materials Needed: A ball
Game Proceedings:

The children form a standing circle.

A player throws the ball into the air and at the same time he/she says the name of a yoga pose. For example, if he/she says "tree", the other players try to go into the tree pose until their friend retake the ball.

If anyone cannot do the pose, the player holding the ball quickly throws the ball to that friend and tries to hit him/her with the ball.

Then the turn passes to that player and he/she throws the ball into the air and says another yoga pose.

The game continues. The children develop fast thinking and moving in this way.

9-Fun Train Yoga Game:

Materials Needed: Have some music playing in the background for added fun.
Game Proceedings:

Have all of the children line up behind the leader in one straight line. Make sure that there is about an inch or two of space between the children.

The leader, leading the train, will pick a pose that everyone will eventually do. When the leader is ready to start, they will lead the train around the room.

Passengers or people following will dance or move as silly and funny as they can, while staying in line or staying on the train.

However, once the leader turns around, everyone must instantly go into the previously mentioned pose.

You can take turns by changing train leaders once they do one lap around the room.

10-Yoga Spinner Game:

Game Proceedings:

Grab a deck of yoga pose cards.

Place a Post-it note under one corner of a fidget spinner to act as a pointer.

Pick out six yoga pose cards and arrange them in a circle around the spinner.

Spin the spinner and then practice the pose that the pointer lands on.

11-"Add One" Yoga Game:
Game Proceedings:

Stand in a circle.

The first person performs a pose of their choice.

Everyone practices this pose and the second person adds another one.

Everyone performs these two poses in order, then the third person adds a new, different pose to the chain.

Continue on until all students have had a chance to add a pose.

This is deceptively simple and definitely works the memory if you have a large class. With a small class, you may want to go around the circle twice.

The teacher may have to prompt students who are having difficulty coming up with a new pose to add to the chain.

12-Body Chalk Board:

Body Chalk Board is a great way to increase body awareness and sensory perception. Learning to rely on touch alone is a challenging skill and helps to focus attention and improve mindfulness. This game is also fantastic for learning cooperation and communication skills. You may even want to try it with your teens to keep them connected to their body.
Game Proceedings:

Divide group into pairs.

Sitting in easy pose, often referred to as criss cross, with one partner in front of the other use your partner's back as a chalk board.

Using a finger draw numbers, shapes or letters of the alphabet on the 'chalk board'.

The person whose back is the 'chalk board' guesses what is being drawn. Wipe the 'chalk board' clean with flat palms from top to bottom or side to side before switching roles.

13-Musical Mats:

Materials Needed: Yoga mats or yoga cushions, music
Game Proceedings:

Just like musical chairs, musical mats is a game of elimination involving players, mats, and music, with one fewer mat than players.

When the music stops whichever player fails to sit on a mat/cushion is eliminated, with a mat then being removed.

The process is repeated until only one player remains.

14-"Opposites" Yoga Game:
Game Proceedings:

Explore the meaning of opposites and develop personal creativity with this simple game.

Each child expresses what they view as the opposite pose: active/passive, forward/backward, right side/left side, up/down, etc.

15-"Museum" Yoga Game:
Game Proceedings:

Stand in a circle.

The premise is that you are a museum, and all of the kids are statues.

They have a secret power of coming to life though.

One person, the watchman stands in the middle of the circle and the other students all pose as statues, preferably based on yoga poses.

Once the watchman is not looking, the statues come to life and are able to change into different statues.

If the watchman sees them moving, they are caught and have to sit down.

If they are caught, they sit in yogi style - sitting up straight with hands in a mudra on their knees.

After a minute of sitting, let them try again. This helps keep them from getting frustrated at getting out.

16-"Hot Potato" Yoga Game:

Materials Needed: Music, Small Animal Toys
Game Proceedings:
* Learners sit in a circle.
* Bring some small toy animals of which you can do yoga poses later.
* Choose a toy to be the "hot potato".
* Play music and the learners pass the "potato" as quickly as they can around the circle.
* When the music stops, whoever has the "potato/animal toy" shows the yoga pose of that animal toy to the circle.
* You can continue this game as much as you can, or when you finish passing all the toys.

17-"What is missing?" Yoga Game:

Materials Needed: Kids Yoga Cards

* Choose a certain number of cards. If you have just performed winter yoga, you may prefer to choose related yoga pose cards, for instance.
* The number of cards you choose at one time may vary according to the age group of the children. You may try 8 yoga cards for the preschoolers and may be 10-12 cards for 6-7 years-old kids.
* Show the cards to the children and together name them all.
* Then turn all the cards over and shuffle them.
* Carefully remove one card, without the children seeing what it is.
* Turn over the cards. Ask the children which one is missing.
* The kid who wants to guess shows the pose, instead of saying the name of the pose.
* As the kids progress, gradually increase the number of cards to remember.

18-Balloon Dance Yoga Game:

Materials Needed: Balloons, Music
Game Proceedings:

I know it will be a bit of a challenge but blow up as many balloons as the number of children.

Then write the names of the yoga poses you practice in class on these balloons. If they don't know how to read, you can draw the postures in the form of stick figures.

Start dancing by throwing balloons into the air and playing with music.

When the music stops, look at the balloon in your hand and do the yoga pose on it.

19-Hot Lava Yoga Game:

Materials Needed: Music, Yoga Cards, Yoga Mats
Game Proceedings:

Place yoga mats in a circle. And place a yoga card at the top of each mat.

Start playing music. With music, the children will go in a circle on the mats and be careful not to touch the floor because it is "hot lava".

When the music stops, they stop on the mats and do the yoga poses on those mats.

20-Seven Chakra Stones Yoga Game:

Materials Needed: 7 stones/pebbles - painted in chakra colors that can stand balanced when placed on top of each other, a nice and large garden or playground, and a ball.
Game Proceedings:

The kids are divided into two equal groups - at least 3 children in each group.

The seven pebbles are stacked in chakra order - red at the bottom and purple at the top.

A shooting line is determined 8-10 steps away from the pebble tower, where the ball will be fired at the tower.

Which of the groups will start first is determined.

The group that will throw the ball to the pebble tower first is lined up on the shooting line. The other group waits by the tower.

The players of the first group take turns throwing the ball towards the tower. If all the players of one group fail to topple the tower, the turn passes to the other group.

If one player from a group knocks down the tower with the ball, this group runs away and tries to realign the tower according to the chakra colors without being hit by the ball.

The aim of the other group is to hit the members of the group that knocked down the tower with the ball, preventing them from rebuilding the tower. If they can hit all the members of the other group, it will be their turn to shoot.

In the meantime, if the group that knocked down the tower rearranges the seven chakra pebbles in the correct order without being hit by the other side, it will be again their turn to shoot. Players hit with the ball do not have the right to set pebbles.

In this way, you can play the game as long as you want...

While playing the game, children may not be able to line up the stones with the correct colors in excitement. Other group members can remind at that time. It is a fun team game with lots of action.

21-Follow the Leader Yoga Game:

It is a fun kid's game that can be played with kids of all ages. The rules are simple and all you need is children and some imagination.
Game Proceedings:
* Choose who will be the leader. All the other children playing will line up behind the leader in a single line.
* The leader leads the group any direction he/she wants and makes up yoga poses for everyone to do after him/her such as tree, crab, dog, frog, chair poses...
* Children do everything the leader of the line does.
* There is no winner or loser in this game as in other kid's yoga games.
* Set time limits so everyone gets a chance to be the leader. Children take turns leading and following.

22-Monkey in the Middle Yoga Game:

Materials Needed: A soft ball, and at least 3 children to play
Game Proceedings:
* Choose who will be the first kid/monkey in the middle of the circle.
* All the other players will stand in a circle around the monkey.
* One of the players in the circle will toss the ball to another player in the circle. While the ball is in the air, the monkey will try to grab the ball before the other player catches it.
* If the monkey catches the ball, he/she will show a yoga pose to the circle of players to do with him/her.
* The player who tosses the ball becomes the new monkey while the old monkey takes his/her place in the circle.
* If a player in the circle holds the ball for more than 3 seconds, then he/she is the new monkey.
* This is an endless game with no winners or losers.

23-Handkerchief Yoga Game:

Materials Needed: A Handkerchief
Game Proceedings:
* Divide children into two equal groups and give each a different number. One player on each team must have the same number.
* Teams line up on opposite sides and a handkerchief is placed in the middle.
* At random the teacher calls out a number.
* The players that have been assigned that number both run to the middle and try to be the first one to grab the handkerchief.
* The player who grabs the handkerchief first calls out a yoga pose and everyone does that pose.

24-Feather & Statue Yoga Game:

Materials Needed: Feathers

Before playing this game, you can distribute a feather for each child to visualize better. First, take a big breath in through your nose; As you exhale slowly through your mouth, observe how the feather you hold in your palm flies. For more breathing exercises for kids, take a look at 30 Mindful Breathing Exercises for Kids.

Then turn on some relaxing classical music.
Game Proceedings:

With the music playing, pretend that you are a feather floating through the air.

When the music stops, suddenly you freeze and transform into a statue - yoga pose!

When the music starts, slowly relax as you transform back into the floating feather again.

Make sure to finish as a floaty feather in a relaxed state.

This exercise releases muscle tension.
If you like to read more about yoga games with music, please visit the page . Or you may want to have more information about memory games.

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Every kids yoga teacher needs a few good yoga games for kids and teens. Here are some fun yoga games for improving attention and concentration.

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Sponge squishes made using paint, scissors, and sponge.

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Easy and Affordable DIY Squishies using a Sponge! (No Memory Foam or Puffy Paint)

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Freeze dance

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Juggling with handkerchiefs

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CALM CART GSCSNJ Girl Scout Silver Award Project Proposal - 2023_2024

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Camp Truth, 801 West State Street Trenton

There is a parking lot behind the building (Driveway is off of West State Street).

Tai Gilmer: 302-897-1047

Camp Truth Site Director

Georgia Keonig 609-273-3351

Urban Promise Volunteer Manager

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Silver Award Project- Movement Cart- Session 2

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Expert: Kristin Qualiano, School Counselor

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Expert: Kristin Qualiano, School Counselor

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Advice from School Counselor:

I have been thinking about the mindfulness sessions you mentioned to me. Some ideas are below:

Self-esteem - you can practice affirmations and develop power poses to go along with each one.

The Five Senses - go for a walk and talk about what you see, hear, etc. Or have each student talk about something they smell, see, hear, taste, and feel that calms them.

Emotions - go over different feelings, and have students act each of them out.

Coping Skills - learn breathing strategies (box breathing, rainbow breath, balloon breath, etc.) OR go through various coping strategies (read, draw, go for a walk, listen to music, yoga, eat a snack, puzzles, etc.) and have them pick which ones would help with some of the big feelings that were covered.

Mindful Thoughts (visualization) - you can go through a mindfulness meditation script that encourages visualization OR play a This or That game where students pick which place makes them feel calm (beach or mountains, plane or boat, camping in nature or being in their home, etc.)

Mindful Movement - complete a high energy and a low energy body break (dance along video vs. yoga). Talk about how their body feels after each.

Gratitude - Talk about or create a booklet that has a food, place, person, animal, activity, and season they are thankful for.

Let me know how else I can help!

Thanks so much!

Kristin

--

Mrs. Kristin Qualiano

School Counselor

Millstone Primary School

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Mindfulness Yoga Game for Lunch Bunch and Counseling Groups

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Silver Award Project- Movement Cart- Session 3

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Intro/Cart Drop-off: 3/11 5:30-6 ALL MOMS

Session 1: 3/19 5-6 Nangai, Rachel
Leave Robbinsville @4:25/4:30

Session 2: 3/26 5-6 Baargavi, Rachel
Leave Robbinsville @4:25/4:30

No Session 4/2 (Spring Break)

Session 3: 4/9 5-6 Baargavi, Rachel
Leave Robbinsville @4:25/4:30

No Session: 4/16

Session 4: 4/23 5-6 Amy, Rachel
Leave Robbinsville @4:25/4:30

Session 5: 4/30 5-6 Amy, Rachel
Leave Robbinsville @4:25/4:30

Session 6: 5/7 5-6 Baargavi, Rachel
Leave Robbinsville @4:25/4:30

Session 7: 5/14 5-6 Nangai, Rachel
Leave Robbinsville @4:25/4:30

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1m20vIYfkrWATgRPD83if3jAgejguit3vwc4YOIGmNCI/edit

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Silver Award Project- Movement Cart- Session 1