It’s time for another “MPMK Gift Guide Glimpse”… For those of you not exactly sure what I’m talking about, this is a day when we highlight one of our favorite sections of the:
2016 MPMK Gift Guides
Why?
Because I realize that our MEGA gift guides are a lot to take in- detailed descriptions and age recommendations of over 400 toys, books, games, and more divided into 15 themed guides takes some concentration to get through.
I’ve heard from several moms in fact, both via email and in real life, who have already spent a good hour or two immersed in them.
So this year, I’m trying to help you navigate the guides by highlighting some of my favorite parts.
Over the next few months, I’ll be stopping in every once in a while to showcase a favorite section from one of the 15 guides. (Note this is not even a full guide, but simply a sub-section of one of the guides.)
My hope is that it will help you find the perfect gift for under the tree! Today we’re talking yoga toys– a subsection of our “Best Toys for Staying Active Indoors & Out” gift guide.
Kid yoga seems to be the trend these days and, I must admit, I’ve completely hopped on board. By the time S was 2, “namaste” was a regular part of her vernacular.
Now before you go thinking I’ve gotten all hippy-dippy on you, just know that I’m a girl who likes to make decisions based on research – and this is no exception. There’s actually been quite a few studies that have delved into the benefits of getting kids started in yoga early. This Wall Street Journal article, for example, cites the following findings:
yoga improved students’ behavior, physical health and academic performance, as well as attitudes toward themselves.
yoga reduces feelings of helplessness and aggression, and in the long term helps emotional balance. The benefits of yoga are particularly strong among children with special needs
As amazing as yoga is for our littles, sometimes it can be tough to get them to focus long enough to actually do it! So today I thought I’d share with you some of our family’s favorite yoga tools- games, books, cards, etc.
All of which make for Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers you can feel really good about gifting this year.
Again, this is only one small section of the Best Toys for Staying Active Indoors & Out Guide. You’ll definitely want to check out the whole thing for more awesome finds, including many of the top 10 from all 400+ of our picks this year.
Don’t forget – you can also check out all 15 of our 2016 Gift Guides here!
Ready? Here we go…
Best Yoga Games & Books for Kids
The ABCs Yoga for Kids series (2 – 14 years)
I’ve seen this one recommended several places. I’m extremely tempted by the lovely illustrations. Along with the original book $16.04, there’s also a coloring book $5.36, a learning card set $17.95, a poster $15.82, and even a spanish version $8.06 now available.
Yoga Pretzels $13.49 (2 – 14 years)
This is a beautifully illustrated card set that can be used a myriad of ways. I like how there’s a story element to go along with each of the poses too. The set got such great reviews on Amazon that we bought them for the kids last year and we’ve pulled them out quite often this year when a case of “bouncing-off-the-walls-itis” hits. One of our favorite things to do with the cards is to lay them on the ground in a circle and walk around them with music playing. When the music stops, each child attempts the pose they’ve landed on. There are partner and individual poses on the cards to make it even more interesting.
Good Night Yoga: A Pose by Pose Bedtime Story $12.47 (2 – 7 years)
It’s definitely worth mentioning that along with the all the other wonderful benefits of kids’ yoga, it’s also fantastic for getting them to settle down before bed! This beautifully illustrated book is perfect for that purpose. From the publisher: This bedtime story is so much more than a story. It’s a practice for kids and parents to end the day in a calming, mindful way. Turn the page and stretch like a tree, settle softly like a ladybug, float like a cloud, and you’ll be dreaming soon… And for the youngest yogi in your house, be sure to also check out Sleepy Little Yoga: A Toddler’s Sleep Book of Yoga.
Yoga Games for Children: Fun and Fitness with Postures, Movements and Breath (SmartFun Activity Books)
The stellar reviews for this book really do say it best. One of my favorites: “I work with children. I am a paraprofessional in a special needs school, and was very excited to read this book… One of the things that I noticed right away is how many of the games and exercises were done in groups or pairs. This is fantastic in my opinion! It seems to me that these days kids are more isolated than in the past. So, I was very pleased to find that there were things that there were games where the kids held hands or leaned back against each other. I believe this helps to build co-operation and understanding. There are also plenty of games where it is individuals alone. My favorite is Sun Salutations! It incorporates many basic yoga positions, and it will be a lot of fun for the kids… The relaxation exercises are ideal as well. Sometimes kids, as well as adults, need to just let it go and breathe. This book gives several examples of how to do this”
Side Note: I also wanted to mention that our beloved High Five magazine also often has a feature in the back that, while not yoga per-say, reminds me a lot of the kid yoga stuff I’ve seen in that it incorporates imaginary play with different poses and movement. S and C are big fans.
Check out the rest of Best Toys for Staying Active Indoors & Out (and share it with your mom friends- they’ll thank you!)
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Don’t forget – you can also check out all 15 of our 2016 Gift Guides here!
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