One of my favorite kids yoga activities is toe-ga, practicing yoga with your toes! I learned this first as “Marble Toes”, from my YogaKids training, and it involves having the kiddos pick marbles up with their toes and put them in a container. Pom poms are also a fun way to do this, and for a St. Patrick’s Day theme you can use yellow pom poms (“gold”) and a pot in the center of the yoga circle. Ask the kids to imagine that they are leprechauns picking up their gold and putting it in the pot at the end of a rainbow. If you want to get really fancy, have the kids wear Green Leprechaun hats and use rainbow fabric or a playsilk on the floor around the pot.

Materials:

A small pot or container for the "pot of gold"
Yellow pom poms

Instructions:

Have the kids stand in a circle around the pot or container in the center of the circle.
Scatter the gold-colored pom poms around the middle of the circle.
Explain to the kids that they will use their toes to pick up the pom poms and transfer them to the pot in the center of the circle. Say: “Imagine that you are leprechauns gathering gold with your toes… Put the gold in the pot at the end of the rainbow.”
Encourage the kids to focus on their balance, coordination, and concentration as they use their toes to pick up the pom poms and transfer them to the pot.
Congratulate the kids on their teamwork! Everyone wins in this game!

Variations:

To make the game more challenging, you can have them try picking up multiple pom poms at once with both feet.
To incorporate more yoga poses into the game, you can have the kids do a yoga pose back at their mat after they’ve put gold in the pot before they pick up more pom poms.

More Ideas:

For more fun ideas like this, check out The End of the Rainbow Lesson Plan Package using a Rainbow Ribbon.

The End of the Rainbow Lesson Plan Package PDF

$9.99

Dance ribbons are so fun to use in kids yoga classes. You can buy dance ribbons on sticks online, but sometimes it is hard to hold the stick and do yoga poses at the same time. So, I prefer to make my own (or have the kids make them themselves) using rubber bracelets.

Rainbow ribbons and tuille are tied onto a bracelet, and then kids can put them on their wrists for a hands-free dance ribbon experience. Any yoga pose is fun with these dance ribbons, but they are especially fun for painting rainbows and freeze dancing.

Don’t skip using the tulle ribbon. The tulle gives the ribbons more “body” and helps the ribbon stay in the air longer, instead of just hanging down. As you paint in the air, the tulle and ribbons float behind your hand so you really do feel like you are painting the air.

Check out the bottom of the page for a downloadable The End of the Rainbow Lesson Plan Package that uses these Rainbow Ribbons.

Rainbow Ribbons for Kids Yoga

Materials:

-Rainbow Ribbon, or an assortment of different colored ribbon (a good way to use up ribbon scraps)

-Tulle Ribbon - This ribbon helps keep the ribbons floating in the air. Find it in the wedding section of a craft store.

-Rubber Bracelets (like Stretch Magic Silkies Bracelets or Jelly Bracelets) or have kids bring in their own bracelets

-Scissors

Steps:

1. Measure and Cut Ribbon and Tulle

Decide the length of the ribbons and tulle you want for the prop, and then double that measurement. For the dance ribbon in the picture, 4 feet of ribbon was used to make a 2 foot dancing ribbon. Try making the ribbons the arm’s length of the child for dancing, so two arm’s lengths for cutting.

2. Tie Ribbons and Tulle to Bracelet

Tie the ribbons and tulle to the bracelet. (I like using the Lark’s Head Knot.)

Tie them closely together on the bracelet or tie both pieces on at the same time like in the picture above.

3. Do some yoga or dance with it!

Now slip the bracelet on your wrist and paint some rainbows!

P.S. My neighbors officially think I am crazy after watching me take pictures of myself dancing with Rainbow Ribbons in the street!

We've created an entire lesson plan that uses these Rainbow Ribbons! You can download The End of the Rainbow Lesson Plan Package, which includes "The End of the Rainbow" relaxation story from Imaginations 2. It includes rainbow poses, games, a "recipe" for making a rainbow, and time-extender activities.

The End of the Rainbow Lesson Plan Package PDF

$9.99

This lesson plan is all you need for a fun, rainbow-themed kids yoga class. Perfect year-round or in March for St. Patrick's Day. Class is based on Rainbow Ribbon props, and includes instructions for assembly.

Lesson Plan Package includes:

Part 1: Rainbow-themed Lesson Plan

Full lesson plan with poses, props, suggested music, and verbal cues.

Part 2: Relaxation Story- The End of the Rainbow

A rainbow-themed relaxation story from Imaginations 2: Relaxation Stories and Guided Imagery.

Part 3: Time Extenders

Some classes are longer than others, so these are some extra ideas to help you keep time filled.

Part 4: Lesson Plan at-a-Glance

An outline of the entire lesson. It is a convenient, at-a-glance list to use while teaching.

After checking out, you will receive an email with a link to download your PDF Lesson Plan Package. The link is good for 24 hours.

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