I know it can be difficult to get little ones to bed at night. Even warm, soothing baths and bedtime routines weren’t always the trick to a relaxing bedtime experience for us. In fact, it hardly ever worked.
So, I created... BEDTIME YOGA FOR KIDS.
Sure, I have incorporated soothing yoga poses and gentle movements for releasing energy before bed, but Bedtime Yoga for Kids isn't just about yoga.
Nope. You see, I have jam-packed all kinds of healthy, mind-body tools into this simple rhyme to help your kids practice things like gratitude and loving-kindness every day - in a fun and easy way. Not to mention, it will help you send them off to sleep with a calm body, a peaceful mind, and a loving heart.
Let's face it, I know starting any new practice takes time and effort. So, I have made this simple and easy for both you and your child. In one simple rhyming poem, your child will get all the benefits of practicing:
- yoga
- visualization
- gratitude
- loving-kindness
- deep breathing
And, I wrote up a guide for you to use with the poem. You can grab it below in the Mindfulness Library. It contains the instructions for all of the yoga, visualizations, and the breathing that are a part of the poem. The rhyming nature makes it easy to memorize, so after you've practiced the poem together with the script a few times, your child will know exactly what to do and when.
BEDTIME YOGA FOR KIDS - THE POEM
THE BENEFITS
BODY
Bedtime Yoga for Kids helps calm the body with gentle movements that help release energy. The poem starts by using yoga movements to set the sun and raise the moon, helping to set the bedtime mood. Then, your child will move into star pose with a gentle soothing motion that will leave their body feeling relaxed and calm. They can remain in star pose until every last wiggle is gone.
MIND & EMOTIONS
Bedtime Yoga for Kids also allows kids to release unwanted thoughts and emotions from the day, like an argument with a friend, a disappointment, or a mistake they may have made. Any thoughts or emotions that are still hanging on can be released in this relaxing poem each and every night. Or, even the fears they might have about nighttime and falling asleep, like darkness or monsters. This poem will settle their mind for restful sleep.
GRATITUDE
The poem also allows the time and space for daily expression of gratitude. There are scientific studies that support the association between gratitude and well-being. Dr. Robert A. Emmons of the University of California, Davis, has studied the effects of grateful thinking in kids. He found that kids who practice gratitude have more positive attitudes toward school and their families.
LOVING-KINDNESS
Loving-kindness is also a part of this bedtime rhyme, so that your child goes off to sleep with an open heart and surrounded by love. Emma Seppala, author of The Happiness Track, has written about 18 science-based reasons to practice loving-kindness. Nothing but the sweetest, loving dreams.
DEEP BREATHING
The poem ends with three deep breaths that invite peace and calm. Deep breathing activates the relaxation response in the body preparing the body for restful sleep. Check out this post for more about deep breathing.
Just click the button below, and I'll send you the password for full access to the resource library where you can download the Bedtime Yoga Script and Guide. If you already have a password, you can head straight over to the Mindfulness Library.
Well, there you have it. The simplest, easiest way to get so much goodness for mind and body every day.
I'd love to hear how it worked for you. Let me know below.
~ Dawn
photo credits: Freepik.com
very nice post, i certainly love this website, keep on it