Indoor Activities with Kids: Bear Craft and Story Time

Reading stories aloud together builds vocabulary, improves comprehension, and promotes speech development. By adding a craft to the experience, you continue to build on story time learning; practicing motor skills and creativity, while reminding the child of themes and words from the story. It becomes active engagement, in the same way that the added movement of Bendy Bookworm’s yoga poses do, in order to benefit the child’s optimal ability to learn through play.

Need more things to do at home with your toddler? Perfect! This craft is for you. Ideal for ages 18 months - 5 years old. This is a perfect craft with suggested book titles is great for practicing using scissors, drawing shapes, and using the proper amount of glue (yeah, we all know that one takes practice!!).

Cognitive Skills: vocabulary (learned from picture book), shapes (learned from craft), spatial perception (learned from craft)
Motor Skills: glueing and scissor practice
Emotional Skills: self expression and creativity (practiced during the craft)

Materials: 

*Paper Plate
*Pink, Black, and Brown Construction Paper OR White Paper
*Glue
*Scissors
*Crayons
*Colored Tissue Paper OR Washable Paint

Step One: 

*Cut Out:

2 pink circles

3 brown circles

3 black circles

OR

8 white circles and color-in

Step Two: 

*Rip and Glue  down pieces of brown tissue paper to cover paper plate.

OR

*Paint/Color- in paper plate.

Step Three: 

*Glue it all together.

Pair With:

These titles can be found on overdrive/ hoopla, ebook catalogs
you may be able to access with your library card!

WANT EVERYTHING A STORY TIME CAN OFFER? ADD IN BENDY BOOKWORM YOGA; MOVEMENT YOUR CHILDREN CAN PRACTICE ON THEIR OWN. THEY WILL GAIN ALL THE BENEFITS OF A READ A LOUD STORY TIME PLUS PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT THROUGH MOVEMENT!

3 Yoga Poses to Find the Motivation to get Yourself Dressed in the Morning

Let’s be honest, what’s the point of getting dressed when you’re staying in? Here are some poses to start the day with movement and motivation…. maybe you’ll even shampoo your hair? Nah… Let’s just all get on a shirt that doesn’t have a stain and call it a win!

Seated Sun Breaths

Begin by sitting in easy pose (criss cross your legs) and bring your hands to your sides.  Inhale and reach your arms around and up; gaze moves up to watch your palms touch above your head.  Exhale your arms back down to your sides; gaze lowers down to look at your lap. Repeat for several breathes; inhaling/ arms up, exhaling/ arms down.

Seated Cat/Cow

Begin by sitting in easy pose (criss cross your legs) and bring your palms down on your knees or shins.  Take an inhale and pull your chest forward, lifting your chin up to the ceiling (creating a “c” curve in your spin).  Exhale, round your back and tuck your chin to your chest. Move back and forth through this spinal wake-up for several breaths.

Seated Laced Finger/ Neck Stretch

Begin by sitting in easy pose (criss cross your legs) and bring your hands to your sides.  Inhale and reach your arms around and up; palms touch above your head. Exhale your arms back down and lace your fingers behind your back.  Pull the fist away from your back (maybe coming into a baby back bend). Move the laced finger fist to the right hip as you gently draw the right ear down to the right shoulder.  Squeeze the elbows together behind your back. Release the hands. Inhale and reach your arms around and up; palms touch above your head. Exhale your arms back down and lace your fingers behind your back (place the opposite thumb on top).  Pull the fist away (maybe coming into a baby back bend). Move the laced finger fist to the left hip, as you gently draw the left ear to the left shoulder. Squeeze the elbows together behind your back. Release.

You have officially won the Gold Medal for The Morning Routine. Fill out the form below and receive a FREE Bendy Bookworm Yoga Video for a celebration prize for you and your child.

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3 Yoga Poses to Get Your Kid Dressed in the Morning

Because we all know quarantine or not, this should be an Olympic Sport….

Putting Your Shirt On
(Side Stretches)

Stand with both of your feet on the ground.  Wiggle and reach your left fingers towards the ground while you stretch your right arm up and over your head towards the left. Wiggle and reach your right fingers towards the ground while you stretch your left arm up and over your head towards the right.

Putting Your Pants On
(Standing Hand to Toe)

Stand with both of your feet on the ground.  Reach one foot up, stretch it straight out in front of you, and stomp your foot back to the ground.  Repeat on the opposite foot.

Buttons and Zippers
(Side Twists)

Stand with both of your feet on the ground.  Bring your arms up for goal post arms and then lower the forearms so that they are parallel to the ground.  Twist and turn all the way to the right and then twist and turn all the way to the left. Repeat a few times twisting back and forth.

You have officially won the Gold Medal for The Morning Routine. Fill out the form below and receive a FREE Bendy Bookworm Yoga Video for a celebration prize for you and your child.

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The Frog Song

The Frog Song: A move-to-learn rhyme video intended to target developmental skills.
For Ages: 18 months- 6 years old.

In this video, children will practice-
Cognitive Skills: colors and vocabulary
Motor/Physical Skills: mouth muscles and sounds

Want to practice more move-to-learn rhymes, songs, and poses like the Video above? Fill out the form below and receive a FREE Bendy Bookworm Yoga Video for your child.

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Indoor Activities with Kids: Duck Craft and Story Time

Ideal for ages 18 months - 5 years old. This is a perfect craft for practicing using scissors, drawing shapes, and using the proper amount of glue (yeah, we all know that one takes practice!!). It’s a simple craft for you and a challenging (but definitely do-able) craft for them!

Materials: 

Paper Plate or White Paper cut into a semicircle (preferably heavier paper like construction or cardstock)
Black Construction Paper (if available)
Glue
Crayons
Scissors
Colored Tissue Paper (if available)
Googley eyes (if available)

Step One: 

*Fold paper plate in half (or cut a semicircle out of white paper)
*Tear and glue down pieces of yellow tissue paper 
OR
*Color semicircle with crayons/markers

Step Two: 

*Trace and cut out a circle on yellow paper (or white paper and color yellow) for the head.
*Trace and cut out a triangle on orange paper (or white paper and color yellow) for the beak.
*Glue beak to head.
*Glue on googley eyes OR draw eyes.

Step Three: 

*Glue duck head to body.

Pair With:

These titles can be found on overdrive/ hoopla, ebook catalogs
you may be able to access with your library card!

3 Yoga Poses to STOP Yourself from Screaming

…when counting breaths isn’t enough, here are some yoga poses for you to release some of the anger and frustration; so it can leave your body in motion NOT in volume!

Swaying Palm- Tree Pose

Stand with your feet parallel and about hip-distance apart. Interlace your fingers and on the inhale, lift your arms straight up alongside your ears.  On your next inhalation, flip the palms up toward the ceiling; lengthen and stretch to the left. Return to center, exhale, and release your arms.. Repeat the pose on the other side.

Heavy Forward Fold

Stand with your feet parallel and about hip-distance apart.  Swing the arms forward and up; reaching the fingertips towards the sky.  Reach as high as you can, lengthen the entire body, you may even lift to tip toes.  Reach on the inhale and sigh out the exhale dropping your fingertips heavy towards the ground. REPEAT as many times as necessary.

Lion Pose (Bendy Bookworm Version)

Kneel on the ground with your bottom resting on your heels.  Draw your hands up and curl your fingers into claws. Stick your tongue out (and if you’re comfortable: roll your eyes back to gaze up at your forehead).  Inhale through the nose and on the exhale HAHHHH! the breath out. OR if you prefer ROAR the breath out. Repeat as needed….until you’ve yelled yourself out or the silliness of the pose has you laughing!

Need a moment to yourself to practice the poses above? Fill out the form below and receive a FREE Bendy Bookworm Yoga Video for your child.

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The Fish Song

The Fish Song: A move-to-learn rhyme video intended to target developmental skills.
For Ages: 18 months- 6 years old.

In this video, children will practice-
Cognitive Skills: counting, colors, and vocabulary
Motor/Physical Skills: crossing the midline, circular motions

Want to practice more move-to-learn rhymes, songs, and poses like the Video above? Fill out the form below and receive a FREE Bendy Bookworm Yoga Video for your child.

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Good Night Books for Kids

Dinner has been eaten, baths have been drained, and jammies are on. In my early days as a librarian, I tried out a “bedtime story time”…. it didn’t go well. I realized that the part that made bedtime story time so great, was being in your bed. These are some cozy titles to end the day; night time books for bed time reading:

Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue

For Ages: 4-7

Sleep Train by Jonathan London

For Ages: 2-5

Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker

For Ages: 2-4

Grandfather Twilight by Barbara Helen Berger

For Ages: 3-7

A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na

For Ages: 2-4

Mr. Squirrel and the Moon by Sebastian Meschenmoser

For Ages: 4-8

The Moon’s Almost Here by Patricia MacLachlan 

For Ages: 4-8

Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker

For Ages: 4-6

Good Night Owl by Greg Pizzoli

For Ages: 4-8

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Bendy Bookworm Story Time: Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

LOVE THIS VIDEO AND WANT MORE!! Click here- http://bendybookworm.com/opt-in A move-to-learn yoga video intended to target developmental skills. In this video...

“Little Blue Truck” by Alice Schertle

Beep! Beep! Beep! Meet Blue. He likes beeping to his animal friends and driving down muddy country roads! This story is filled with truck sounds and animal noises to read aloud; a wonderful friendship story about helping others.

In this video, children will move-to-learn through yoga as they practice the following developmental skills-
Cognitive Skills: counting, colors, and vocabulary
Motor/Physical Skills: strength, balance, and flexibility
Emotional Skills: being a good friend, cause and effect

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Nobody Hugs A Cactus Story Time Craft

Ideal for ages 6- 9 years old. The children really loved this one!! It was perfect for a wide age range: the younger children were challenged with tracing their hand and practicing using scissors, while the older children were able to express their creativity with the intricacy of their cactus pot designs! Plus it’s a perfect at home craft since you probably have most of the materials already available.

Materials: 
White Paper (preferably heavier paper like construction or cardstock)
Green Construction Paper
Glue
Crayons
Colored Tissue Paper

Step One: Trace hand on green construction paper, cut out, and cut out pot.

Step Two: Draw spines on cactus hand and color in cactus pot. Tape the cactus behind the flower pot and glue on tiny crumples of tissue paper for cactus flowers.
Options for cactus flowers: craft pompoms, stickers, or draw on flowers

OPTIONAL Step Three: Tape a popsicle stick behind the hand and the pot to provide standing support. You may have to play around with the placement of the popsicle stick!

**Place the popsicle stick high enough to keep the hand lifted but if you place it too high, it will become top heavy and won’t stand.**

PAIR WITH:
Nobody Hugs a Cactus By Carter Goodrich

Hand-washing Song For Toddlers

Tune- "Frere Jacques"
Lyrics:
Tops and Bottoms
Tops and Bottoms

In Between
In Between

Rub them all together
Rub them all together

Now they're clean
Now they're clean

Singing the song through twice, brings the hand-washing process to 30 seconds!

Yoga Games For 1st- 3rd Graders

When teaching to 6 and ups, you can begin to flow a bit more; their attention will hold for several poses together, their memory ability is more advanced, and their motor skills are much more developed.  Yoga games can become a little bit more challenging; less about learning and more about recall. These are some favorites:

Yogi Says

Simon Says with a Yogi Twist; call out and perform different poses while the children watch and copy ONLY the poses you do AFTER saying “Yogi Says”.  i.e. “Yogi Says Downward Facing Dog” (pose they will copy) / “Warrior I” (pose they shouldn’t be tricked into copying). They love this game! It’s a great way to transition between class sequences or to fill time at the end.  It can also be used to warm them up or slow them down (just alter the speed and pose choices accordingly).

Yoga Freeze Dance

Similar to the game played with the 5 and under’s; play a song for free movement expression.  On the pause, for this age group, you will yell out a specific pose for them to try to remember and practice. 
***For a “musical chairs” variation: place pose cards on the floor, when the song is paused they have to land on a card and perform the pose. 

Sun Races

I usually start class with this: We’ll do one or two Sun Salutation sequences together slowly.  Then we move on to one or two a bit faster, moving through them on breath.  Finally, I let them race the sequence with me. It’s challenging for them to remember each pose. They have a lot of fun trying to hit each pose and go as fast as they can.  It’s a great way to warm them up, get them laughing, and enjoying themselves. When we start the class with laughter, they are more willing to try different poses throughout the rest of the class time.

Hot Block (Hot Potato)

 Have the children sit in a circle, in modified boat pose.  Place a foam block between the feet of several children (strategically spread around the circle).  Play some music and tell the students to pass the blocks from feet to feet (trying NOT to use their hands) around the circle….until the music stops! A ridiculous core exercise that will help them with balance, coordination, and stress (teaching them to breathe when the pressure is on).  Keep it fun… no one has to be out!
***For Added Level of Difficulty: Pass the block is full modified Boat Pose (HANDS OFF THE FLOOR)!!!

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Yoga Games For 5 Year Olds and Under

Want to engage your toddler group?  Keep them focused and flowing for longer?  Break up your class structure! Add in transitions, change up the style, and keep it moving!  These are some best practices that I have experimented and adapted for best results:

Yoga Freeze Dance

At this age children can’t be expected to remember specific poses.  Begin by playing some music for free movement expression, after a minute or two pause the song and demonstrate the pose you would like them to copy (mountain, star, tabletop).  Be PATIENT. The children will not transition as quickly as you: give them time to realize the song has paused and give them time to copy your pose. Once most (if not all) children are in the pose, begin playing music for free movement expression again.  REPEAT.
Optimal Engagement will last anywhere from 5- 7 minutes depending on the majority age of the class.

Songs and Rhymes

5 and unders are easily engaged with rhymes and songs.  It is a wonderful way for them to process, learn, retain, and recall.  Using some familiar songs will promote participation and encourage memorization.  Some rhymes I find particularly easy to incorporate:
Old MacDonald Had A Farm- pick an animal, perform the pose, sing the song
London Bridge- Get into bridge pose, alternate lifting legs while singing the song, allow the children to tumble down and rest
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star- Alternate between star pose and crescent pose, maybe add a little shimmering in there too!!

Picture to Pose

This works like flashcards: Have a handful of images (that you can turn into poses I.e. flower, chair, moon, etc.) to show the children.  Allow them to name the image, tell you its color, multiple names (ie coat or jacket), the name in a different language, etc.  Guide engagement with each image and give them time to incorporate any new words and the image into their word bank. Then practice the pose associated with the image.  You can use words built around a theme or a letter.

If you’d like to practice some of these games with me, you can watch and move to my FREE toddler yoga video: “Good Morning!” Just fill out the form below, receive the link and press play!

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Yoga Poses for AFTER your Toddler Falls

Kids fall.  I don’t have to tell you this.  We talk a lot about getting back up after a fall. But the emphasis always seems to be about the getting back up part.  For me, it’s less about getting back up and more about facing that thing again.  Kids are tough. Most of the time they’ll get back up… but will they want to try it again? These poses are meant for AFTER the fall, after they’ve gotten back up, and after you’ve dried their tears and calmed their wailing.  These 4 Yoga poses are for what comes next: the moment when they have to choose to face that damn hard thing again or avoid it.

Lion Pose

…..for bravery.  It takes some serious bravery to try something after you’ve already gotten hurt, failed, burned, etc.  Lion Pose is perfect for facing that challenge and roaring in its face. Roaring is empowering, it’s the “I got this!” yell that comes after the “Shit that hurts” crying.  Have your toddler sit on their heels. Raise their hands and curl their fingers into fierce lion claws. Stick their tongues out (no child can stick their tongue out and NOT giggle) take a deep breath in and ROAR that breath back out! AS LOUD AS THEY CAN!  Repeat as many roars as needed to feel ready to charge that challenge.

Tabletop (child’s bridge) Pose

…..for finding ways to cross the gaps.  Sometimes it’s less about force and more about imagination.  Frustration can be just as disheartening as a face plant. Practicing bridge pose is perfect for teaching them to try a different way of tackling the problem (tying shoes, getting their jacket on, and brushing their teeth are all frustrating skills that can create an opportunity for bridge pose problem solving).  Have them sit on their bottoms, plant their hands on the ground (on either side of their hips), and step the soles of their feet down on the ground. Count to three and have them lift their belly buttons up to the sky (lifting their bottoms off the ground). Lower back down.
***For an extra challenge, lift one foot up towards the ceiling (repeat with the opposite foot). 

Explorer Pose

….for staying curious. Teaching curiosity will help combat self defeatism and doubt.  It separates the child from the problem so that the child’s identity does not become mixed up in the failure.  I know the dreaded “Why?” can be frustrating when asked over and over. BUT encourage it! “Why?” creates endless possibilities. Ending the “Why?” forces unnecessary conclusions (like “It’s my fault” “I’m not good enough” “I can’t do this”).  Have your toddler begin on their hands and knees. Guide them to reach one foot back and lift the leg up, parallel to the ground. Repeat on the opposite side!
**For an extra challenge, have them reach the opposite arm out in front  (parallel to the ground) and if they really want to try something hard: have them bring their hand to their eye like they are looking through a spyglass)!

Bird Pose

….for flying. This pose is to remind them of their own strength and the freedom of flight (success).  Avoiding a problem keeps them grounded and stuck; accomplishing hard things brings them freedom and choice.  Have them stand tall with their arms lifted out to their sides like wings. Drag one toe back and tap the ground three times.  Then begin to lift that back foot up (parallel to the ground). Once the foot is lifted, flap the arms like wings. Lower the foot and arms before repeating the pose by lifting the opposite foot.  

If you’d like to practice more poses to build resilience with your toddler, watch and move to my FREE toddler yoga video: “Good Morning!” Just fill out the form below, receive the link and press play!

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Clap-and-Rub Motion Meditation

PRESS PICTURE TO PLAY VIDEO

This Motion Meditation is my go to for focusing attention, releasing excessive energy, task transitions for the classroom or moving from one activity to the next with your toddler. This motion meditation can work for pretty much any scenario; it’s super easy for a caregiver to execute and works so well with toddlers because it hits some key elements for engagement:
#1. Movement: moving the hands from out wide to a clap, to rubbing, to rest on a body part keeps their attention engaged because it is constantly changing movement.
#2. Counting: I usually have the children count to three as they reach their arms wide; triggering the learning skill of counting (for older children there’s comfort in the repetition of counting).
#3. Memory: Repeatedly using this meditation helps with order memory: “What body part comes next?”

Involving those engagement skills makes it such a successful motion meditation! Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Reach arms out wide to the side, wiggle fingers as you STRETCH wide, and count to three.
Step 2: Clap hands together and rub to create warmth between the palms. I rub until they tell me their hands are warm.
Step 3: Place hands on bellies and take a deep breath in and release the breath out.
Repeat the Steps moving the hands from the belly, to the head, and finally resting on the heart.

If you’d like to practice more motion meditations with your toddler, watch and move to my FREE toddler yoga video: “Good Morning!” Just fill out the form below, receive the link and press play!

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Foodie Books For Kids

These are some of my favorite all about food picture books; different tastes, different recipes, different cultures… ALL ONE TUMMY, Yours! Read these books with your child and try the recipes included in some of them! Don’t forget to share your experiences with me! Which recipe was your favorite?

Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed

For Ages: 4-8

Little Taco Truck by Tanya Valentine

For Ages: 3-7

Bendy Bookworm Free Story Time Video: Little Taco Truck

Freedom Soup by Tami Charles

For Ages: 5-9

Green is a Chile Pepper: A Book of Colors by Roseanne Greenfield Thong

For Ages: 3-5

Gazpacho for Nacho by Tracey C. Kyle

For Ages: 5-9

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

For Ages: 4-8

Thank you, Omu! by Oge Mora

For Ages: 4-8

Octopus Stew by Eric Velasquez

For Ages: 4-8

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Bendy Bookworm Story Time: Perfect Square by Michael Hall

LOVE THIS VIDEO AND WANT MORE!! Click here- http://bendybookworm.com/opt-in Bendy Bookworm Yoga teaches cognitive, social, & emotional skills to children thr...

“Perfect Square” by Michael Hall

A perfect square is changes himself over and over to live his life beyond the four equal sides of this square book.

In this video, children will move-to-learn through yoga as they practice the following developmental skills-
Cognitive Skills: colors, order/ sequencing, prediction
Motor/Physical Skills: crossing the midline, core strengthening, balance
Emotional Skills: emotion recognition, imagination, changes, re-invention

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Bendy Bookworm Story Time: Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert by Morag Hood

A Yogi's spin on traditional story time: toddlers interact with stories and build literacy skills by practicing yoga poses! @thebendybookworm www.bendybookwo...

“Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert” by Morag Hood

Sophie is a unicorn expert. She should know, she lives with them! But living with enchanted animals can be tricky business. And Sophie is so caught up in teaching others that she fails to notice the magic right under her nose.

In this video, children will move-to-learn through yoga as they practice the following developmental skills-
Cognitive Skills: vocabulary, following directions, focus, broadening vision
Motor/Physical Skills: balance, core strengthening, body control
Emotional Skills: magic, caring, humor

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Bendy Bookworm Story Time: Can I keep it? by Lisa Jobe

LOVE THIS VIDEO AND WANT MORE!! Click here- http://bendybookworm.com/opt-in Bendy Bookworm Yoga teaches cognitive, social, & emotional skills to children thr...

“Can I Keep it?” by Lisa Jobe

One summer day, a boy ventures into his backyard on a mission to find the perfect pet. When he asks to keep the animals that happened to “follow” him home, his mom points out that where they truly belong.

In this video, children will move-to-learn through yoga as they practice the following developmental skills-
Cognitive Skills: prediction, vocabulary, following directions
Motor/Physical Skills: balance, spine flexibility, muscle control
Emotional Skills: curiosity, friendship, caring

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Bendy Bookworm Story Time: The Little Taco Truck by Tanya Valentine

LOVE THIS VIDEO AND WANT MORE? I GOT YOU. CLICK HERE: http://bendybookworm.com/opt-in A yogi librarian's twist on traditional story time: toddlers interact w...

“The Little Taco Truck” by Tanya Valentine

Little Taco Truck serves up tasty treats to the hungry workers on Union Street . . . until one day, Miss Falafel shows up and parks right in his space. The next day, Miss Falafel is there again, and this time she's brought more food trucks.

In this video, children will move-to-learn through yoga as they practice the following developmental skills-
Cognitive Skills: counting, vocabulary, cause and effect
Motor/Physical Skills: flexibility, core strengthening, balance
Emotional Skills: determination, friendship, emotion recognition

To Purchase:
Amazon Link- Little Taco Truck by Tanya Valentine

Want to pair the Bendy Bookworm Story Time with a car craft?
Click HERE!!

Want to practice more move-to-learn rhymes, songs, and poses like the Video above? Join me for my weekly Yoga Class for Kids on Zoom!