Yoga for kids offers many benefits including strength, balance, focus, concentration, relaxation and much more. It increases self-confidence, facilitates body awareness, and teaches mindfulness as well as useful, active tools for managing stress. Not to mention, it’s a fun physical activity for families to enjoy together.
When introducing your child to yoga, keep in mind that they may require or enjoy a practice tailored towards children. A child’s yoga practice can certainly encourage many of the same poses and principles of adult yoga practice, but is also fun and engaging. Shorter sets or classes, and ‘stories’ that accompany their flow are very beneficial. Child size equipment is also useful for children practicing yoga, and child size mats, balance balls, and accessories will enhance their practice.
Yoga for Kids: Items to Explore
 | Gaiam Kids Yoga Mat | Check price at |
 | Yoga for Kids: Dino-Mite Adventure | Check price at |
 | Phresh Yoga Mat & Fitness Game | Check price at |
 | Good Night Yoga: A Pose-by-Pose Bedtime Story | Check price at |
 | MERRITHEW Mat Bag for Kids | Check price at |
 | Gaiam Kids Stay-N-Play Balance Ball | Check price at |
 | Gaiam Kids Yoga Socks Lowest Price | Check price at |
 | Cosmic Kids Yoga – Series 1 DVD | Check price at |
 | Gaiam Kids Peanut Balance Ball | Check price at |
1. Gaiam Kids Yoga Mat
Gaiam yoga mats are my personal choice for my own yoga practice, and the Gaiam Kids Yoga Mat is the same high-quality, reasonably priced, durable yoga mat, in a child size package. Available in a large selection of fun, beautiful colors and kid- friendly designs, at 24″W x 60″L and 3mm thick, it’s sized perfectly for children. This mat is constructed of PVC, which eliminates any latex sensitivity and it’s also phthalate free. The lightweight design is perfect for little ones to carry. I have found these mats to be incredibly durable, easy to clean, and just sticky enough to prevent slipping. Your little yogi will love to bring their own mat to practice.
2. Yoga for Kids: Dino-Mite Adventure
Make yoga practice a fun, educational, and interactive experience with Yoga for Kids: Dino-Mite Adventure. Recommended for kids 5 and older, this DVD includes 3 unique practices and 1 bonus practice that engage children in yoga while teaching them about dinosaurs. Become a baby brontosaurus and transform in to dinosaurs of the mesozoic era. Next, hunt for fossils, stretch, and partner up with a friend for even more fun!
3. Phresh Yoga Mat & Fitness Game
The Phresh Yoga Mat & Fitness Game looks like a cool yoga mat with a fun design, but it’s so much more. This eco-friendly yoga mat is sized appropriately for kids ten and up and includes a game poster. The poster illustrates 108 poses and symbol combinations. The use of the symbols for body placement encourages correct body alignment and positioning, which can be difficult to master on its own. In addition to the poster, there is also a fun iPad game incorporating the specially designed mat.
4. Good Night Yoga: A Pose-by-Pose Bedtime Story
Loved by parents, reviewers, and parenting experts, Good Night Yoga: A Pose-by-Pose Bedtime Story encourages an effective, relaxing bedtime routine. The beautifully illustrated book outlines a simple flow of yoga poses related to nature. As nature readies for dreamtime, so does your little one. From their practice, readers learn techniques for self-soothing, relaxing the body and mind, and focusing attention. This is an excellent bedtime routine for families to do together. Also available – Good Morning Yoga: A Pose-by-Pose Wake Up Story.
5. MERRITHEW Mat Bag for Kids
Whether practiced at home, school, or a yoga studio, yoga for kids is incredibly beneficial. The MERRITHEW Mat Bag for Kids is the perfect bag for your budding yogi to transport their mat wherever they need it. Appropriately sized for child sized mats, it also has enough space for a towel, water, and even a snack.
6. Gaiam Kids Stay-N-Play Balance Ball
Balance balls are useful for yoga practice, stretching, posture, and ‘active sitting’. The Gaiam Kids Stay-N-Play Balance Ball is sized for children and has the helpful addition of four stabilizing prongs to keep the ball from rolling away. Consider using this balance ball as a chair for your child. Sitting in the ball encourages correct posture and the small amount of balancing and concentration it uses discourages fidgeting and increases focus. Perfect to sit on while doing homework, reading, or even watching tv. Available in fun, bright, kid-friendly colors. Inflation pump is included.
7. Gaiam Kids Yoga Socks
Whether practicing yoga for kids or adults, one of the most frustrating issues is losing your footing. Gaiam Kids Yoga Socks offer a grippy surface to prevent slipping. These handy accessories increase balance and stability and allow little yogis to practice anywhere – even without a mat! Package includes two pairs of socks.
8. Cosmic Kids Yoga – Series 1 DVD
The Cosmic Yoga For Kids – Series 1 DVD is a fun, interactive yoga DVD, comprised of the best Youtube yoga for kids videos. A favorite of teachers and parents alike, this particular DVD is used by schools across the country during indoor recess. This engaging program integrates adventurous storytelling and simple life lessons with yoga poses. Designed to encourage happiness, confidence, and calm.
9. Gaiam Kids Peanut Balance Ball
Whether used in yoga practice or as a ‘seat’, balance balls are notoriously unstable. They tend do go flying across the room at inopportune moments, and leave you sitting on the floor. Designed and sized for kids, the Gaiam Kids Peanut Balance Ball is much more stable. It’s great when used during yoga practice and is a perfect seat. Kids can bounce around while they sit, improving strength, balance, and posture, while also improving focus. Gaiam balance balls are sturdy and durable.
10. Best Step Interlocking Anti-Fatigue Flooring Tiles
Best Step Interlocking Anti-Fatigue Flooring Tiles are must-have for any home yoga practice, whether its adults, kids, or the entire family practicing together. Home flooring is not necessarily ideal for yoga. Even with a mat, hardwood and laminates are often too hard and slippery, and carpet is too soft, especially for balance poses. These durable interlocking tiles solve both issues. They are not slippery at all with a mat on top, add padding and protection from hard floors. On carpeted floors, they give the needed stability for those hard to master balance poses. In addition, they protect your floors from damage from play or exercise.
11. Manduka LiveOn PLUSfoam Kids Yoga Mat
Manduka is dedicated to providing quality and environmentally friendly yoga essentials. The Manduka LiveOn PLUSfoam Kids Yoga Mat is durable, recyclable, and toxin and heavy metal free. In addition, it’s lightweight and sized just for kids. Available in several fun, bright colors with an adorable animal print, this is an excellent mat for your little yogi.
We love to hear from you! Tell us about the positive effects of yoga for kids in your home or classroom.
Feature image courtesy of Flickr, KitAy.