Yoga Games for Children: Fun and Fitness With Postures, Movements, and Breath (Hunter House Smartfun Book)

Rating:
Summary: An excellent source of inspiration for class design!
Review: As a mother of a preschooler and co-founder of YogAdventureKids, which provides yoga instruction exclusively for children, I found this book an invaluable resource early in my career for inspiring, fun ideas when I was teaching classes to my son and his friends at home in my living room. Teaching different age groups at various levels of experience can be difficult but Yoga Games for Children helped me to take a general outline and taylor it to the needs of each group. Because children develop physically and mentally in stages, it is essential to subdivide class themes according to age appropriateness. The same basic theme can be used to teach a four-year-old as would a twelve-year-old but the approach would be much different. This book addresses that point effectively. It also gives an appropriate time frame for each exercise. If you are a parent who wants to practice at home with your child, there is enough basic information to educate you about various poses and yoga theory in regards to teaching children. There are many books out there that explain how to perform different poses and the theory behind yoga, but what sets this book apart is the organization of theory and asana into whole ideas. It even tackles some difficult issues such as loss and separation. Some games last less than five minutes while others last up to an hour. You have the ability to tweak the classes as you choose, mix and match different games to form your own class, or do one that is completely laid out for you. It even gives recommendations for music to play that corresponds with certain class themes! I recommend this book to anyone who is not familiar with yoga for children - it is a great starting point.

Rating:
Summary: Not helpful
Review: I felt this book was not at all helpful in creating a Yoga class for children. It didn't give me anything to work with to be creative. Fly Like a butterfly is the best one I have read yet.

Rating:
Summary: Not much to do about yoga
Review: If you are looking for a book to introduce children to yoga asana and yoga theory, this one probably isn't the best choice. The poses are few, and are fairly simple; too simple for elementary children. The strength of the book lies in the group activities and games. The group lessons lean more toward team and trust -building, which would be great in a classroom, church group or camp. As a children's yoga teacher, I was disappointed in the actual yoga content, but I'll keep it as a reference in case I need a filler activity.

Rating:
Summary: Not much to do about yoga
Review: If you are looking for a book to introduce children to yoga asana and yoga theory, this one probably isn't the best choice. The poses are few, and are fairly simple; too simple for elementary children. The strength of the book lies in the group activities and games. The group lessons lean more toward team and trust -building, which would be great in a classroom, church group or camp. As a children's yoga teacher, I was disappointed in the actual yoga content, but I'll keep it as a reference in case I need a filler activity.