Storytime Theme: Purple – Part 2 (Yoga)

Today’s storytime used the same books from my toddler storytime on Monday and Tuesday, but were much more successful, even with 22 kids (ages 2 – 5) doing yoga!  The storytime as a whole tended toward the crazy side, but the kids did a fairly great job with the yoga poses and really enjoyed getting the chance to draw with purple crayons during the Harold and the Purple Crayon flannelboard story.  We even did really well during the relaxation poses, except for one little girl who was extremely distraught that everyone was “sleeping.”  I found a great new resource called Yoga for Children: 200+ Yoga Poses, Breathing Exercises, and Mediations for Healthier, Happier, More Resilient Children by Lisa Flynn.  This is a wonderful resource full of yoga poses that have really helped me add to my repertoire.  I really like the way the book is laid out with each poses photographed, its benefits, how to do it and what to say to help kids do each pose.  Definitely a book, I’m adding to my personal library.
Opening

• Warm-up (Rock n Roll, Zip up Spine, Deep Breaths, Cat/Cow, Dog)

Book One: Purple: Seeing Purple All Around Us by Sarah L. Schuette
Transition

• Sun Salutations (Mountain, Reach Up, Touch the Ground, Hands at Knees (flat back), Plank Pose, Downward Facing Dog, Walk Toward Hands, Repeat 3x)

Book Two: A Pet for Petunia by Paul Schmid
Transition (changes weekly)

•  Fun (Dragon, Frog, Flamingo, Swan, Jellyfish)

Book Three: Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson (flannel board)
Closing

• Cool-down (Bridge, Happy Baby Pose, Star Pose/Deep Breaths)
  • “Dokokade Yoruga Naita” (Putumayo Kids Presents: Asian Dreamland)
  • Namaste