Storytelling in children’s books is a powerful and influential tool for positively contributing to the development of children aged 4 to 8 years. It can help with cognitive development and language and comprehension skills It can stimulate imagination and creativity. Storytelling fosters imaginative thinking, encouraging children to visualize and create their own worlds and scenarios. Problem-Solving Many stories present characters overcoming challenges, which can inspire children to think creatively about solving their own problems. Emotional Development Empathy Stories often feature relatable characters facing various emotions and situations, teaching children to understand and empathize with others. Emotional Regulation Reading about characters’ emotional experiences can help children learn to manage and express their feelings. Morals and Values Moral Lessons Many children’s books incorporate moral lessons and ethical dilemmas, helping children develop a sense of right and wrong. Relationships Reading about different characters and their interactions can help children learn about friendships, and social relationships. Interest in Reading Building a Love for Reading Engaging and enjoyable stories can instill a love for reading at an early age, encouraging children to read more as they grow. Educational Concepts Math, Science, and History Children’s books can introduce educational concepts in a fun and relatable manner, sparking interest in various subjects. Parent-Child Bond Quality Time Reading (and doing yoga together creates opportunities for bonding and shared experiences between parents and children. Safe Space Books can serve as a platform for discussing difficult or sensitive topics with children in a safe and approachable way. Encouraging Critical Thinking Questioning and Reflection Reading stories encourages children to ask questions, think critically, and analyze narratives, improving their analytical skills. Promoting a Growth Mindset Resilience Many children’s books depict characters facing setbacks and learning from their mistakes, encouraging a growth mindset and determination. Recommended Reading (Includes Research) Why Stories Matter for Children’s Learning The ConversationPublished: January 5, 2016 10.10pm AEDT Reading and Storytelling with Babies and Children Raisingchildren.net.au Why Reading is Important for Children’s Brain DevelopmentGreater Good MagazineBy Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian, Christelle Langley, Jianfeng Feng, Yun-Jun Sun | November 17, 2023 Why is Storytelling Important to Children?BBC Teach Ursula the Roly Poly Unicorn: A Yoga-For-Kids Adventure about Self-Esteem and Loving Yourself Just as You Are Out now, the Yoga-for-Kids Adventure storybook, Ursula the Roly Poly Unicorn, is intended to help children with self-esteem and loving themselves just as they are. Useful for teachers of kids’ yoga. Available: paperback, hardback and Kindle. Also, available: Kids’ Yoga Teacher pack with extra poses, ideas, and resources. Photo credit: Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
Author: Suzanne Male
How Yoga Can Contribute to Self-Esteem and Self-Acceptance in Children
Yoga offers several benefits for children when it comes to self-esteem and learning to love themselves just as they are. These benefits are closely tied to the mindful and self-reflective aspects of yoga practice. It’s important to note that the benefits of yoga for self-esteem and self-acceptance in children can be enhanced when combined with guided discussions, storytelling, and activities that encourage self-reflection and self-expression. Additionally, parental involvement and a supportive environment at home can reinforce the lessons learned in yoga classes.Here’s how yoga can contribute to self-esteem and self-acceptance in children. Body Awareness Yoga encourages children to become more aware of their bodies. Through gentle movement and poses, children can develop a deeper understanding of their physical selves. This heightened body awareness can lead to greater self-acceptance and self-love. Mindfulness Yoga teaches children to be present in the moment and to observe their thoughts and emotions without judgment. This mindfulness practice helps them become more in tune with their inner selves and fosters self-acceptance. Positive Self-Talk Yoga often includes the use of positive affirmations. By repeating affirmations like “I am strong” or “I am loved,” (or by doing the yoga poses with a positive story) children can cultivate a more positive self-image and self-esteem. Emotional Regulation Yoga teaches children how to manage their emotions. Through relaxation and breathing exercises, they learn how to find inner calm and reduce stress and anxiety. This can lead to greater self-confidence and emotional resilience. Acceptance of Imperfection Yoga philosophy emphasizes that we are all works in progress, and perfection is not the goal. This mindset can help children embrace their imperfections and understand that they are enough just as they are. Confidence Building As children practice and master yoga poses, they gain confidence in their physical abilities. This confidence can extend to other areas of their lives and boost their overall self-esteem. Self-Expression Yoga can be a form of self-expression for children. Through creative movements and poses, they can express their emotions and unique personalities, which can foster self-acceptance. Embracing Differences Yoga promotes an inclusive and non-competitive environment where children learn to respect and appreciate the differences in themselves and others. This can lead to a more inclusive and accepting attitude. Gratitude and Self-Love Yoga often incorporates gratitude practices, where children express gratitude for themselves and the people they love. This helps reinforce the importance of self-love and self-acceptance. Positive Role Models In yoga classes, children often have positive role models in their instructors and fellow practitioners who promote self-love and acceptance. Studies Yoga for Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Well-Being: Research Review and Reflections on the Mental Health Potentials of YogaIngunn Hagen,* and Usha S. Nayar Front Psychiatry. 2014; 5: 35.Published online 2014 Apr 2. This article discusses yoga as a potential tool for children to deal with stress and regulate themselves. Yoga provides training of mind and body to bring emotional balance. We argue that children and young people need such tools to listen inward to their bodies, feelings, and ideas. Yoga may assist them in developing in sound ways, to strengthen themselves, and be contributing social beings. First, we address how children and young people in today’s world face numerous expectations and constant stimulation through the Internet and other media and communication technologies. One reason why children experience stress and mental health challenges is that globalization exposes the youth all over the world to various new demands, standards, and options. There is also increased pressure to succeed in school, partly due to increased competition but also a diverse range of options available for young people in contemporary times than in the past. Our argument also partially rests on the fact that modern society offers plenty of distractions and unwelcome attractions, especially linked to new media technologies. The dominant presence of multimedia devices and the time spent on them by children are clear indicators of the shift in lifestyles and priorities of our new generation. While these media technologies are valuable resources in children and young people’s lives for communication, learning, and entertainment, they also result in constant competition for youngster’s attention. A main concept in our article is that yoga may help children and young people cope with stress and thus, contribute positively to balance in life, well-being, and mental health. We present research literature suggesting that yoga improves children’s physical and mental well-being. Similarly, yoga in schools helps students improve resilience, mood, and self-regulation skills pertaining to emotions and stress. It is becoming increasingly common for frontline clinicians to see children and teenagers struggle with their mental health. Since mental health issues have increased over the past ten years in the UK, they are now the leading cause of disability and cost the British economy £105 billion annually…The evidence for yoga therapies in children is encouraging, although studies include methodological flaws such as small sample sizes and sparse information on interventions. This review has highlighted that yoga interventions may be implemented in schools as a preventative and therapeutic measure for mental health issues. Khunti K, Boniface S, Norris E, De Oliveira CM, Nicola Shelton. The effects of yoga on mental health in school-aged children: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of Randomised Control Trials. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2023;28(3):1217-1238. doi:10.1177/13591045221136016 Over the years, mindfulness and yoga-based interventions have been widely implemented in schools and demonstrated promising results. Despite the benefits, there is limited literature on the effects that yoga may have for young children. Furthermore, extant research on yoga and young children has primarily used quantitative methodologies. The objective of this study was to investigate pre-kindergarteners’ and kindergartners’ experiences with yoga through a qualitative-exploratory approach. MethodsThis qualitative-exploratory study used interview methods and the application of grounded theory to learn about children’s perceptions (n = 154) of participating in a randomized waitlist-controlled trial an eight-week yoga intervention that targeted self-regulation and emotion regulation. The post-intervention child interview findings are reported here. ResultsTwo themes, grounded in the dataset and most relevant to the topic of children’s experiences in practicing READ MORE
Kids’ Yoga Books: The Benefits of Combining Movement and Stories
The benefits of combining movement and stories. There is expert information online, studies, and research that point to the positive effects of using movement with stories, especially when it comes to education and child development. It seems the following effects are possible from combining stories with movement (like yoga, of course, and yoga has a whole lot of other benefits for kids, too) Some studies are referenced at the end of this post. Enhanced Engagement and Attention Combining movement with stories increases engagement, especially in young children. Moving while listening to or reading a story helps maintain their attention and makes the learning experience more enjoyable. Improved Comprehension Physical movement can enhance understanding and comprehension of the story. Actions, gestures, and body language can help convey and reinforce the narrative’s content, making it easier for children to grasp complex concepts. Vocabulary and Language Development The use of movement can aid in vocabulary acquisition and language development. When children physically act out the actions described in a story, they internalize and remember words and phrases more effectively. Enhanced Retention Movement in conjunction with storytelling can enhance memory retention. Children tend to remember stories and information better when it is associated with a physical experience or action. Social and Emotional Learning (For Groups … like Kids’ Yoga Classes) Movement-based stories can foster social and emotional development. Children learn empathy, cooperation, and teamwork when they engage in activities that require group movements and interactions. Cognitive Benefits Movement can stimulate cognitive development, as it often involves problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making. These skills are enhanced when children need to perform specific movements as part of the storytelling experience. Physical Activity and Health Incorporating movement with stories encourages physical activity, which is beneficial for overall health. This can help combat sedentary behaviors and promote a more active lifestyle. Multisensory Learning Combining movement with storytelling engages multiple senses, making the learning experience more multisensory. This approach caters to various learning styles, allowing children with different preferences to benefit from the activity. Stress Reduction Movement and physical activity can help reduce stress and anxiety in children, creating a more positive and relaxed learning environment. Creativity and Imagination Movement-based storytelling encourages creativity and imagination. Children have the opportunity to visualize and interpret stories in their unique ways, fostering creative thinking. Inclusivity (For Groups…like Kids’ Yoga Classes) The use of movement with stories can be adapted to accommodate children with different abilities and needs. It can be a more inclusive way of teaching and engaging children. Fun and Motivation Movement adds an element of fun and excitement to the learning process, which can be motivating and increase children’s willingness to participate and learn. While the research supports the positive effects of combining movement with stories, it is essential to consider the specific context, age group, and learning objectives. Educators and parents should tailor their approach to match the needs and interests of the children they are working with. Additionally, further research continues to explore the nuances and benefits of this approach in different educational and developmental settings. Studies This study offers promising evidence as to the efficacy of using drama-based storytime in preschool classrooms to support listening comprehension and recall of oral narratives. Findings support a theory of embodied language learning and suggest potential benefits of drama to enhance literacy learning.Gesture like a kitten and you won’t forget your tale: Drama-based, embodied story time supports preschoolers’ narrative skillsKatie A. Bernstein a, Lauren van Huisstede a, Scott C. Marley a, Yuchan (Blanche) Gao a, Melissa Pierce-Rivera a c, Evan Ippolito a d, M. Adelaida Restrepo a e, Jenny Millinger b, Kathryn Brantley b, Jen GantwerkerEarly Childhood Research QuarterlyVolume 66, 1st Quarter 2024, Pages 178-190https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0885200623001266 The results of this study demonstrate the efficacy of combining movement and story-telling, over movement or story-telling alone, to benefit both motor competence and language ability in pre-schoolers. Combining both movement and story-telling appears to offer synergistic benefits in relation to physical and communication development, which are critical for good development in the early years.Duncan, M., Cunningham, A., & Eyre, E. (2019). A combined movement and story-telling intervention enhances motor competence and language ability in pre-schoolers to a greater extent than movement or story-telling alone. European Physical Education Review, 25(1), 221-235. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X17715772 Linear mixed model analyses revealed both the embodied learning and the physical activity condition as being more effective in teaching children new words than the control condition.Embodied learning in the classroom: Effects on primary school children’s attention and foreign language vocabulary learningMirko Schmidt, Valentin Benzing, Amie Wallman-Jones, Myrto-Foteini Mavilidi, David Revalds Lubans, Fred PaasPsychology of Sport and ExerciseVolume 43, July 2019, Pages 45-54https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1469029218303145#preview-section-cited-by Combining movement and storytelling activities boosts pre-school children’s key motor skills and language ability, according to experts who used the bestselling book ‘The Gruffalo’ during their research.How ‘The Gruffalo’ helped academics boost youngsters’ motor skills and language abilityhttps://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170628095846.htm Michael Duncan, Anna Cunningham, Emma Eyre. A combined movement and story-telling intervention enhances motor competence and language ability in pre-schoolers to a greater extent than movement or story-telling alone. European Physical Education Review, 2017; 1356336X1771577 DOI: 10.1177/1356336X17715772 Early motor development has an important role in promoting physical activity (PA) during childhood and across the lifespan. Children from South Asian backgrounds are less active and have poorer motor skills, thus identifying the need for early motor skill instruction. This study examines the effect of a movement and storytelling intervention on South Asian children’s motor skills. Following ethics approval and consent, 39 children (46% South Asian) participated in a 12-week movement and storytelling intervention. Pre and post, seven motor skills (run, jump, throw, catch, stationary dribble, roll, and kick) were assessed using Children’s Activity and Movement in Preschool Study protocol. At baseline, South Asian children had poorer performance of motor skills. Following the intervention, all children improved their motor skills, with a bigger improvement observed for South Asian children. Early intervention provided remedial benefits to delays in motor skills and narrowed the motor skills gap in ethnic groups.Keywords: motor skill instruction; fundamental movement skills; READ MORE