ML Interest Tag: breathing-exercises

See What Happened When This Elementary School Replaced Detention With Meditation

by Red Tricycle

Photo: holisticlifefoundation via Instagram

Oh, detention– a room full of ‘misfits’ forced to sit at their desk and relish in boredom until the timer is up. Was that the experience when you went to school? Well, a school in Baltimore, MD, is trying to change that.

The Mindful Moment Room at Robert W. Coleman Elementary School is a meditation room that is the alternative to sending kids to detention or the principal’s office. Students who would typically face detention are instead encouraged to sit still in the mindful moment room to meditate or do breathing exercises to help them calm down and re-center, in the hopes that they’ll begin to learn how to deal with stress. They are also asked to talk about their prior actions.

The meditation room was created as a partnership with the Holistic Life Foundation, a local nonprofit that runs other programs as well. For more than 10 years the foundation has been offering the after-school program Holistic Me, where kids from pre-K through the fifth grade practice yoga, mindfulness exercises, and courses about the environment.

Photo: holisticlifefoundation via Instagram

The meditation room was created as a partnership with the Holistic Life Foundation, a local nonprofit that runs other programs as well. Kirk Philips, the Holistic Me coordinator at Robert W. Coleman says that at Coleman Elementary, there have been exactly zero suspensions last year and so far this year. Meanwhile, nearby Patterson Park High School, which also uses the mindfulness programs, said suspension rates dropped and attendance increased as well.

Photo: holisticlifefoundation via Instagram

Would you like to see this program in your child’s school? Let us know in the comments below!

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How To Do Yoga With Your Child At Home

By Sünje O'Clancy

You love yoga. Your child wants to jump in when you roll out your mat. You’d like to share your yoga practice with her, but you know your primary series, or any other adult yoga routine for that matter, might not be the way to go. Here are a few tips on how to create a special yoga experience for you and your child at home.

Make time

Find a day and time when you can spend 30 minutes or so together without interruptions. Be considerate of meal times. In other words, don’t practice right after a big lunch when tummies are full, or too close to dinnertime when a growling stomach makes for a cranky yogi. For school-age children, weekends and school breaks are great times to get started.

Find a place

Unless you already have a designated yoga area, ask your child if he has any suggestions for a good yoga spot in your home. Talk about what qualities might be helpful. For example, enough room to not bump into furniture, the right temperature, a peaceful setting, appropriate lighting, etc. Decide on a place together, move furniture out of the way if necessary, and proudly roll out your mats. If you don’t have yoga mats, beach towels will do. Make your yoga spot even more special by placing a couple of meaningful objects next to you. This could be a rock, a seashell, your child’s favorite stuffed animal, or anything that makes you feel good.

Turn off distractions

Turn off your cell phone, and any other electronic devices. Better yet, leave them in another room, so you don’t get tempted to peak “real quick” at an incoming text. If you still own one, turn your home phone and answering machine down. Be ready to be offline, so you can connect with your child.

Ring a bell

Now it’s time to get started! Create an opening ritual like ringing a bell, a chime, or a singing bowl three times. Don’t worry if you have no musical instruments around. Improvise. Fill a wine glass with water and gently hit it with a spoon. Take turns making the sound while the other person is listening, hands on heart, eyes closed. Another lovely opening would be to chant OM three times together, if you feel comfortable doing so.

Breathe together

Get settled with a breathing exercise. Here are a couple of examples (choose one at a time): 1. Put your hands on your belly and blow up an imaginary balloon as you inhale, deflate it on the exhale. Ask your child what color her balloon is. Repeat a few times. 2. Sit across from each other and take a deep breath in while lifting your arms up overhead. Let the palms of your hands touch together. Hold the breath for a moment. Exhale slowly while your arms come back down by your side. Repeat a couple of times. You could also do these breathing exercises while sitting back to back so you can feel each other breathing.

Go on an imaginary adventure

Now it’s time to take off on a yoga adventure! Imagine you are going on a bike ride (lay on your back while pedaling your feet). Where are you going? Your child will have great ideas! Touch the soles of your feet together to ride your bikes in unison. What do you see along the way? Become a cat, a cow, a dog, a snake, or a mouse. If your child thinks of an animal that doesn’t have a corresponding yoga pose, make it up! Are you going to the beach? Add dolphin, turtle, and fish! Are you riding through the countryside? Be a butterfly, a bird, or a horse. Are you ready to get off your bike and hike up a mountain? Walk in place or stomp around the room! Do you see trees? Come into tree pose and ask your child what kind of tree he is. Let your child’s imagination guide you, and be creative. Make up a story and act it out! Compliment your child on her great ideas. Let her be free in doing the poses her way. Unless she is hurting herself, there is no need for correction. Your child learns easily by copying you, doing the poses to the best of her ability and the way it is appropriate for her development. Be encouraging, supportive and enthusiastic.  You will have lots of fun together!

It might be helpful to have a look at a few kids’ yoga books and videos beforehand, so that you have a variety of kid friendly yoga poses including a few partner poses up your sleeve.

Take a nap

Every great trip has to come to an end. When you’re ready to come back home, find the perfect spot to take a nap. Would it be underneath a tree? Or would you like to rest in the sand on the beach? Place an eye pillow over your eyes, and cover yourselves with a blanket. You may cuddle up with your child, or rest side by side. Play relaxation music or a track with nature sounds. Rest for a few minutes. When you are ready to come back, ring your bell again three times.

Namaste

Sit across from each other. Put your hands together in front of your heart. Explain the meaning of Namaste (The light in me sees the light in you) and talk about what it means to you.  Bow to each other and say “namaste”. Thank your child and express how much fun it was practicing yoga together. Set a date for your next yoga session

Sünje O’Clancy, MA, E-RYT, RCYT teaches yoga to students of all ages. She is the founder of Yoga Rascals, a children’s yoga company serving families in San Diego County, and director of Yoga Rascals' Children's yoga teacher training. She is the happy mother of two boys.

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Toddler Drop-Ins for Every Day of the Week

by Ashly Grzyb

The return of lower temps to the city means tiring out your toddler at your favorite playground is an increasingly less viable option. Fear not! We’ve assembled a killer list of drop-in classes and indoor play spaces that offer plenty of variety and require zero commitment. Plus, we’ve got one for literally every day of the week. Check it!

photo: City Treehouse

Monday and More

Splash Around Indoors at City Treehouse
Your active toddler can get wet at the gigantic water table at this nature-inspired indoor play space, or reach new heights climbing and sliding at the facility’s the two-story treehouse. You’ll also find a soft play studio for babies and younger siblings here. No membership is required;  guests pay by the hour.

Mon.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: $20/child each hour
129A W. 20th St.
Chelsea
212-255-2050
Online: citytreehouse.com

Speak a New Language with Bilingual Birdies
Jam with bilingual language instructors as they engage toddlers with live music, silly songs, fun puppetry and movement games in Spanish, French and Mandarin. Free drop-in classes are offered this fall at libraries around NYC.

Mon.-Fri., Times vary by location
Cost: Free
Available at a variety of locations in Bronx and Manhattan
646-443-1313
Online: bilingualbirdies.com

Explore Music, Cooking, Dance, Art and More at Kids at Work
Kids at Work offers a drop-in class every single day of the week! (Although you do have to register in advance for the individual class you’d like to take.) Jam Sessions feature a live guitarist leading storytime, movement and singing, while Cooking with Julie! gives your tot the chance to dig into messy ingredients and use fun cooking tools to make a delicious treat. Creation Station Dance is an intro to dance that also gives kids the chance to dress up in costumes, and Mess It Up promises sensory and educational arts and crafts.

Mon.-Sat., Times vary
Cost: $40/child
242 W. 27th St.
Suite 4A
Chelsea
212-488-8800
Online: kidsatworknyc.com

photo: Preschool of Rock / Jeff Zelevansky 

Rock Out with Preschool of Rock
Let your tot rock out in this high energy children’s music class filled with drumming, shaking, dancing, laughter and instrument discovery. Songs are performed live on guitar and drums while mini musicians participate in drum circles, beat-making, dramatic play and group singing. Requires advance registration.

Mon., Tues. & Fri., Times vary by location
Cost: $30/child
Park Slope, Dumbo & Fort Greene
732-205-1971
Online: preschoolofrock.com

Go to the Gym at Long Island City Kids
Let your toddlers work out their crazies at this fully-equipped gym’s open play sessions. Expect trampolines, a thick-knotted rope swing, an indoor climbing wall and plenty of matting and acrobatic equipment.

Mon. – Fri., Sun., Times vary
Cost: $12.50/child
5-02 50th Ave.
Long Island City
718-392-5437
Online: lickids.com

Make Art and Music at the Children’s Museum of the Arts
CMA and its WEE teaching artists pack music, stories and making stuff into one crazy creative class. This art-filled drop-in session will find your little one working with playdough, blocks, stamps, glue, paint, bongos and more. (Bonus: no mess to clean up afterwards!)

Mon., Wed., Thurs. & Fri., 10:45 a.m.-noon
Cost: $25/family, up to five people
103 Charlton St.
SoHo
212-274-0986
Online: cmany.org

Tuesday

Shake Your Booty with Dionne Kamara
Let your crazy toddler twist, shake and move it with Dionne Kamara’s dance class for two- to three-year-olds. Promote physical, social, emotional and cognitive development while introducing a love of music and dance. Check out Dionne’s other classes for tots under age two. These classes are first come, first served.

Tues., 4-5 p.m.
Cost: $25/class
Pearl Studios
500 8th Ave.
4th Flr.
Hell’s Kitchen
646-784-2643
Online: dionnekamaradance.com

Stretch at Breathe Bend Grow Yoga
Feel like junior could use a bit of centering? (Who doesn’t?) Let your little one try simple poses, songs, games and breathing exercises in this 45 minute class for walkers to three year-olds. A short quiet time at the end of the class closes things out on a relaxing and peaceful note. Namaste! Register for a single class in advance.

Tues., 5:10-5:55 p.m.
Cost: $40/child
Paradigm Kids
8 Liberty Pl.
5th Flr.
Financial District
973-417-7180
Online: breathebendgrow.com

photo: Creative Kitchen

Wednesday

Cook (and Eat) With Creative Kitchen
Calling all aspiring chefs — or just hungry kids! Cricket Azima and the Creative Kitchen team teach age-appropriate recipes that make perfect mid-day snacks! Little hands are kept busy creating healthful bites using fresh, wholesome ingredients. At the end of class, students get to eat the fruits (or veggies) or their labors. Register in advance.

Wed., 11 a.m.-noon
Cost: $25-40/child
Whole Foods Market
Kids Corner of 2nd Flr. Cafe
270 Greenwich St.
Tribeca
718-406-7506
Online: thecreativekitchen.com

Explore a New Culture at the National Museum of the Native American
The free (!) toddler music class at the National Museum of the Native American teaches kids about Taino culture through stories, song, movement and hands-on activities. Admission is first come, first served. (While you’re there, explore the museum — it’s free too!)

Wed., 10:15-11 a.m.
Cost: Free
One Bowling Green
Financial District
212-514-3758
Online: nmai.si.edu

Thursday

Listen to a Story at Strand Bookstore
Tired of the same old book? Bring your tots in for storytime at The Strand, one of the city’s biggest and most famous book stores, and let a staffer read from one of the store’s kid lit favorites. P.S.: Check The Strand’s website for visits from characters such as Curious George and Clifford the Big Red Dog, and introduce your tiny bookworm to his or her favorite literary pal in person!

Thurs., 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
828 Broadway
2nd Flr. in the Children’s Department
East Village
212-473-1452
Online:  strandbooks.com

Friday

Get Messy at Church Street School for Music and Art
Drop in to this open art studio for kids where your little Da Vinci can create paintings, collages and sculptures with paint, clay, cardboard, fabric, found objects and more! (And when the weekend comes around, stop by for Sing and Dance for Families on Saturday mornings.)

Fri., 3:30-5:30 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Cost: $15/child each hour
74 Warren St.
Tribeca
212-514-3758
Online: nmai.si.edu

Saturday

Go Nordic at Scandinavia House
If Ikea and Dansk had a love child, it would probably look a lot like the Heimbold Family Children’s Playing & Learning Center at Scandanavia House. A great weekend inclement weather option, this colorful and stylish indoor play space features a train table (with stops in assorted Nordic cities), a custom LEGO corner and an indoor climbing space. You’ll also find Scandinavian features like Moomin chairs, stuffed toys, a mushroom house and a well-stocked play kitchen. If all that play leaves you feeling hungry, the restaurant downstairs is happy to serve you Scandinavian fare such as Swedish meatballs, salmon and herring.

Sat., noon-5 p.m.
Cost: $15/child
Scandinavia House
58 Park Ave.
Murray Hill
212-779-3587
Online: scandinaviahouse.org

photo: Art Farm in the City

Sunday (and Saturday, too)

Spend the Morning at Art Farm in the City
Where else in New York City can you begin your day on the farm? With a basket full of hay and goodies, your little farmer can spend the morning feeding and snuggling animals like rabbits, chinchillas and turtles at an indoor farm on the Upper East Side. Other drop-in options at the Art Farm include Fun Fridays on the Farm for tots ages 18 months and up, and Farm Foodies Cooking Class on Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings for kids ages two to eight.

Sat. & Sun., 8-10 a.m.
Cost: $15/child; $5/adult
419 E. 91st St.
Yorkville
212-410-3117
Online: theartfarms.org

What are your favorite toddler drop-in classes this fall? Share in the comments below.

—Ashly Grzyb

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