How to Cater to Different Learning Styles in Kids Yoga Classes (Interview)
Making Yoga Fun for Kids with Different Learning Styles
How do we nurture children’s diverse learning styles in our kids yoga classes?
To find out more, I chatted with my friend and colleague, expert kids yoga teacher Rachel Glowacki of Move With Me Books, about why it’s important to understand how kids learn differently and how yoga can help. We talk about the significance of embracing diversity in learning styles and incorporating literature, movement, and meditation into children’s yoga sessions.
Understanding Different Learning Styles
Rachel tells us why it’s important to know that children learn in different ways, as referenced by the Theory of Multiple Intelligences by Howard Gardner. She talks about her own journey as a neurodivergent learner and how yoga helped her in many parts of her life. Rachel says it’s crucial for kids yoga teachers to not just teach solely from their dominant learning style, but also embrace a holistic approach that includes auditory, kinesthetic, visual, musical, verbal, and logical-mathematical learning styles.
Benefits of Embracing Different Learning Styles
In the interview below, we talk about how including different ways of learning helps all children. When teachers understand and use different styles, it makes learning more inclusive, enriching, and engaging. Rachel emphasizes how this approach allows individuals to absorb information more effectively and engage with the learning process on a deeper level. When teachers offer choices, children feel empowered, respected, and motivated to learn, which leads to a positive and supportive learning environment.
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Practical Tips for Catering to Different Learning Styles in Kids Yoga
Rachel shares some practical tips she uses in her kids yoga classes to accommodate different multiple intelligences. She incorporates calming or sound bowl music at the start of each session to set a calming and rhythmic tone, catering to the needs of auditory learners. She also provides children with the freedom to color, doodle, or write upon entering the class, acknowledging the kinesthetic learners’ need for hands-on engagement.
Rachel also emphasizes the importance of giving students options, empowering them to choose how they want to participate in the class—whether it’s through movement, drawing, or observing—respecting their individual learning preferences.
Storytelling and Connection as a Powerful Learning Tool
We then talk about storytelling as a great way to connect with children and cater to diverse learning styles. Rachel shares a story from her fifth-grade class where students could choose to be artists, writers, or observers during a guided meditation. It turned out to be a fantastic collaboration that showed how different ways of learning can work together.
Incorporating Props and Books in Kids Yoga
Next, we talk about using props (like glitter jars and chimes) and yoga stories to make yoga even more enriching, educational, and active. Rachel (https://www.movewithmebooks.com/) loves using chakra cards, mindfulness books, and children’s books in their classes. It’s all about making kids yoga a relevant and interactive experience.
By catering to multiple intelligences through mindful movement, breath, literacy, and music, we can capture the attention of children and foster a lifelong love for the ancient wisdom of yoga. Making yoga enjoyable for all kinds of learners not only makes learning more relevant and meaningful but also creates a place where every child feels important and happy, promoting a love for learning and overall well-being.
Watch “How to Cater to Different Learning Styles in Kids Yoga” Interview here:
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