5 Hibernating Animals Yoga Poses for Kids: Use Movement to Learn about Animals that Hibernate in Winter
Today, we’re learning about the fascinating world of hibernating animals. Some animals take a long nap during the cold winter months. But how do they do it?
Through playful yoga poses for kids, we’ll explore the ways animals like bats, bears, and raccoons prepare for their winter slumber. Imagine pretending to be a bat, wrapping your wings around yourself like a snug blanket. Or being a bear, stretching out your paws and getting ready for a long, restful sleep.
As we move through these fun yoga poses for kids, we’ll discover the secrets of hibernation and why it’s essential for these hibernating animals to recharge their energy. Gather your little yogis and go on an adventure where we stretch and learn together!
5 HIBERNATING ANIMALS YOGA POSES FOR KIDS
1-Pretend to be a bat.
How to practice Standing Forward Bend: Stand tall with legs hip-width apart, toes pointing forward, and straighten your arms alongside your body. Bend your upper body and reach for your toes. Pretend to be a bat.
2-Pretend to be a bear.
How to practice Downward-Facing Dog Pose: From all fours, lift your knees to an upside-down V shape, with your buttocks up in the air. Ensure that your palms are flat on the ground and that your spine and legs are straight. Press your heels toward the ground and look back through your legs. Pretend to be a bear.
3-Pretend to be a raccoon.
How to practice Cow Pose: On all fours, look up, arch your back, and open your chest. Pretend to be a raccoon.
4-Pretend to be a snake.
How to practice Cobra Pose: Lie on your tummy and place your palms flat next to your shoulders. Pressing into your hands, lift your head and shoulders off ground. Pretend to be a snake.
5-Pretend to be a ladybug.
How to practice Child’s Pose: Siting on your heels, slowly bring your forehead down to rest on the floor in front of your knees. Rest your arms down alongside your body and take a few deep breaths. Pretend to be a ladybug.
GET 3 YOGA POSTERS HERE
5 HIBERNATING ANIMALS BOOK FOR KIDS
Enhance your yoga experience with these fun hibernating animals picture books!
Bear Snores On
by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
This was one of our favorite books when my daughter was young. In fact, we loved all of Karma Wilson’s books. Her rhyming text and Jane Chapman’s gorgeous illustrations make for a real treat. Read how bear’s little friends wake him up during his long winter sleep.
The Snowy Nap
by Jan Brett
Another iconic author, Jan Brett always creates books that are intricately illustrated and timeless. As Hedgie gets ready for his long winter nap, his non-hibernating animal friends tell him all about what he’ll miss while he’s asleep.
Hibernation Station
by Michelle Meadows and Kurt Cyrus
This is a fun, rhyming story for our youngest yogis as the hibernating animals all gather together in a trunk of the tree that becomes an imaginary hibernation train, driven by train master bear. It ends with all the animals curled up together fast asleep.
Sleep, Black Bear, Sleep
by Jane Yolen, Heidi E. Y. Stemple, and Brooke Dyer
Each page of this lovely bedtime book has a lullaby for each of the hibernating animals, which you can act out through matching yoga poses as you go along. The last page has a little girl tucked in bed, so you could end your session with everyone in Resting Pose, pretending to be in bed.
Don’t Wake Up the Bear!
by Marjorie Dennis Murray and Patricia Wittmann
As the bear sleeps in his cave, each of the animals takes a turn coming to snuggle up with the bear. Act out each animal through yoga poses as you read along with the repeating text. The animals are scared to wake the bear, and when he does wake up, what he does surprises them all.
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