To be honest, writing a Pirate Yoga sequence was not on my radar when I’ve been putting together kids yoga ideas. My daughter is more into mermaids, fairies, and princesses. Then, last summer, she was invited to a pirate-themed play date where a small group of children:
- Made pirate cupcakes by adding blue sprinkles to the white icing to create “waves”
- Took turns swinging at a pirate piñata full of chocolate gold coins, glow sticks, and shiny bracelets
- Created an “ocean in a bottle” craft
- Made pirate costumes, including a vest, eye mask, belt, mustache, and hat
- Built a pirate ship with large black blocks and red flags.
And then when we were on holidays in the northeast coast of the States, the local bookstores had big displays of “pirate books.” So, my daughter and I embraced the idea of pirates and took out a bunch of library books to learn more about their mysterious life on the water.
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Not-Scary Pirate Books for Kids
I was surprised to find such an enormous collection of pirate books in our local library district. My daughter and I read them all together and found many of them scary, ridiculous, and gross! But here are five of our favorite non-scary pirate books:
On A Pirate Ship
by Sarah Courtauld and Benji Davies
This fun story follows a boy who imagines what it would be like to live on a pirate ship. The cute illustrations are perfect for young children.
Pirates of the Sea
by Brandon Dorman
This graphically appealing book introduces life on a pirate ship. The best feature of this book is the rhyming pirate language. The text takes you away to their world.
Port Side Pirates
by Debbie Harter and Oscar Seaworthy
This book for very young children is best experienced by playing the pirate song CD that comes along with it. Barefoot Books does a great job of introducing the life of a pirate while incorporating art and music.
There Was an Old Pirate Who Swallowed a Fish
by Jennifer Ward and Steve Gray
This story is a fun, pirate-themed version of the popular “There was a lady who swallowed a fly.” It would be an easy base upon which to create a yoga experience with matching yoga poses (ex. fish, bird, plank, and ship).
Pirate Boy
by Eve Bunting and Julie Fortenberry
A boy asks his mom what would happen if he wanted to sail away in a pirate ship. His mother says she would come to his rescue no matter because she loves him. This is a sweet way to learn about pirates through the endearing perspective of a parent-child’s relationship.
Other pirate books you might like:
Usborne 1001 Pirate Things to Spot
by Rod Lloyd Jones and Teri Gower
This search-and-find pirate book is part of a brilliant series of Usborne books with awesome illustrations. Looking through the book is a great way to brainstorm for other pirate yoga pose ideas.
The Pirate and the Penguin
by Patricia Storms
This sweet story follows a penguin who practices yoga with his friends and a pirate who wants to find his inner peace. It turns out that both the penguin and pirate would each prefer to live the other’s life, so they make a switch.
A Year on a Pirate Ship
by Elizabeth Havercroft
Another search-and-find book part of “A Year” series, which children can look through pages to learn about a pirate’s life throughout the year.
No Bath, No Cake! Polly’s Pirate Party
by Matthias Weinert
This pirate book came recommended by my local librarian. Polly invites a group of pirates to her birthday, but is then shocked when they show up all cleaned up. She wants them with dirty feet, filthy clothes, and shaggy hair. It’s a cute read.
5 Pirate Yoga Poses for Kids
After reading the pirate books, make a list of pirate keywords. Then check out our list of yoga poses for kids for ideas on creating yoga poses matching the pirate keywords —or simply follow this pirate yoga sequence below. These yoga poses are specifically sequenced to invite flow from one pose to the next:
1. Mountain Pose – Pretend to be a pirate with a hook arm steering the ship.
Stand tall with your legs hip-width apart and feet facing forward. Take your hands in front of you as if you’re steering a ship like a pirate.
2. Plank Pose – Pretend to be the plank on the pirate ship.
From Mountain Pose, bend forward, and then step back to balance on your palms and on your bent toes in a plank position. Keep your arms straight and your back long and flat. Pretend to be a plank off the side of a pirate ship.
3. Hero Pose – Pretend to be a mermaid sitting on a nearby rock.
Come to rest upright on your heels with your palms resting on your knees. Pretend to be a mermaid watching the pirate ship from a nearby rock.
4. Boat Pose – Pretend to be a pirate ship rocking in the rough seas.
Balance on your buttocks with your arms and legs straight out in front of you in a V shape. Keep a straight spine and open chest. Then pretend to rock in the water like a pirate ship.
5. Reverse Table Top Pose – Pretend to be a treasure chest full of gold coins.
Come to sitting with your palms flat behind you and the soles of your feet flat in front of you. Lift your buttocks to create a table, and pretend to be a treasure chest full of gold coins discovered by the pirates.
What other pirate moves did you come up with?
What did you learn about the pirate life? Tell us in the comments below!
PIN IT FOR LATER
Check Out Our Pirate Yoga Cards for Kids
Ahoy, Me Hearties! Bring yoga and movement to your little buccaneers with these pirate-inspired yoga cards for kids.
Sail the seas searching for treasure or lost land while having your children pretend to be a pirate captain, a crocodile, and a mermaid.
Download these 53 digital yoga cards to learn through movement in your home, classroom, or studio.
Includes an Index Card, Yoga Tips, Pose Instructions, 20 Yoga Pose Cards, and 20 matching pirate cards. The multicultural yoga kids are from seven countries. Ages 3+.
Other Pirate Links
List of Pirate books, by Usborne Books
How to make a DIY pirate ship, by Red Ted Art
Pirate birthday party, by The Imagination Tree
Pirate-themed yoga lesson plan, by OMazing Kids
Pirate pack, by 3 Dinosaurs
Non-scary pirate books and movies for kids, by Edventures with Kids
10 Pirate books for kids, by Fun-A-Day
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