Children’s yoga shapes calm and mindful early learners, and it keeps bodies and minds healthy. At Petit Early Learning Journey our centres encourage participation in children’s yoga incursions and child-led activities.

Yoga classes and exercises benefit people of all ages and different levels of physical fitness. As well as stretching, strengthening and relaxing muscles, yoga improves mindfulness of movement, mood and thoughts.

To try yoga, you need comfy clothes and an inspiring instructor. Some classes have extra mats for beginners. If your child aspires to live a yoga-enriched life, you can encourage their journey with a treasure pack of useful yoga gear.

Create own child yoga starter kit with our list of must-have yoga essentials, including:

  1. A mat, sized to fit your child
  2. A blanket for relaxation
  3. A towel for when yoga gets hot and sweaty
  4. Comfy clothes designed to stretch and move
  5. Children’s yoga classes (especially for beginners)
  6. Blocks to support deeper poses
  7. Balls to promote good posture and smooth movement
  8. An early reader yoga book to encourage participation
  9. Music to promote mindful movement
  10. A barrel bag for holding the mat and other essentials.

Mum sits on a yoga mat with daughter and inspires children's yoga.

1. Kids’ yoga mats

When it comes to yoga mats, children will want their own. Kids’ yoga mats come in different sizes and a correctly sized yoga mat creates boundaries. It helps your child feel safer and has other benefits too.

A kid’s yoga mat is lighter in weight making it easier to carry. And children love to hold their own yoga mat. Depending on the size of the mat, you might be able to fit it into a stroller bag or backpack. Besides the different sizes, colours and patterns, you can also get mats with:

  • A non-slip surface on one side
  • Environmentally friendly material
  • Extra cushioning

While children’s limbs are more supple than adults, a suitable mat still protects them from falls, slips, cold floors and carpet burn. With their own mat, your child has a fun yoga experience, and it will make them feel all grown up like mum and dad.

2. A warm blanket for Savasana

A folded yoga blanket provides support for different poses. Your child will enjoy the added warmth during Savasana, a traditional pose used for relaxation at the end of yoga classes.

Yoga class ends with Savasana using yoga mats

3. A towel in case your child gets sweaty

A towel is useful for hot yoga. During the class, it provides protection for the yoga mat and afterwards it helps little yogis cool down.

4. Comfy kids yoga clothes

What you wear to yoga can make an enormous difference in how you move. Just like mum and dad, children also need to wear gear that is comfy and loose fitting. Your kid’s yoga clothes need to stretch and move. We recommend:

  • Either a pair of long shorts, loose fitted leggings or pants
  • Baggy style t-shirt (tucked in if so desired)

For a gentle class dress warm, for a rigorous class wear clothes that breathe. Unlike many sports, yoga doesn’t require expensive shoes or tailored sports clothing. But, if trendy yoga clothing is your child’s thing, ensure comfort and modesty are added to the mix.

For young children, doing yoga in their comfy pyjamas or a onesie is sure to be a winner. It’s also a calming way to start the morning or end the day.

The most important thing you need for yoga isn’t clothes, but the desire to do it. With slow, smooth movements, poised poses and calm, relaxed breathing, little yogi’s learn self-discipline. Yoga has a positive influence on absent-minded and hyperactive children.

Mum and daughter sit back to back and wear a matching shirt and leggings. Kids yoga clothes should be comfy.

5. Kids yoga classes

Going to a yoga class has many advantages over teaching yourself yoga with a YouTube video. A yoga instructor can guide you and your child through a set of beginners yoga movements. Instructors don’t just do it with you, they’re there to correct your technique too.

Kids’ yoga classes often combine other forms of movement such as circus arts, acrobatics, dance and drama. Classes enhance a child’s awareness and engage children in a fun program they can use to reduce stress and develop a child’s resilience.

Recently, Petit Early Learning Journey Richmond invited Mini Monstars to share their children’s yoga program. All our daycare centres encourage incursions that promote health and physical movement. And we welcome parents and family involvement too.

Are you interested in yoga too? One of the easiest ways to engage your child in yoga-inspired physical movement is to practice it yourself. If you’re new to yoga, an important first step is to join a yoga class where an instructor can guide you through the movements and breathing.

There are over 35 different types of yoga classes to try. Popular yoga classes include:

  • Hatha Yoga – grounded in slow movements and breathing
  • Vinyasa Flow – where breath is linked to movement, it’s often accompanied by music
  • Kundalini Yoga – combines spiritual meditation with the physical aspect
  • Bikram Yoga – a hot, sweaty yoga that repeats a series of 26 poses
  • Prenatal Yoga – designed for expecting parents to promote motion and reduce pain
  • Mum and baby classes – where mums can interact with their babies when needed

Young girl moves with an instructor during Petit Early Learning Journey Richmond’s incursion. Activities include kids' yoga classes

6. Blocks for serious young yogi’s

Children’s yoga blocks provide additional support for young yogi’s. Under the supervision of an experienced instructor, blocks can challenge children’s balance and help them move into deeper poses.

7. Add a yoga ball to encourage a better balance

Like kids yoga mats, balls also come in different sizes. Choose a ball that fits your pint-sized yogi. Besides challenging your child’s balance balls can be used to support proper posture.

Both yoga balls and blocks should only be used with guidance from an experienced instructor.

8. Kids’ yoga books promote mindful reading

Reading time is full of fun learning! Kids’ yoga books show children the various yoga poses and help them learn their names. More advanced books develop the budding yogi’s confidence and provide children with an insight into what to expect in a yoga class for kids.

Reading a book with your child is a fun way for both of you to learn more about yoga. These children’s yoga books have colourful drawings and come highly recommended:

  1. Mia’s Mountain Hike: A Forest Yoga Book for Kids by Giselle Shardlow
  2. I am Yoga by Susan Verde
  3. Good Morning Yoga: A Pose-by-Pose Wake Up Story By Mariam Gates and Sarah Jane Hinder

Child reads a book at Petit Early Learning Journey Forest Hill’s centre. Kids yoga books build confidence

9. Yoga music for children

Your child will enjoy doing yoga with music. Adding music creates wonder, rhythm and mood to the yoga session. It promotes mindful movement and provides ample inspiration for calm breathing and meditation.

10. A yoga mat bag

A yoga mat bag or barrel bag is useful for storing your child’s mat and other essentials from your children’s yoga starter kit.

Petit ELJ Forest Hill children enjoy outdoor play and physical fitness incursions that inspire a child’s mindfulness.

Enhance Your Child’s Mindfulness with Petit Early Learning Journey

At Petit ELJ, our learning curriculum aims to enhance your child’s emotional and development competencies. Throughout the year, our centres engage in various incursions including yoga-inspired programs and activities.

Our programs are child focused and initiated with a strong emphasis on play-based learning. To discover why parents love Petit ELJ, come visit your nearest centre and gift your child with the love of learning.

Book your tour now.