FREE Downloadable: Yoga Dice
As Educators, we are always seeking ways to multi-purpose an activity AND see how we can extend upon it. Download our YOGA DICE and let’s use it as an example, to explore the kind of learning that takes place during an activity from an Educator’s and child’s point of view and how we might explore ways to take the learning in different directions.
The crafty part
Making decisions about the tools and resources we need to make the dice
Deciding who does what
Practicing cutting skills
Strengthening fine motor muscles
Developing hand-eye coordination
Honing Bi-lateral coordination (doing different things with each hand!)
Coping with frustration (getting those tabs to stick can be tricky...)
The Game
Problem-solving: The art of deciding who goes first
Patience: Waiting for your turn
Persistence: Trying to get into the right position
Self regulation: Coping with frustration when at first you don’t succeed
Movement: Promoting physical activity
Breathing and mindfulness
Numeracy: Counting - number of sides on the dice, number of players, are they are standing on one leg or two? etc
Language development: Using descriptive language to describe what they see
Collaboration and creativity: Deciding on new moves
Some Extension Activities...
Create: Make up your own positions, draw them or take a photo. Using our dice template, stick your own pictures onto the dice!
Predict: Ask your child to ‘predict’ what image they will roll next. How many rolls does it take before they roll their position?
Games: Photocopy the page a few times. Cut out the individual Yoga squares. Lay them face up on a table/floor. Roll your Yoga dice. Match the dice to one of the squares. Whoever grabs the most pictures wins!
If you have enjoyed playing with our Yoga Dice, you might like to purchase our Bushland Flora: A Guide to Mindfulness, which is filled with tried and tested activities for children and adults to enjoy.
Helen Lewis is an Early Childhood Educator and co-Founder of Rainbow Hopping Bug and Future Fit Families. Both enterprises strive to prepare children for the big wide world.