Winter Animal Yoga and Activities for Kids
The weather is getting cooler, days are shorter and nights are long. The animals are preparing for winter, are you?
Hibernation is what some animals do during the winter months to survive the cold temperatures and decreased food supply. They enter a period of deep sleep/unconsciousness in a safe and cozy winter home, dropping their body temperature and barely breathing. Here are a few facts about animals that hibernate:
Animals that hibernate are called true hibernators. Bats, hedgehogs, ground squirrels and marmots are examples of true hibernators.
Hibernators like warm, dark, quiet places to sleep deeply in the winter. Caves, underground, in logs, or in the grass are a few examples.
Animals that hibernate eat a lot during the fall, or hide food in places, to store up for the winter months when they aren’t very active.
Squirrels don’t hibernate, they are too lean. They sleep for 20 hours a day then snack on the stores of food they hid during the summer.
Bears spend most of the winter fast asleep and barely drooping their body temperature. This allows them to wake up if disturbed.
Bumblebees die out in the winter leaving the queen bee to hibernate in the ground.
Learn more fascinating facts about animals that hibernate here.
Here are 5 Winter Animal Yoga activities
Downward Facing Dog Pose - this pose stretches and strengthens the whole body. It is also an inversion, putting the heart higher than the head and increasing blood flow to the brain. Inversions also calm the nervous system to promote better rest and relaxation.
Begin in Table Pose, hands and knees.
Curl the toes under and press in to hands and feet
Straighten arms and legs
Lift the hips up to the sky and back
Take 3-5 long slow breaths
Option: Bark like a dog!
Option: Wag your tail!
Rest in child’s pose or on your back.
Winter Animal Memory Game
Memory Game - This game needs 2 or more people to play. It is a way to sharpen focus and attention skills on random objects and strengthen working memory. It is also fun to use different types of animal miniatures. Most of these little creatures pictured are hibernating animals.
Gather 8-12 small objects from around the house.
Place the objects under a scarf or small towel
Mix them up
Younger person goes first to choose to be the Guesser or Chooser
The Guesser closes their eyes
The Chooser takes an object from under the scarf and hides it
The Guesser takes the scarf off and tries to guess which one is missing.
Switch roles and go again
Increase the difficulty by adding more objects
Little Bear Breathing - when bears hibernate, their breathing slows down, but they can wake if needed. Try breathing like a bear with Little Bear Breathing practice, slowing down your breath and relaxing the body.
Bear Breathing – Sit like a little bear on your heals and take 3-4 quick breaths in through the nose like you are smelling the air. Then let it out of your mouth with a sigh, “Ah…” Repeat a few times in a row. Pretend to be a little bear preparing for a long deep sleep in the winter time.
Little Bear’s Quiet Time - a relaxation practice is about slowing down and being very still. Allow Ms. Brandon’s gentle voice to guide your child through a relaxation prepares the body for rest.
Winter Animal Books - The Mitten, by Jan Brett is one of my favorite winter animal books. All the winter animals try to get cozy and comfy together in one little mitten. What will happen next?
Other winter animal books:
Animals in Winter (Lets Read and Find Out about Science by Henrietta Bancroft & Richard G. Van Gelder
Over and Under the Snow, by Kate Messner
Winter Survival: Animal Hibernation, Migration, and Adaptation by L.R. Hanson
More Winter Animal Yoga &
Relaxation - Relaxation and meditation are two ways to prepare for winter. Pretend to be an animal in hibernation mode as you find an animal friend to snuggle up with for long cold winter nights.
Are you ready for winter?
Animals prepare to slow down and take rest during the short days and cold nights of the winter months. How can we be more like the hibernating animals? Staying in doors when it’s too cold to play outside can be tough. Reading books, playing games, practicing yoga and taking time to rest are a few ways we can be like the winter animals this season. However, nothing takes the place of bundling up and getting outside for some fresh air. Discover your own wintertime activities and enjoy the season!
Ms. Brandon, RCYT, RYT500, holds a Master's degree in Special Education from Western Carolina University, is a highly qualified educator, and has 20 years' experience working with children and children with special needs. Information for the kids yoga blog come from Ms. Brandon’s 95 hour Children’s Yoga Teacher Training RCYS, and is approved by Yoga Alliance.
