Yoga is Boring
Written by A. Simon - September 2019
Copyright - Minnesota Kid’s Yoga Co.
Have you ever heard a child say, “I don’t want to do that, its boring.”?…
As a previous kindergarten teacher, I would hear kids say, “I’m bored” often. Usually it happened when they were playing with friends at “free-choice time.” Why would kids get bored doing an activity that was “a free choice” AND an activity that involved "playing with toys any way they wanted to?” My answer — they haven’t learned how to create!
With the digital world slowly taking over our children’s lives, more emphasis is put on doing things that are entertaining and effortless (ex. playing a game on an iPad); and less emphasis is put on having kids sit on the floor, play with a few blocks, and explore ways to build new things! Kids are losing the valuable lessons of imagining and problem solving! So… the next questions I have for you are these — Question #1 - How can our digital world affect kids socially and emotionally? — Question #2- How can less creativity as kids affect children as adults? Read below to find the answers...
Answer to Question #1 - I’m Bored
Kids are increasingly “bored” in today’s world, which is shocking because there is SO MUCH FOR THEM TO DO! Kids are becoming accustomed to needing constant attention, constant excitement, and habitual “new” things to do or play with. If a child gets bored of a new toy, many parents/teachers buy a new toy that’s more exciting! The problem with new toys — you are teaching kids to need more, and become less creative! The University of Berkley reported that:
“Many researchers believe we have fundamentally changed the experience of childhood in such a way that impairs creative development. Toy and entertainment companies feed kids an endless stream of prefab characters, images, props and plot-lines that allow children to put their imaginations to rest. Children no longer need to imagine a stick is a sword in a game or story they've imagined.”
Rather than buy a new toy, give kids a cardboard box. Tell them to make a rocket-ship or a tower. Give them blocks, and tell them to create a bridge that can hold their 3 favorite dolls/toy-trucks. Give kids some tape and paper, let them sit in a quiet space, and see what they can brainstorm or design on their own! Kids crave opportunities to show their knowledge, but sometimes need a little encouragement. Often, kids just need an adult to help them see a new way of thinking!
Answer to Question #2 - I Need a Degree to be Successful
More and more kids are getting college degrees, and less are getting trade jobs. A recent article posted by the Society of Human Resource Management stated:
“Everyone is sending their kid down the same tunnel, but when they get out of college, there are thousands of them competing for few [professional] jobs.” Often, kids come out of school with high debt and find only low-paying jobs. Katie Bardaro is lead economist and vice president of data analytics at PayScale. She says it’s no longer the case that a college degree will lead to a well-paying job with good career growth opportunities. “A number of people are likely making the wrong choice of attending a traditional four-year school versus a trade school program,” she says. “
I am not saying that if your child doesn’t play creatively as a kid, they can’t be successful as adults — but I am saying that when kids are exposed to all-types of play, they learn to enjoy a wide variety of things. The more things kids explore, the more willing they are to explore a vast array of career choices later on!
So……. what does all of the information above have to do with kids yoga?
My answer….HAVE KIDS EXPLORE NEW THINGS!
Yoga is often looked at as boring, slow, and unexciting. When kids think of yoga, they picture people sitting or laying on a mat, eyes-closed, and not moving. However, when they actually learn more about it, they find its actually really fun!
Effective kid’s yoga teachers don’t just teach poses to children, they make yoga a sport! In other words, they incorporate themed-games, stories, dances, songs, and partner challenges. They create tasks that test kids’ balance, strength, and creativity! Kids yoga is a mix of ballet, dance, gymnastics, and martial arts! It is SO EXCITING, and far from slow or boring!
Therefore, as a conclusion to this blog post. I want to leave you as a teacher/parent with three tips:
Have your child attend a few kids yoga classes with a trained kids yoga teacher.
Encourage your child to have an open-mind when trying something new.
Tell your child that yoga doesn’t have to be boring — and it’s something they can do anywhere they want (ex. at home, school, in a park, at the pool, etc.).
When your child explores new things, they build creativity. PBS reported in their article, The Whole Child that:
“Creativity is the freest form of self-expression. There is nothing more satisfying and fulfilling for children than to be able to express themselves openly and without judgment. The ability to be creative, to create something from personal feelings and experiences, can reflect and nurture children's emotional health. The experiences children have during their first years of life can significantly enhance the development of their creativity.”
Get your child to be creative through yoga today!