Educators you must be a model of implementing different yoga poses as an important element in what is appropriate guidance to calm down and not to hurt self-and/or others in the classroom. African American preschoolers are using their guidance lens of how teachers respond to various emotions such as frustration, aggression, anger then see how educators resolve the problem. Again, teachers are assisting African American preschoolers learn how to recognize their own emotions, feelings and teachers expand their strategies we all experience this/ however, yoga is one way to express themselves appropriately. African American preschoolers can detect when their bodily responses are ready to explode, they should be taught how to self-remove themselves as part of yoga strategies indicate they are building positive ways to their impulse control to restore a measure of calmness to proceed with the daily scheduled activities.
African American preschoolers may
be looked upon as having a high degree of energy, short attention span and
easily distracted who challenge teacher’s skill set to guide them towards
appropriate behaviors instead of requesting they are suspended or expelled from
program. As teachers continue to see the uniqueness in their African
American preschoolers as one technique to influence appropriate behavior
outcome is yoga. For African American preschoolers calming themselves is part of
self-regulation. Self-regulation refers to controlling impulses,
tolerating frustrations, and postponing immediate gratification (Marion,
2003). Yes, impulse control is to stop and think through a problem
rather than doing the action which first comes to mind.
At circle time have a deck of yoga
pose cards where either the early childhood educator has researched or checkout
Kids Yoga Stories Learn, Be Active and Have fun at https://www.kidsyogastories.com/ for African American
preschoolers to select one as a routine. Then early childhood educators
can place and/or display different yoga poses in calm/cozy areas or throughout
the classroom and school building so as African American students need to
incorporate yoga pose reminders at eye level to regroup their emotions then to
regain entry to circle and/or large group times along with throughout the day.
Yoga is a way to help children,
educators and non-education staff to self-regulate back to a calm state.
Keep in mind when African American preschoolers have trouble with
self-regulation some of the behaviors may be disruptive, unsafe for themselves
or others in the surrounding space. Therefore, various yoga poses will
help African American preschoolers reset to manage their own emotions and
behavior outcome to regain behavior of self and classroom at-large (go to https://childhood101.com/yoga-ideas-for-kids/ to print free yoga
posters.
Chair Yoga
Educators, if you are pondering
how to incorporate space to introduce chair yoga with all students and
particularly African American preschoolers. Yes, chair yoga is the
techniques to incorporate movement, breathing, mindfulness and relaxation to become
re-centered for appropriate emotional-social behaviors. Dissertation
research conducted by Dr. Ilana Nankins has created Breathe For Change to
empower educators through various techniques of chair yoga. The
YouTube clip, “Chair yoga for slowing down – 10 minute kids yoga ed – ages
3-12” (https://youtu.be/Pbhr0TMmg91) to
assist in multiple ways to incorporate in chair yoga.
Yoga books
The reading and displaying yoga
books not only in the reading center but throughout the learning
environment. Also, pictures of yoga poses can be displayed
throughout as well reminding African American preschoolers when they feel, or
body give signs they are ready to lose control they can select a yoga pose to
start so to regain control of the situation. Here are some books
that can be rotated throughout the school year related to yoga are as
following:
1.
Good Morning Yoga by Mariam Gates
2.
Emily’s Day in the Desert by Gisselle Shardlow
3.
Yoga and Mindfulness by Jennifer Cohen Harper
4.
Yoga Bear Simple Poses for Little Ones by Sarah Jane Hinder
5.
Yoga for Children by Lisa Flynn
6.
1 2 3 African Safari by Gisselle Shardlow
Conclusion
The overall process of yoga
processes to be instructed with African American preschooler’s guidance
strategies whether yoga poses in large group, small group or individual,
discipline methods to stay in control of their actions behaving within the
guidelines of the learning environment and culturally appropriate strategies
that effect self-esteem and problem solving towards resolution.
References
Breathe for change. Retrieved from https://www.breatheforchange.com/about
Chair yoga for slowing
down – 10 minute kids yoga ed – ages 3 -12 at https://youtu.be/Pbhr0TMmg91.
https://childhood101.com/yoga-ideas-for-kids/
https://www.kidsyogastories.com/
Marion,
M. (2003). Guidance of young children (6th ed.). Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall.
