Sharing a recent storytime plan centered on seasonal mindfulness! Although these storytimes may include yoga elements, I am not a certified yoga instructor and am very careful not to call them yoga storytimes.
Sing: We Stretch and Sing Hello
Tune: The Farmer in the Dell
We stretch and sing hello.
We stretch and sing hello.
With our friends at storytime,
We stretch and sing hello!Repeat: bend, twist
Welcome/Introduction
I introduced myself, welcomed families to Mindfulness Storytime and encouraged them to find a yoga mat and take off their shoes.
Sing: Stop and Go by Kira Willey
Lit Tip: Cognitive Benefits of Mindfulness
Mindfulness means being fully present – paying attention with your whole body and not thinking about anything else in that moment. Research shows that mindfulness reduces stress, increases attention span and builds emotional regulation skills – all important to school and lifelong success!
Breathe: Hot Chocolate Breaths
“And speaking of being present in the moment… what’s happening outside right now? IT’S SNOWING!” We talked about some of our favorite things to do in winter – like drinking hot chocolate!
Read: Breathe Like a Bear by Kira Willey
“What do bears do in winter? Do they drink hot chocolate? NO! That’s silly. Bears hibernate!”
Pose: Bear (Downward Facing Dog); Turtle (Baddha Konasana); Frog (Ardha Bhekasana); Snake (Salabhasana)
“Who else hibernates?”
We held each pose while I sang the song below. After waking up, we snapped, hopped and slithered about!
Sing: Sleeping Bears
Tune: Sleeping Bunnies
See the little bears sleeping through the winter days.
They will wake up when it’s spring and then they’ll want to play!
Spring is near… almost here…
Wake up, bears!
Breathe: Be a Bumblebee
Another excellent breathing exercise from Kira Willey!
Read: Best in Snow by April Pulley Sayre
What a great book to read as the snow fell outside!
Sing: Snowflakes, Snowflakes (scarves)
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Snowflakes, snowflakes, in the air
Dancing here and dancing there!
Snowflakes spinning round and round,
Slowly falling to the ground…
Snowflakes, snowflakes, in the air
Dancing here and dancing there!
Dance: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies (scarves)
I turned this into a stop and go song by periodically pausing the music! So fun.
Breathing Buddies: When You Sleep by Kira Willey
We lay down and put our breathing buddies on our bellies. I encouraged the kids to cuddle under their scarves and watch their breathing buddy rise and fall as they breathed in and out.
Sing: We Stretch and Sing Goodbye
Tune: The Farmer in the Dell
We stretch and sing goodbye.
We stretch and sing goodbye.
With our friends at storytime,
We stretch and sing goodbye!Repeat: bend, twist
How do you incorporate mindfulness into your storytimes and youth programs? Would love to learn more in the comments below!
Storytime in the Stacks 