Body & movement
Sleepy yoga
- Builds: Stretching and balance
- 10 min
- Ages 2–5
- Calm
- No mess
From the house
- A rug or bed
How to play
- Cat and cow: on hands and knees, round your back like a cat, then dip it and say “moo”.
- Butterfly: sit with your feet together and flap your knees.
- Child’s pose: knees down, forehead on the floor, arms forward. Rest.
- Star: lie on your back, arms and legs wide, and breathe.
Fit it to your child
- Easier: Pick two poses, cat and star, and do them side by side so they can copy you.
- Harder: Add tree pose: stand on one foot with the other foot resting on the ankle or calf (not the knee), and count five slow breaths.
Words to use
- stretch
- slow
- breathe
- rest
Why it helps
Holding slow stretches builds flexibility and balance, and calms their body as bedtime gets close.