Yoga is an excellent system for promoting healthy development. It is a preventive medicine as it facilitates the overall wellness and health. Yoga is a form of exercise, meditation, and breathing practices from Indian roots to bring harmony to the mind, body and soul.
It is always advisable to start yoga in childhood as young bodies and minds are prone to learning new things easily and quickly. With the help of Yoga, they can become more coordinated and flexible. Yoga is safe foe every one but for children it should be done under supervision or by qualifies yoga trainer.
The benefits of yoga can be defined in 3 major areas.
Physical Benefits
Yoga helps in developing the flexibility and strength. Regular yoga poses train the child for coordination, agility, stamina and focus. There are many poses in yoga and they have different role. It helps in developing strong, flexible and healthy bodies where a healthy mind resides. Yoga improves the digestion and circulatory system. It helps in elongation of spine which assist in having good posture and better concentration. Healthier and physical strong body has better immune system which helps the child to have better immunity for fight the physical and mental stress
Stress Reduction
Because of the competitive world, most children are under great stress. Endless homework, tough competition, student relationship and the pressure from peers and parents are major cause of stress. They have to learn to deal with various problems. Fortunately, with Yoga, children can learn ways to relax and get control of stress in their lives. It negates the negative effects of the stress.
Self-discipline
Yoga means connecting to God. A child's mind has a pure mind. The yoga helps in developing the discipline by organising the sleep cycle. The child becomes more positive and self confident. It helps them to channelize their energy in more productive way. Yoga increases the emotional stability and quotient. It increases the concentration and self awareness and hence overall learning improves.
Yoga for children with special needs
By teaching self awareness, self control, and concentration, yoga can also help to manage children who have been diagnosed with ADHD - attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, autism and learning difficulty. Yoga has also been used to develop strength and coordination in children with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other childhood disability.
Many studies have shown that many children who practice Yoga, especially those with problems such as ADHD, are able to concentrate for longer periods of time. It benefits the overall development and also helps them to adjust with the transitions, which is important for the children with special needs. In an era of children acquiring conditions and diseases, proper breathing, exercise and deep relaxation may be the powerful healing force.
A best gift for a child is to teach himYOGA.
Posted byNeeti
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11:54 PM
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Children with specturm diagnosis have difficulty in eye contact and theory suggests that human eye contact increases the anxiety among them. but, eye contact is a part of development as it assist in communication and socialization. Many a time it is difficult to get the eye contact from the child with ASD even if you physically prompt.
The main idea to promote eye contact is creating a need for child. this indirectly enhance the communication, verbal or non-verbal. The simple line is always remembered "create needs and provide opportunities to child".
for eg: tickle the child for 3 times with counting numbers and then stop. Since the child likes the act he would look at you or ask for more. This example was giving opportunity by tickling him and then creating a need by stopping the activity. once, he looks at you, appreciate and reinforce by giving him a kiss or smile.
Use verbal command often "look at my face". However. it is found that "look at my face" is reinforcing than look into my eyes. The step is data collection. Maintain a record for how often the child looks at you on demand. If sometime the child does not follow use the physical prompt to encourage him to look at you.
The timing for eye contact and persistence is important. If he is engaged in other activities it is difficult for him to acknowledge the command. Prompt him physically or wait for his involvement.
Posted byNeeti
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8:31 PM
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