Using your voice effectively when teaching children’s yoga
Working with children is one of the highest callings we can have. Sharing yoga with children is even more important, and can help shape the next generation of people into thoughtful, kind, respectful humans.
When we teach children’s yoga, it’s crucial to understand the elements of communicating with children effectively. Below, you’ll find 5 tips from our Balanced Kids Yoga training manual to help you create a welcoming & inclusive environment for teaching yoga to children of all ages.
1. Don’t use “Baby Speak” - Whenever possible (especially with students ages 8 and up) avoid talking down to your students or using a patronizing tone. Children are intelligent and deserve to be treated as such and they see right through adults who try to manipulate them with high pitched voices. Be upfront about your rules and things that are happening while staying respectful and professional just as you would in an adult class. Your students will respond well to this and open up. If you listen when they speak, they’ll listen when you speak.
2. Learn their names - Always use the first names of your students and do everything you can to learn them quickly. All people, especially children will respond to their name much more positively and quickly than if you call them “sweetie,” or “honey”
3. Do not yell or threaten – Nobody responds positively to verbal abuse. Raising your voice to yell at or threaten a child is never appropriate. If you’re having trouble gaining control of the classroom or a particular child, stop the lesson immediately and have the class sit down. You may have a protocol in place for this such as teaching students a clapping rhythm, or hitting a singing bowl so that each time they hear that sound, they know to sit and settle down. Once you’ve received attention from everyone in the space, you can take a breath together, regroup and discuss how to move forward with respect for the class and the teacher. Stay calm and grounded and your students will match your energy.
4. Use inflection for attention – Performers know that changing the quality of your voice can peak the interest of your listener. If you’re working with small children (ages 1-4) an animated voice and face help draw them in and excite them about the lesson. With older students, using inflection, varying the volume of your voice (quieter when you’re leading meditation, for example) can help keep them present with you. You may want to practice this skill to become more comfortable with the new, more “animated” version of you that is teaching kids yoga.
5. Understand appropriate language – If you have a habit of using language that may be offensive or triggering to a child, you will need to break this habit quickly when working with children. Remove words from your vocabulary such as “stupid,” “dumb,” or other, perhaps more colorful words that may have been ok in your childhood but are now considered harmful. Do your research and educate yourself on inclusive language and consider taking a course in non-violent communication to better support your students and your own personal relationships outside of the classroom
If you’d like more information on teaching yoga to children, visit our online classroom for a free introductory lecture to childhood growth & development
Our next Yoga Alliance accredited 95-hour children’s yoga teacher training is available in person and online July 13-21, 2024
