Upside Down Yoga Kids: Calming Strategies to Help Children Stop Tantrums

upsidedownyogakids
May 4
4 min read

Updated: May 4

At Upside Down Yoga Kids, we know that children’s emotions can sometimes flip upside down, causing tantrums that challenge even the most patient parents or teachers. Teaching children how to navigate their feelings with mindfulness and gentle techniques can transform upset moments into opportunities for growth. Here’s how you can help your little ones calm down and regain their balance.

We believe that yoga can be a joyful, colorful way for children to understand and manage their emotions, especially during tough moments ike tantrums. By turning feelings upside down and mixing movement with mindfulness, kids can learn to self-soothe, build emotional resilience, and have fun along the way. Here are playful strategies and activities to help children find their calm again.

1. Encourage Mindful Breathing with Fun

Introduce simple breathing exercises through playful yoga poses. For example, have your child lie flat, take deep belly breaths, and pretend they’re blowing up a big balloon or blowing out candles. Slow, deep breaths help settle the nervous system and reduce feelings of anger or frustration.

2. Use Yoga Poses to Restore Balance

Certain yoga poses can help children release pent-up energy and soothe their emotions. Downward Dog, Child’s Pose, or Legs-Up-The-Wall are gentle options that help kids feel grounded and in control. Encourage them to hold poses while focusing on their breath to cultivate calmness.

3. Create a “Calm Corner” with Yoga Props

Designate a cozy corner in your home with soft mats, cushions, and calming visuals. Teach children to take a mini “yoga break” whenever they start feeling overwhelmed. Simple poses and breathing exercises in this space can redirect their energy and help them regain composure.

4. Teach Emotional Awareness Through Yoga

Use yoga as a tool to help children recognize and name their feelings. For example, have a “Feeling Pose” where they stretch and express their emotions—shrugging shoulders for sadness or reaching high for excitement. This awareness makes it easier to manage tantrums before they escalate.

5. Practice Gentle Distraction with Movement

A fun and gentle movement can act as a distraction and mood booster during a tantrum. Try a playful tree pose or swirling arms like wind. Moving the body intentionally helps children release frustration and refocus their attention.

6. Model Calmness and Patience

Children often imitate adults. Practice being calm yourself, demonstrating patience and gentle voice tones. When children see calmness in action, they learn to emulate it during their emotional moments.

7. Celebrate Progress with Upside Down Poses

In yoga, upside-down poses like Downward Dog or headstands can symbolize flipping feelings into positive energy. Incorporate these poses into your routine to reinforce the idea that it’s okay to have big feelings, but they can be transformed into calmness and happiness.

Remember: Tantrums are a normal part of childhood development. Using yoga as a gentle, mindful approach can help children learn to recognize, express, and regulate their emotions. With patience and practice, even the wildest feelings can be turned upside down into peaceful calm.

If you'd like, I can also develop fun yoga activities or specific routines suitable for children experiencing tantrums. Just let me know!

1. Breathe Like a Balloon

Activity: Have children lie down comfortably and imagine their belly is a balloon. Inhale deeply through the nose, filling their belly with air, then exhale slowly as if blowing out a candle.Visu al cue: Use a picture of a balloon that expands on inhale and deflates on exhale. Why: This calming breathing technique helps regulate emotions and brings focus away from anger or frustration.

2. The Superhero Downward Dog

Activity: Guide children into a Downward Dog pose, imagining they are stretching like a superhero preparing for action. They can pedal their feet or bend their knees gently, feeling the energy shift from agitation to strength.

Visual cue: Draw or display a superhero figure stretching.

Why: This pose grounds children, helping them feel strong and safe.

3. The “Rainbow Calm” Pose

Activity: While seated or lying down, children stretch their arms wide and then reach up high, imagining making a big, colorful rainbow. Pause and breathe deeply.

Visual cue: Show a rainbow with vibrant colors, encouraging kids to imagine their feelings as bright and changeable.

Why: Combining movement and visualization connects feelings with positive imagery, helping shift a tantrum into calm.

4. The Upside-Down Wonder

Activity: Practice gentle upside-down poses like Legs-Up-The-Wall or a supported Handstand against a wall, if safe. Encourage children to imagine flipping their feelings upside down and turning frustration into fun.

Visual cue: Use a cartoon of a child happily upside down, smiling with the phrase “Flip it – Feelings can turn into happiness!”

Why: Upside-down poses help change perspective, symbolizing turning anger into calm.

5. The Yoga Freeze Frame

Activity: During a tantrum, invite children into a “freeze” pose—like a tree, mountain, or star—and hold it for a few breaths.

Visual cue: Use pictures or stickers of different poses with calm, focused expressions.

Why: Pausing and holding a pose gives children time to collect themselves and learn mindful regulation.

6. Create a “Calm Cloud” Corner

Set up a cozy space decorated with soft cushions, clouds, and calming visuals. Use a “cloud breathing” activity—children imagine breathing in calm, fluffy clouds, and blowing out worries.

Why: A dedicated mindful space encourages children to take control of their feelings gently.

Tips for Parents and Caregivers:

Model Calmness: Use your steady breathing and gentle words to guide children through these activities.
Make It a Routine: Regularly incorporate yoga activities into your day to build emotional resilience.
Celebrate Small Wins: Praise children when they try a pose or use a calming technique, even if they are still upset.

Remember: Turning tantrums into teachable moments with playful yoga helps children learn emotional regulation in a fun, engaging way. By reshaping feelings upside down and inside out, kids develop healthy habits that last a lifetime.

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