Kalm Kids: Tatty Bumpkin

Tatty Bumpkin classes are inspired by Yoga moves, but based around the amazing Tatty Bumpkin bendy doll. The doll is the secret weapon in engaging children, parents and teachers alike. The core age range is 18 months - 5 yrs and are a mixture of stories, physical moves, music and interactive play.

The concept has been devised by Yoga teachers, Physiotherapists, musicians and educationalists to provide a structured, therapeutic, but most importantly FUN environment.

We actively encourage parental / family participation, as we believe this increases bonding and attachment, and enable you to continue the theme in everyday life.

The mat and doll provide a reference for the child, so that they feel like active participation at home as well as in the class.

The Benefits of Tatty Bumpkin

Tatty Bumpkin™ and the classes were born out of yoga and fun. Based loosely on yoga postures, the world of Tatty Bumpkin is suitable for any child from about 18 months to 5 years. The classes encourage your child to explore their physicality, expand their confidence and excite their minds. The sessions are designed for you to join in so you get a good stretch too.

The sessions are great for children on many levels (the physical side of the sessions, music, storytelling etc) as well as great fun. They start with a warm up song, 'Bendy, Giggly, Clever and Strong' (music developed by educational musicians), then a specially adapted 'Salutation to the Sun' which uses rhyme to aid memory then we go on a magical adventure through the Giggle Tree, meeting animals, helicopters, sausage rolls and more!

The sessions use yoga poses, props, puppets and games throughout the adventure, a relaxation to music at the end helps the children assimilate the session and then it finishes with specially designed animal stickers. The stories have a strong theme which often deal (subtly!) with issues pertinent to children in a fun way. The Tatty Bumpkin bendy doll (voted no. 1 eco-toy by The Independent) is used to help children with the poses and the classes are carefully structured to give alternative postures for you and younger children - so everyone can have a go! It makes for a great class and parents say they often find their child in the snake pose in the bath or roaring like a lion in their bedroom!

The Benefits:

Physical

* Provide you and your child with stimulation and physical exercise, engaging your child and aiding energy levels, contentment and sleep

* Exercises within the sessions help maintain natural flexibility, works on core stability & muscle tone & help reduce obesity. Also helps balance and co-ordination as well as brain development??

* Calms the nervous system and raises endorphin levels helping children to deal with stress

* Breathing exercises aid concentration and the relaxation helps to clear the mind

* The classes will provide you with skills and techniques to use outside the class

* All your child's bodily systems are stimulated

Psychological & Emotional

* Helps you and your child communicate as you do the session together

* Helps your child to interact with others and play actively

* Songs and animals stimulate your child's vocabulary and speech

* Closing relaxation encourages an inner calm

* Helps to develop creativity, confidence and imagination in a non-competitive environment.

* Helps children deal with difficulties

Tatty Bumpkin works brilliantly as a children’s party.

After a fun warm up we take you on an adventure involving lots of movement, using animal yoga poses, stories, puppets, movement, songs and games to wear off all that energy. We finish with a relaxation, stickers and a certificate so leaving them calm and relaxed ready to be filled with cakes!

The parties can be themed so your child really enjoys them - ideas include ocean adventures, down on the farm, a midnight trip to the zoo, day out on a train, a pirate or princess adventure, safari or anything you choose. We can weave in characters and special places from your child's life and the children will be tired but happy at the end!

It works best with a maximum of 12 or so children (depending on the space available) and can be adapted to suit children from 2 to 7 years. It actually works well with mixed ages so don’t worry if you’ve got younger siblings – they really love it! Although it needs a little space it doesn’t need to be huge so it’s possible to run the sessions in your own home or other suitable venue.

Why not buy the doll or a yoga mat for a present or baby bumpkin in a bag – makes a great going home present for guests?

Tatty Bumpkins is accredited by CACHE

See the Events Diary Page for details of classes, parties and booking.

Children’s Parties available from £40

Kalm Kids

Chrissy Stevens

Site last updated

13-Sep-08