By integrating the story The Little Bird’s Winter by Kate Banks with the Educational Yoga wave, this series of meetings allows for the creation of a safe and stimulating environment in which to motivate preschool children to explore their own emotions, develop social skills and strengthen their body awareness.
As you continue reading you will be able to find out the details of each individual lesson!
Why can stories motivate children?
In young children, there is an innate need to know and master their environment, a need that we can define as “adaptive”. This drive to understand and interact with the surrounding world stems from the depths of the individual, representing one of the primary forms of intrinsic motivation.
Such motivation manifests as a natural desire to learn and experiment through lived experiences and emotions felt. Although it is not always possible to trace the exact origin of this motivation, its effect is evident: children are inclined to learn spontaneously and proactively.
In this sense, stories play a crucial role.
Through stories, children can explore new ideas, cultures, and emotions in a safe and controlled context. Stories provide behavioral models, help develop empathy and offer creative solutions to complex problems.
Furthermore, narratives stimulate the imagination, thus fostering cognitive and emotional development. When children identify with the characters in stories, they are driven to emulate their actions and qualities, internalizing values and positive behaviors.
In short, stories satisfy children’s intrinsic need for learning, motivating them to explore and better understand the world around them.
Through storytelling, children build mental models that help them make predictions, imagine alternatives and plan their future actions. As strongly advocated by the famous educationalist Jerome Bruner, storytelling is a fundamental skill for the development of young children, as it helps them create a version of the world in which to imagine a place for themselves.
For this reason, we at Yoga Educativo have based a series of meetings on the story The Bird in Winter by Kate Banks.
Motivating children with Kate Banks' Winter of the Bird.
The Little Bird’s Winter by Kate Banks is a book that offers a narrative rich in meaning and educational opportunities, perfect for motivating children.
The story follows the adventures of a little bird during the winter, dealing with universal themes such as fear, the loneliness, the collaboration and generosity. Through the little bird’s journey, children can explore and better understand their own emotions and the challenges they encounter in daily life.
The book not only entertains but educates, making it an ideal tool for Educational Yoga. Each chapter of the story, in fact, can be linked to different phases of the Educational Yoga Wave, our innovative and revolutionary method that brings yoga to school.
It is thanks to the perfect balance between maximum tension and maximum relaxation offered by the Wave that the stories in the book can be learned and integrated by children into their daily lives.
In fact, this approach not only stimulates their intrinsic motivation, but also provides concrete tools to manage their emotions and improve psychophysical well-being. Each lesson becomes a journey of discovery and growth, making learning anexciting adventure e deeply rewarding.
Now let’s see how to motivate children with The Winter of the Little Bird!
Lesson one: coping with separation and regulating sleep-wake rhythm
The first lecture in the series addresses the need for security and the sleep regulation in children.
Childhood, in fact, is a critical period for young children, who must deal with separation from primary caregivers and with the regulation of sleep-wake cycles.
Imagining themselves as forest animals hibernating, children will need to find a welcoming and safe place to spend the winter. This will help them build a place, both physical and mental, where they can take refuge to better understand and manage emotions related to both separation and the need for rest.
In fact, one of the main activities of this lesson is the den game, in which children simulate animals coming out of their dens and, at the sound of a cymbal representing the arrival of winter, return to their dens to hibernate. This game is not only a lot of fun, but it also teaches them to respond to external signals in a coordinated way and to find comfort in a safe haven.
Lesson two: dealing with the fear of abandonment
The second lesson in this preschool educational yoga project focuses on ‘Addressing the fear of abandonment in children. This theme is particularly relevant in childhood, an age in which young children must face the fear of being left alone or away from their primary caregivers.
Through the theme of bird migration, children imagine being little birds that must migrate to a warmer place. This activity is not only engaging, but it helps them to understand and manage emotions related to separation, finding strength and security in connection with others and in trust in a guide.
A central activity of this lesson is the breath of the little bird. This breathing exercise involves children raising their arms like wings while inhaling and lowering them while exhaling.
The movement of the arms synchronized with the breath promotes relaxation, increases body awareness and helps them to calm the nervous system, reducing anxiety and fostering a sense of calm and well-being.
In this way, children will acquire a fundamental tool for cope better with times of stress, such as the fear of abandonment.
Lesson three: from intrinsic motivation to extrinsic motivation
The third lesson focuses on the transition from intrinsic to extrinsic motivation, using the wise barn owl as a central figure. This nocturnal bird, in fact, representing wisdom and guidance, can help children understand the importance of listening to and following the instructions of others, as well as trusting their own intuition.
This activity not only engages them in a fun way, but also helps them understand the value of external guidance and support, while strengthening their ability to make autonomous decisions.
A central activity in this lesson is the barn owl game. During this phase, children take turns playing the barn owl and give commands to their peers on how to move in the space. This game helps them develop listening skills and to follow instructions, improving concentration and discipline. Furthermore, all children have the opportunity to be the barn owl, thus strengthening their leadership skills.
Lesson four: motivating children to cooperate
The fourth lesson of this Educational Yoga project focuses on the theme of collaboration. In fact, it is crucial that children learn to work together and support each other, as these social skills are fundamental for harmonious and integrated growth.
Through the figure of the kind bunny, children are encouraged to explore the theme of mutual aid and hospitality. The bunny, who offers shelter to his friends during a snowfall, becomes a symbol of collaboration and generosity. This narrative helps children to understand the importance of working together to overcome difficulties and find common solutions.
A central activity in this lesson is the heart island game. In this, children simulate animals seeking shelter during a snowfall, represented by a large white cloth. When the snow breaks a nest, another child (the bunny) hosts them in their nest. This game not only is fun, but also teaches children the importance of helping each other and offering support when needed.
The heart islands game promotes the development of cooperation, as children learn to collaborate to find common solutions, strengthening the sense of community. Furthermore, by identifying with the bunny offering shelter, children develop empathy and learn the importance of being generous and helping those in difficulty.
Knowing that they can count on their peers in difficult situations helps build a strong sense of security and trust in the group.
This lesson, therefore, helps children develop fundamental skills for collaboration, as well as promoting a learning environment based on mutual aid and support.
Lesson five: motivating children to generosity
The fifth lesson of the project focuses on the theme of generosity. In fact, it is important that children learn to share their things and think of others, as these social skills are essential for harmonious and serene growth.
Through the tale of the generous squirrel, children are invited to explore exactly these aspects. The squirrel, who has collected many delicious acorns and distributes them to animals in difficulty, becomes a symbol of generosity, showing children how sharing can create positive connections with others.
A central activity of this lesson is the visualization.
Children imagine being a squirrel that has collected many acorns and think about who they would like to share them with. This practice of visualization strengthens the sense of generosity and the ability to think of others. Through imagination, children develop empathy and understand the importance of giving and helping those in difficulty.
Visualization also helps children internalize the value of generosity in a way that goes beyond simple action. By imagining the pleasure of sharing their acorns, children learn that generosity not only makes others happy, but also brings deep personal satisfaction.
This exercise therefore promotes awareness of positive emotions related to altruism and sharing, encouraging generous behaviors in daily life as well.
Lesson six: motivating children to generosity
The sixth lesson of the project focuses on motivating children to recreate themselves using external resources, thus addressing the theme of friendship and mutual support. In this phase, children must learn to use the help of others to overcome difficulties and find new solutions, thus developing cooperative skills, resilience and adaptability.
By teaching children to turn to the support of friends and to use available resources, they are offered a solution for when they feel lost or unable to face difficulties alone.
A central activity in this lesson is the animal-friendly children’s game. In this game, children rappertain different animals that have to collect food to survive the winter. Some children run around the room collecting balls (food) and bringing them to the animals’ dens. However, a strong wind (represented by a shaken cloth) takes away the food, so the children must continue to retrieve it.
In this way, children will learn the importance of perseverance and of collaboration for overcome difficulties, both individually and collectively.
Lesson seven: sharing fears
The seventh lesson of the project focuses on the sharing of fears, using the metaphor of the snowstorm.
This lesson is designed to help children understand that their fears are common and that they can find comfort and security by sharing them with others.
During this lesson, children are asked to imagine they are in the midst of a snowstorm. The metaphor of the storm represents the fears and difficulties that they may encounter in daily life. The goal is to make children understand that, just as they seek shelter and warmth during a storm, they can find comfort and security by talking about their fears and sharing them with friends and primary adults.
An introductory activity consists of breathing and imagination practices: children close their eyes and imagine making wind with their breath, rotating their index finger like a snow swirl. This exercise will help them to enter the theme of the snowstorm, promoting awareness of their own breath.
Lesson eight: motivating children with shared play
The eighth lesson of the project focuses on the importance of shared play as a tool for motivation and growth.
Through play and yoga practices, children learn the importance of having fun together, collaborating and supporting each other, developing social and emotional skills, which are fundamental for harmonious growth.
In fact, the final stages of the class will consist of performing the asanas learned so far, with the integration of the concept of play and fun. These positions, practiced together, help to Consolidate the sense of community and cooperation. Furthermore, an important phase consists of the foot massage: children massage their own feet and those of their peers to warm them up, as the squirrel and the bunny did. This exercise promotes positive physical contact and relaxation, improving emotional connection.
Ninth lesson: motivating children to transformation
The ninth lesson of the project focuses on the theme of transformation, using play and storytelling to teach children to see change as a positive opportunity. In this way, young children will learn that the many changes that await them are opportunities for positive growth!
In fact, the core of this lesson is designed to help them understand and embrace transformation as a natural part of growth and development.
Among the most significant activities, the storm game certainly stands out: children hold a long white cloth on both sides and move it to simulate a storm. One child at a time passes under this tunnel created by the cloth, experiencing a symbolic transformation. This exercise promotes positive physical contact and the feeling of rebirth through movement.
Tenth lesson: motivating to resilience and courage
The tenth and final lesson of this series of Educational Yoga meetings, which aims to motivate preschool children, focuses on the development of resilience and courage, using the return of spring as a central theme.
During this lesson, children are guided to reflect on change and overcoming difficulties, just as nature renews and reinvigorates itself with the arrival of spring.
A key activity in this lesson is the visualization.
Children are invited to close their eyes and imagine the winter landscape slowly transforming with the arrival of spring. During this visualization, they are guided to imagine the snow melting, the first flowers blooming, the trees filling with leaves, and the animals coming out of hibernation.
While imagining these changes, children reflect on the challenges faced during the winter. They are asked to remember how they felt during these difficult moments and how they found the strength to move forward. This reflection helps them to recognize their ability to overcome difficulties, strengthening their resilience and fostering the internalization of the concepts learned in previous lessons.
Bottom line.
Using history The winter of the little bird by Kate Banks, we created an educational pathway that integrates the narrative, the game and the practices of yoga, providing children with a safe and challenging environment for explore e Better understand their own emotions and relationships.
If you aspire to become a yoga teacher, the Educational Yoga course, recognized by MIUR, is the ideal choice for your training: visit the page dedicated to the courses to become a teacher of Educational Yoga or read our guide how to become a teacher of Yoga for children!
If this topic interests you, learn about the benefits of yoga online.
Also discover the benefits of educational yoga in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools!
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Get to know the authors!
A certified instructor of Oki do Yoga, with a master’s degree in “Yoga Studies” from the University of Venice, she is an adjunct lecturer of the advanced training course “Educational Yoga at School” at the University of Padua.
Co-Founder and President of Ssd “Educational Yoga.”
Holding a Ph.D. in Pedagogical, Educational and Training Sciences from the University of Padua. The doctoral thesis focused on the training of trainers in Educational Yoga.
Docent of the advanced training course “Yoga Educativo a scuola.” the Advanced Training Course at UniPd was conceived by the founders of Yoga Educativo, together with Director Prof. Luca Agostinetto.
Co-founder and vice president of Ssd “Educational Yoga.”