Blog Archives

Behaviour Patterns

20/5/2025

Understanding Behaviour Patterns Across the Year:
A Guide for Kids Yoga Teachers

One topic that comes up time and time again, with those who I mentor and kids yoga teachers in my community,is behaviour.

Many kids yoga teachers find managing behaviour one of the trickiest parts of the job—especially if they’re new to working with children, or have experience in very different settings. That makes absolute sense!

Teaching yoga to children requires a unique kind of relationship—one that blends playfulness with boundaries and calm with energy (not easy to navigate at all!).

Since starting my work with children in 1997 (yes, really that long ago!), I’ve noticed certain times of year where behaviour can feel a bit more… crunchy. These are the moments when things can wobble—not because you're doing anything wrong—but because that’s just how children ebb and flow through their year.
Let’s explore these “crunch points”.

Crunch Points: When Behaviour Might Be More Challenging

1. The Start of a Term or Class SeriesWhether it’s a brand-new school year, term, or just the first in a series of classes, the beginning always has its own flavour.

Some children might test the waters, thinking:
"Who are you?"
"What can I get away with?"

Others might hang back and observe before revealing their full selves in lesson two or three. This is a natural part of how children adjust to new spaces and people.
The first three sessions are crucial. They’re your chance to establish clear, kind boundaries and communicate what you're about—what you welcome and what you don’t.

Even with groups I’ve been teaching for a long time, that post-holiday amnesia is real. Children will test the boundaries again—and that’s okay. It’s not personal, it’s developmental.

2. The End of a Term

By the end of term, everyone’s running low on energy—children and adults alike.
This is especially true of the autumn/winter term here in the UK. It tends to be the longest stretch of the year, and by December, children are often tired, dysregulated, and ready for a break. (Aren’t we all?)
The summer term can be equally tricky. Children know a big change is coming—holidays, new year groups, new teachers—and this uncertainty often shows up as restlessness or “behaviour.”

3. Any Kind of Disruption or Change

Children thrive on routine and predictability. So anything that shakes up their world—even if it's not in your class—can impact how they show up.
Some common triggers:

A new teacher or teaching assistant
Absences or changes at school
Disruptions in home life or routines
Changes in your own class structure, timing, or venue

Even if you're teaching a lovely community class far away from their school day, these changes ripple through and show up on the mat.

4. Windy Days and Full Moons (Yes, Really!)

I know it might sound bonkers, but over the years, I’ve consistently noticed that behaviour is more challenging during full moons and on windy days. And when both happen together? It’s like the children are rolling downhill at top speed—excitable, energetic, and a little bit wild.
Anyone else noticed this? I'd love to know if it resonates with you too!

Top Tips for Navigating Crunch Points

🌟 1. Knowledge is Power
Anticipate the wobblier weeks in your termly planning. I like to mark out the start and end of terms, then plan for a bit of extra flexibility and energy in those lessons.
If you’d like help with planning, I’ve created a free planning resource to support you with long-term, medium-term and short-term planning—you can find it here.

💛 2. Be Compassionate
Children aren’t choosing to be disruptive. Behaviour is communication, and it’s their way of showing how regulated (or not) they’re feeling.
They’re responding to their environment in the only way they know how.
So meet them with kindness—even when it’s hard—and don’t forget to be compassionate with yourself too. You’re human. It’s okay to feel tired or irritated. What matters is how you respond—not that you never feel those things.

🤝 3. Seek Support
You’re not alone. If you’re finding things tough, reach out.
You can join my free Facebook group School Yoga Teachers or consider joining my mentoring or online training programmes. Sometimes a chat, or a fresh perspective is all it takes to feel back on track.

Want More Support with Behaviour?
🌈 Free Behaviour Video Playlist – Packed with practical tips
📜 Rules Poster & Guide – How I approach class agreements
🎓 Tame the Crowd Without Being Loud – This self-paced e- course, is packed with neuroscience, psychology, and practical strategies (currently just £35 until 1st June, when it’ll increase to £47 to reflect all the new additions!)

If you’ve got a behaviour-related question that isn’t answered in the course, just send it over—I’ll answer it and even add it in for others to benefit too.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
Do full moons and windy days affect your classes too?
Have you noticed these crunch points?

Leave a comment or drop me an email at [email protected]. I always love hearing from you.

Julia x

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Summer Behaviour

13/5/2025

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Why Behaviour in the Summer Term Can Feel Wild!
...and what to do about it.

This blog is for you, fellow kids yoga teachers and well-being specialists, to help you feel more prepared and supported during what can be a particularly tricky time of year: the summer term.

Because let’s be honest… when the weather heats up, so can kid's behaviour!

Why Summer Term Behaviour Shifts
You might’ve noticed a shift in your classes: kids who are usually calm become boisterous, focus wavers, and big feelings seem to bubble up everywhere. You're not imagining it—and you’re definitely not alone.

Here’s why summer term can be such a roller-coaster:

🌞 1. The Weather
Hotter days = shorter tempers. Children may be sleeping less, getting hot and bothered, and finding their tolerance for others decreasing. And it’s the same for us, right? No one feels their best when they’re sweaty, tired, and overstimulated.

📝 2. Assessments
In UK schools, summer term means SATs, end-of-year tests and lots of academic pressure.

Before the assessments: anxiety, changes to routines, and increased pressure can unsettle children.
During the assessments: altered timetables, unfamiliar settings, and big feelings can disrupt the day-to-day rhythm.
After the assessments: a sense of release or even wild excitement can make children feel… a little lawless.

🔄 3. Transitions and Change
There’s also the emotional weight of change—new classes, new teachers, maybe even new schools. Even positive change can be dys-regulating for children. They're excited about what's ahead, but also uncertain.

It’s a perfect storm of disrupted routines, big emotions, and overheated little bodies.

What Can You Do as a Kids Yoga Teacher?
You can’t control the weather or the school schedule, but you can create a calm, safe, consistent space in your classes. Here are a few practical ideas to help:

❄️ Keep It Cool

Open windows or doors if you can.
Bring in a jug of water or squash and cups—just check for allergies and permissions.
Try using a hand fan (or a big book!) during relaxation to help children cool down—it feels magical.
Consider starting your session with a short relaxation or mindful moment if they arrive frazzled.

💬 Hold Space for Feelings

Let your class be a place where children can express what’s going on for them.
Even a few minutes for them to chat with a partner or name an emotion can make a difference.
Encourage them to share what they’d find helpful in class—games, props, poses.

🔁 Be Consistent
This is one of the biggest things you can do: stay consistent with your expectations and routines. When everything else around them is changing, you can be the steady presence they can rely on.
If you do decide to mix things up—maybe taking your session outdoors or trying a new game—keep a few familiar elements the same. Consistency builds safety.

If You’re Finding It Tough… That’s Normal
Summer term behaviour can feel wild. If you’re struggling, please know that you’re not doing anything wrong. It’s the nature of the season. And you don’t have to navigate it alone.

🧠 If you'd like more support, check out my training: Tame the Crowd Without Being Loud. It's packed with:

Neuroscience and psychology-based insights
Practical, respectful and positive behaviour strategies for all class types
Lifetime access and growing content—including a whole module answering your specific questions

Right now it’s just £35 until 1st June—then the price goes up (to £47) to reflect all the new resources I’ve added.
👉 Grab your training here

And if you're not already in my Facebook group for kids yoga and children's well-being practitioners, pop in—it's a space for support, encouragement, and lots of great ideas.

Thanks for reading, and for everything you do for the children you support. You’re not just teaching yoga—you’re offering a steady anchor in stormy weather. That’s powerful.

x
Julia

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Assessment Season for Kids Yoga Teachers

6/5/2025

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Supporting Children During Assessment Season: A Guide for Kids Yoga Teachers

In this blog, I’m sharing insights on a topic that comes around each year and often impacts the children we work with: assessment season.

Whether you teach in schools, run community classes, or work in other settings, the changes that assessments bring can affect the energy, behaviour and emotional well-being of the children in your classes.
Let’s explore what’s happening and how you can support children during this time.

What’s Assessment Season, and When Is It?In most UK schools, formal assessments take place during the summer term, typically from early May to mid-June. For Year 6 children, it’s usually one focused week in May, known as SATs Week, but assessments happen across most year groups in different forms.
Even if the children you work with aren’t taking part in assessments themselves, their routines and environments are often affected – and that ripple can show up in your classes.

How Might Assessment Season Affect Children?
Children might not be able to name what’s different – but they feel it. Here are some common ways it shows up:

Changes in Energy Levels
Some children will arrive in your class full of pent-up energy after sitting still and focusing all day – like coiled springs. Others may seem floppy and drained, having put a lot of effort into their learning or adjusted to new routines.

Shifts in Mood and Behaviour
Children might:

Become more sensitive or snappy
Struggle with focus or regulation
Seek more control (especially if life feels unpredictable elsewhere)
Have reduced tolerance for things that usually don’t bother them

Even subtle school-wide changes can trigger this – like furniture being moved, different adults in the room, or changes in PE and lunch routines due to rooms being used for testing.

Increased Worries
No matter how calmly assessments are introduced, some children worry:

“What if I fail?”
“What if I get a zero?”
“What if I talk when it’s supposed to be silent?”

These worries are real and valid, even if the adults around them are doing their best to keep things low-pressure.

Disrupted Sleep
Assessment season coincides with longer days and lighter evenings. Combined with stress or change, this can mean children get less sleep – and we all know how that impacts mood and self-regulation.

Top Tips for Keeping Your Yoga Classes Calm and Supportive

🌟 Give Space to Talk
Let children share how they’re feeling. Create space for discussion, listening and reassurance. Small worries to us can feel huge to them – acknowledging this can go a long way.

🌟 Adapt to What You See
Meet the energy in the room. If children arrive exhausted, try starting with a calming story or gentle breathing. If they’re buzzing with energy, a big, space-filling warm-up game might help release it.
Let go of the plan if needed – your flexibility will support their nervous systems more than any pre-written sequence could.

🌟 Be Gentle With Yourself Too
You’re not immune to the ripple effects! If school routines are off, rooms are changed, or children feel different – you’ll feel it too. Be kind to yourself. It’s okay to feel a little discombobulated.

Extra Resources for You
To help support your classes (and yourself!) during this time, here are some useful resources:

🎥 Video Playlist: Positive Behaviour Strategies
📹Video: Supporting children's well-being during tests
🌱 Free Lesson Plan
🧠 Tame the Crowd Without Being Loud – my popular e-course, packed with neuroscience, psychology, and practical behaviour support that’s totally aligned with who you are as a kids yoga teacher. This training is just £35 until 1st June, when it will rise to £47 due to the added content – and you’ll get lifetime access, so even if now’s not the time, it’s worth snapping up while it’s still at this price.

Come and Connect
If you're not already in my Facebook group, School Yoga Teachers, I’d love to welcome you in. It's a supportive, helpful space to ask questions, share experiences and feel less alone during times like this.

If you have any questions, email me at [email protected]

Thanks for all you do to support children – especially during seasons like this. You’re making a real difference.
x
Julia

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Behaviour Patterns

Understanding Behaviour Patterns Across the Year: A Guide for Kids Yoga Teachers

Summer Behaviour

Why Behaviour in the Summer Term Can Feel Wild!...and what to do about it.

Assessment Season for Kids Yoga Teachers

Supporting Children During Assessment Season: A Guide for Kids Yoga Teachers

From Julia

Archives

Understanding Behaviour Patterns Across the Year:
A Guide for Kids Yoga Teachers

Why Behaviour in the Summer Term Can Feel Wild!
...and what to do about it.