Hello parents, I’m looking for family-friendly yoga routines to do with my kids. Any suggestions or resources you can recommend? Thanks! — Olivia
Hi OliviaCalmMoves,
Thanks for your question! It’s wonderful that you’re looking for ways to engage in healthy activities like yoga with your kids.
While my expertise as a school counselor is primarily focused on digital safety, online behavior, and responsible technology use, I can certainly appreciate the value of family wellness activities. Unfortunately, specific yoga routines are a bit outside my professional scope.
I’m sure other members in this Health & Fitness category will have some fantastic suggestions and resources to share with you.
Wishing you the best in finding some great family yoga routines to enjoy together!
Warmly,
Deborah McGrane
Hey OliviaCalmMoves!
That’s a fantastic idea, looking for family yoga routines! While I don’t have kids myself yet, and I’m definitely not a yoga instructor (haha, probably best I don’t try to suggest specific poses!), I think it’s super cool you’re looking for activities like this to do together.
From what I’ve seen and experienced, doing things as a family – whether it’s yoga, a game night, or just cooking together – is huge for building connection. It’s less about the activity itself sometimes, and more about that shared time, being present, and just enjoying each other’s company.
Honestly, I think those shared positive experiences build a really strong foundation of trust and open communication. And that kind of bond is invaluable, especially as kids grow and start navigating more complex things, like their online lives. When you have that solid relationship, it makes it easier to have those important conversations about safety, independence, and expectations, because there’s already a baseline of mutual respect. It’s a way more proactive approach than just reacting to problems, if that makes sense?
So, while I can’t point you to specific routines, I just wanted to chime in and say I think it’s an awesome way to connect. I bet it will do wonders for just fostering that positive family vibe where everyone feels heard and valued.
Hopefully, some other folks here will have some great yoga-specific resources for you!
Cheers,
John Fly
Oh, hi OliviaCalmMoves! What a fantastic idea – family yoga! I absolutely love this. Finding activities we can all do together that are both fun and good for us can feel like a real win, can’t it?
With my two, a 9-year-old and a 13-year-old, it’s always an interesting adventure to find something that clicks for everyone. My youngest is usually up for anything that feels like play, while my teen… well, let’s just say enthusiasm levels can vary! 
We’ve dipped our toes into family yoga a few times, and here’s what I’ve found helpful:
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YouTube is Your Friend! Seriously, there are SO many free resources.
- For your younger one (and maybe even the older one will secretly enjoy it!), Cosmic Kids Yoga is amazing. The instructor, Jaime, tells stories and adventures, and the yoga poses are woven right in. My 9-year-old used to adore these, and it kept him really engaged.
- For something that might appeal to a wider age range, or if your kids are a bit older, Yoga With Adriene has a very down-to-earth, welcoming style. She has tons of videos, including some shorter ones or beginner practices that aren’t too intimidating. We’ve sometimes just picked a 10-15 minute “gentle” routine from her channel.
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Keep it Short & Sweet, Especially at First: Little attention spans (and sometimes teen patience!) mean that a 15-20 minute session might be more successful than trying for a full hour. You can always build up if everyone’s enjoying it.
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Focus on Fun, Not Perfection: This is a big one in our house! It’s not about who can hold the pose the longest or do it perfectly. It’s about moving together, maybe having a few giggles when someone wobbles (usually me!), and just enjoying the shared time. If my son wants to pretend his downward dog is a tunnel for his toy cars for a minute, I try to roll with it!
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Involve Them in Choosing: Maybe let each kid pick a short video or a few poses they want to try. Giving them a bit of ownership can make a big difference.
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Don’t Force It: If one of the kids really isn’t feeling it on a particular day, sometimes it’s better to let it go and try another time. The goal is connection and well-being, not another battle!
It’s such a lovely way to encourage mindfulness and movement, and honestly, sometimes I need that calm connection just as much as they do after a hectic week!
Good on you for looking for ways to bring this into your family life. I hope you find some wonderful routines that you all enjoy together! Let us know if you find any hidden gems!
Warmly,
A fellow mom navigating the wonderful chaos! 
What a wonderful idea, Olivia! Creating those moments of calm and connection with the little ones is just priceless.
I wanted to second what DavidP said – my grandchildren absolutely love Cosmic Kids Yoga on YouTube! It’s amazing how engaged they get when the story is about a movie or character they recognize. It’s one of the few things that can get them to settle down for a bit.
It does bring up something that’s always on my mind, though: screen time. I’m not the most tech-savvy person, I’ll admit, but I do worry about what they’re seeing online. We find these lovely yoga videos, but my heart skips a beat thinking about the advertisements or the “next up” video that YouTube might suggest. I want them to have their independence, but I also want to make sure they’re safe.
Lately, my approach has been to just do it with them. I’ll lay a mat down right next to theirs. It’s good for my old bones, and it gives me a chance to see what’s on the screen and have a quiet chat about it if anything questionable pops up. We’ve made it a family rule that we pick the videos together before we start.
I’ve been doing a bit of reading on parental control apps to help with this. I haven’t actually picked one yet – it’s a bit overwhelming! I think a feature that could help filter content on sites like YouTube or let me set specific time limits for certain apps would be a godsend. That way, our “yoga time” doesn’t accidentally become three hours of watching toy unboxing videos! Has anyone found an app that’s simple to use for something like that? I’d be so grateful for any recommendations.
Anyway, thank you for posting this, Olivia. It’s a great reminder to find these healthy activities to share with our families.
All the best,
Danielle R. Newman