A kids / family yoga class about growing old disgracefully, loving wildly, playing forever, and becoming the kind of elder that children will always remember

This class is best for children aged 5–12, family yoga, intergenerational classes, grandparents’ day events, or mixed-age groups. It can be hilariously silly, very physical, soft and touching, or all of that in one beautifully wrinkled yoga sandwich.

There are actually enough activities here to fill a whole day of grandparents' activities if you don’t rush… Or pick and choose to make it the length you need :-) 

The theme is simple and enormous:

What kind of grandparent, elder, mentor, teacher, auntie, uncle, friend, or future grown-up do I want to become?

Do I want to become cranky and closed?

Or do I want to grow into someone playful, loving, wise, available, adventurous, kind, and still willing to crawl on the floor pretending to be a dinosaur?

This class gives children a playful way to imagine ageing, body changes, hearing changes, eyesight changes, slower movement, wheelchairs, memory, illness, love, legacy, and family connection without making ageing scary or sad. We laugh with it. We move with it. We respect it. We also discover that love can wake up parts of us we thought had gone to sleep.

And yes, in this class, the moment the grandchildren arrive, everyone is mysteriously healed enough to play wildly again.

That’s grandparent science.

Probably not peer-reviewed.

But definitely heart-reviewed.

To bring

• Old-person dress-ups: glasses, shawls, hats, walking sticks, cardigans, scarves, fake moustaches, wigs, slippers, etc.

• A few chairs

• Soft balls, beanbags, scarves, or plush toys

• Paper hearts or paper leaves

• Pens/textas

• Optional: baby doll or teddy bear

• Optional: parachute, blanket, or big sheet

• Optional: bell, singing bowl, or chime

• Optional: blindfolds

• Optional: funny “grandpa glasses” made from pipe cleaners or paper

• Optional: paper/card signs with “WHAT?”, “SPEAK UP!”, “WHERE ARE MY GLASSES?”, “WHO WANTS SNACKS?”, “I HEARD ICE CREAM!”

Introduction: Guess what? I am going to become a granddad!

I have very exciting news (this is for real)…

This September, I am going to become a granddad!

A real granddad.

A grandfather.

A grandpa.

A snack-carrying, story-telling, floor-sitting, possibly slightly creaky, heart-exploding grandpa.

And I have been thinking…

What kind of grandpa do I want to be?

Do I want to be the kind of grandpa who says, “Don’t touch that! Don’t run! Don’t make noise! Don’t get dirty! Don’t climb on me because my spine has officially resigned”?

Maybe sometimes.

But mostly, I want to be the kind of grandpa who gets down on the floor and plays.

The kind of grandpa who says yes to imagination.

The kind of grandpa who listens.

The kind of grandpa who makes children feel like they are the most interesting people in the universe.

The kind of grandpa who tells stories so magical that even a cup of tea becomes an ancient treasure from a hidden mountain temple.

The kind of grandpa who teaches kindness not by preaching it, but by living it.

The kind of grandpa who gives hugs, but only when they are wanted.

The kind of grandpa who knows that children need boundaries, but also need mud, laughter, wild dancing, soft laps, big adventures, quiet moments, and someone who looks at them and says:

“You are wonderful exactly as you are.”

Today, we are going to travel into the future.

We are going to pretend that we are very, very old.

We will walk like old people, stretch like old people, grumble like old people, forget things like old people, mishear everything, look for our glasses, do wheelchair yoga, tell stories, remember our lives, and then, when the grandchildren arrive, we will be suddenly filled with so much love that our creaky bones become disco lightning.

Because growing old does not have to mean becoming boring.

Growing old can mean becoming more loving.

More patient.

More playful.

More free.

More yourself.

A good grandparent is not just an old person. A good grandparent is a bridge between the past and the future.

They carry stories from long ago and plant them like seeds inside young hearts.

Today we will ask:

When I am a grandpa, grandma, elder, auntie, uncle, teacher, mentor, or wise old rascal…

What will I give to the children of the future?

And how can I start becoming that person now?

5 Minutes

Funny grandparent truths

Share a few of these throughout the class, or print them on little cards and read one between activities:

• Grandparents are living proof that humans can become softer and more powerful at the same time.

• Grandparents can hear a biscuit packet open from three rooms away, but somehow cannot hear “Can you please help clean up?”

• Grandparents do not walk slowly. They are just giving the world more time to admire them.

• Grandparents are the original search engines. They know things Google would be afraid to ask.

• A grandparent’s pockets are magical portals. Tissues, snacks, stones, rubber bands, old receipts, and possibly one raisin from 1997.

• Grandparents don’t forget. They just store memories in mysterious filing systems.

• Grandparents are like trees: a bit barky sometimes, but full of shade, fruit, stories, and excellent places to climb emotionally.

• Grandparents have wrinkles because their skin had to make room for all the laughter.

• The older we get, the more we realise that being silly is not childish. It is advanced wisdom.

Grandpa / Grandma name circle

Sit in a circle.

Tell the children:

“Today you are not just your normal self. Today, you are your future old self. Maybe you are 70, 80, 90, 100, or 147 years old. What will your grandparent's name be?”

Give examples:

• Grandpa Giggly Bones

• Nanna Rainbow Socks

• Grandpa Pickle

• Grandma Thunder Hugs

• Pop-Pop Dragon Breath

• Nanny Banana

• Grandpa Never-Sits-Still

• Grandma Volcano Heart

• Grandpa Biscuit Pocket

• Grandma Moonwalker

Each child says:

“My name is ________, and when I am a grandpa/grandma/elder I will…”

They complete the sentence with something beautiful, funny, or wild:

• “When I am a grandpa, I will build pillow castles.”

• “When I am a grandma, I will let my grandkids paint my face.”

• “When I am a grandpa, I will tell stories under the stars.”

• “When I am a grandma, I will teach them how to be kind to animals.”

• “When I am an elder, I will listen when children are sad.”

After each person shares, they create a pose to match their grandparent dream, and everyone copies it.

For example:

• “I will build treehouses” becomes Tree Pose with hammer arms.

• “I will make pancakes” becomes Chair Pose stirring a giant bowl.

• “I will give big hugs” becomes wide-legged Standing Hug Pose.

• “I will take them swimming” becomes Fish Pose or Shark Pose.

• “I will teach them to dance” becomes any wild dance pose.

• “I will tell dragon stories” becomes Dragon Lunge with fire breath.

Encourage the children to make the poses theatrical and funny.

5-8 Minutes

Suddenly old! The ageing machine

Everyone starts as a baby.

Lie on your back in Happy Baby Pose. Kick your legs. Make baby noises. Roll side to side.

Now slowly age through life:

Toddler: Crawl, wobble, fall, get up, clap.

Child: Run, jump, spin, play.

Teenager: Slouch dramatically, roll eyes, check imaginary phone in Mountain Pose.

Adult: Walk fast, carry imaginary bags, answer imaginary emails, look very serious.

Parent: Rock a baby, clean the house, cook dinner, drive everyone everywhere.

Grandparent: Suddenly, the body slows down. Knees creak. Back bends. Hands shake. Everyone walks with imaginary walking sticks.

Now the teacher becomes the “Ageing Machine Operator.”

Call out ages and everyone transforms instantly:

• Age 3! Wild toddlers.

• Age 16! Dramatic teenagers.

• Age 42! Busy grown-ups.

• Age 96! Slow grandparent shuffle.

• Age 7! Cartwheels of chaos.

• Age 120! Ancient wise mountain.

• Age 500! Tree spirit elder.

• Age 5 again! Jumping beans.

• Age 88! Still dancing, but with snacks.

Then end by saying:

“Now freeze at the age when you feel the most YOU.”

Let them choose any age and pose.

Ask:

“Do you think you real you changes completely as you get older, or is there something inside you that stays the same?”

This helps children feel that ageing changes the body, but the inner light continues.

5-7 Minutes

Old people yoga warm-up

Now we do yoga as if we are very old, but with love and respect.

We are not making fun of old people. We are learning to feel what it might be like to have a slower body, a stiffer body, a body that has carried many years of stories.

Stand in a circle.

Start very slowly:

Shoulder rolls: “My shoulders carried 100 years of shopping bags, babies, worries, and hugs. Let’s roll them out.”

Neck turns: “Look left to remember the past. Look right to imagine the future.”

Wrist circles: “These hands have cooked, planted, painted, cleaned, held, waved goodbye, and welcomed people home.”

Finger stretches: “Open your fingers like old flowers still blooming.”

Hip circles: “These hips have danced at weddings, climbed mountains, carried children, and maybe fallen over in supermarkets.”

Knee bends: “Tiny old-person squats. Not too low, because our knees are negotiating a new contract.”

Ankle circles: “These feet have walked through a whole life.”

Jaw release: “Let the jaw drop. Old people have said many wise things, and also a lot of ‘Where did I put that?’ The jaw deserves a rest.”

Eyebrow yoga: Lift both eyebrows, one eyebrow, then the other. This is useful for saying, “Really? You ate the whole cake?”

Now do a slow “old people sun dance”:

Mountain Pose: Stand tall, but maybe a little creaky.

Reach up: “I still reach for the sky.”

Forward Fold: “I pick up my lost glasses.”

Half Lift: “Where did I put my glasses?”

Step back to Low Lunge: “Carefully stepping over my grandchild’s toys.”

Hands and knees: “Looking for the missing biscuit.”

Cat/Cow: “Old spine waking up like an accordion.”

Downward Dog: “Grandpa’s dog still wants a walk.”

Slow walk forward: “Tiny steps, big wisdom.”

Reach up: “Still alive!”

Hands to heart: “Still loving.”

Do it once very slowly and creakily.

Then do it again with music and let the old people slowly become more energetic.

By the third round, they are “super-grandparents” doing yoga with surprisingly heroic power.

5-10 Minutes

Grandpa is ill

Oh! This will, in addition to creative and disastrous storytelling, warm up our bodies too!

In this game, we are going to pretend that Grandpa is ill.

Very ill.

Ridiculously ill.

Fantastically, dramatically, impossibly ill.

This is a fun, funny, fantastic imagination and memory game, and also a great warm-up.

Everyone sits or stands in a circle.

The teacher begins:

“Grandpa is ill and he has sore toes.”

Touch your toes.

Everyone repeats:

“Grandpa is ill and he has sore toes.”

The next person adds:

“Grandpa is ill and he has sore toes and a sore nose.”

Everyone touches toes, then nose.

The next person adds:

“Grandpa is ill and he has sore toes, a sore nose, and a wobbly knee.”

Everyone repeats all the previous movements and adds the new one. Put as many yoga poses in it as your can whenever it fits… And it is Laughter Yoga too!

Continue around the circle, adding one silly grandpa symptom and matching movement each time.

Ideas:

• Sore toes: Touch toes.

• Sore nose: Touch nose.

• Wobbly knee: Shake one knee.

• Itchy ear: Scratch ear.

• Creaky back: Cat/Cow.

• Forgotten elbow: Touch elbow with confusion.

• Dizzy head: Slow head circle.

• Sleepy eyes: Rub eyes.

• Tickly moustache: Wiggle upper lip.

• Sneezy lungs: Big inhale, dramatic sneeze.

• Sore bum: Gentle squat, hand on bum, hilarious face.

• Crunchy shoulders: Shoulder rolls.

• Grandpa hiccups: Tiny jumps.

• Grandpa’s teeth escaped: Open mouth and look shocked.

• Grandpa’s eyebrows got lost: Lift eyebrows dramatically.

• Grandpa’s beard is tangled: Pretend to comb beard.

• Grandpa’s belly laughs too much: Hold belly and laugh.

Make it more yoga:

• Sore toes: Standing Forward Fold.

• Creaky back: Cat/Cow.

• Wobbly knee: Tree Pose with shaking leg.

• Sleepy eyes: Child’s Pose.

• Dizzy head: Seated twist.

• Sneezing lungs: Lion Breath.

• Sore hips: Butterfly Pose.

• Tired feet: Legs up the wall or imaginary legs up.

The final person, or the teacher, adds:

“And Grandpa thought he was finished…”

Everyone freezes dramatically.

“But then he heard…”

Pause.

“Grandpaaaaaaa!”

Everyone’s eyes open.

“And suddenly Grandpa came back to life!”

Everyone jumps up and dances, shakes, runs, or does a favourite pose.

Important note for the teacher:

Playing with the concept of illness, ageing, and even death through humour and imagination can help children process these big themes safely. Keep it light, warm, and never directed at a real person’s illness. If there are children with recent grief or illness in the family, soften the ending to “Grandpa fell asleep” or “Grandpa needed a rest,” and then he wakes up when the grandchildren arrive.

5-10 Minutes depending on the size of the group

Grandpa says / Grandma says

This is a grandparent version of Simon Says.

The teacher is “Grandpa” or “Grandma.”

When the teacher says “Grandpa says…” everyone does the action.

When the teacher does not say “Grandpa says,” everyone stays still in Mountain Pose, pretending to be very wise and not fooled by nonsense.

Use yoga and grandparent actions:

• Grandpa says touch your toes.

• Grandpa says stir the soup in Chair Pose.

• Grandpa says rock the baby.

• Grandpa says put on your slippers.

• Grandpa says Tree Pose with a walking stick.

• Grandpa says Cobra Pose because your back needs stretching.

• Grandpa says Frog Pose to play with the grandkids in the garden.

• Grandpa says Warrior Pose to protect kindness.

• Grandpa says lie down because Grandpa needs a nap.

• Grandpa says wake up because the grandkids jumped on him.

• Grandpa says do Dragon Breath because the soup is too hot.

• Grandpa says dance like nobody can stop you.

• Grandpa says look for your glasses.

• Grandpa says check your pockets for snacks.

• Grandpa says tell everyone you used to walk 20 kilometres to school in the snow, even though you grew up in Australia.

Make it progressively sillier.

For older kids, let them take turns being Grandpa or Grandma.

5 Minutes

Grandpa said, “What? I can’t hear you!”

Did you know that even in colonies of thousands of penguins, adult penguins can identify their chicks by their distinctive calls?

Grandparents also have a special power.

They may not hear “Can you please help clean up?”

They may not hear “It’s time to go home.”

They may not hear “No more biscuits.”

But if a grandchild whispers “Grandpa, I need you,” somehow they hear it across oceans, thunder, lawnmowers, and three layers of hearing-aid confusion.

In pairs, establish a unique and distinctive sound that you will both be able to recognise.

It can be:

• A bird call

• A silly whistle

• A tiny song

• A “woo-hoo”

• A gentle animal sound

• A rhythm clapped with hands

• A made-up grandchild call, such as “Pop-pop-pa!”

One partner is Grandpa or Grandma and closes their eyes.

The other partner is the grandchild and starts close by, making their unique sound.

Grandpa follows the sound slowly and carefully.

The grandchild moves around the room, guiding the grandparent using only the unique sound.

Start at close proximity, then gradually create more distance or a slightly faster pace.

The grandchild must guide their partner safely, making sure they do not walk into anything or anyone else.

Switch roles after a few minutes.

In a 2nd round, add the funny hearing confusion:

The grandchild says, “Grandpa, come here!”

Grandpa says, “What? Comb my ear?”

Everyone pretends to comb their ear.

The grandchild says, “Grandpa, let’s play!”

Grandpa says, “What? Let’s plank?”

Everyone does Plank Pose.

The grandchild says, “Grandpa, I love you!”

Grandpa suddenly hears perfectly.

Everyone hugs or places hands on their hearts.

Say:

“Love has its own ears.”

5-8 Minutes

Grandpa can’t hear you yoga

This can be a separate game or a continuation of the previous one.

Everyone stands in a circle.

The teacher says a yoga instruction very clearly:

“Come into Tree Pose.”

But the grandparents “mishear” it and do something silly instead.

• Tree Pose becomes Tea Pose: Everyone pretends to sip tea in Chair Pose.

• Cat Pose becomes Hat Pose: Everyone balances an imaginary hat on their head.

• Down Dog becomes Brown Frog: Everyone squats and ribbits dramatically.

• Cobra becomes Sofa: Everyone lies down lazily.

• Warrior becomes Worrier: Everyone runs around panicking, then freezes.

• Plank becomes Prank: Everyone makes a cheeky pose.

• Bridge becomes Fridge: Everyone opens an imaginary fridge and looks for snacks.

• Boat becomes Goat: Everyone bleats and trots around.

• Chair becomes Hair: Everyone fixes their grandpa hair.

• Mountain becomes Fountain: Everyone sprays imaginary water from their arms.

• Triangle becomes Try-angle: Everyone tries a strange angle with their body.

• Camel becomes Caramel: Everyone melts like sticky caramel.

• Pigeon becomes Porridge: Everyone stirs a giant bowl.

• Eagle becomes Bagel: Everyone becomes round.

Let children take turns calling poses and the group deliberately mishears them.

After a few rounds, say:

“But then… we hear a tiny voice calling, ‘Grandpa! Grandma!’”

Everyone freezes.

The teacher whispers:

“I love you.”

Everyone hears it and hugs or places hands on their hearts.

Then whisper:

“Let’s play!”

Everyone jumps up and runs into the next activity.

5 Minutes

Grandpa lost his glasses yoga

Now our ears are questionable, and apparently our eyes have joined the rebellion.

Everyone pretends to put on very thick glasses.

The teacher says:

“Look carefully. What do you see?”

Point to different objects or people and let the grandparents identify them completely wrong.

• A yoga mat becomes a crocodile.

• A water bottle becomes a baby dragon.

• A sock becomes a rare endangered snake.

• A chair becomes a royal throne.

• A child in Tree Pose becomes broccoli.

• A ball becomes the moon.

• A scarf becomes a sleeping rainbow.

• A teddy bear becomes a suspicious potato.

Now move through “bad eyesight yoga”:

Everyone walks slowly with hands out in front, trying to find their way.

When the teacher calls a pose, everyone does the “wrong” version first.

• Tree Pose: They hug an imaginary tree instead of balancing.

• Warrior Pose: They become a warrior looking for their glasses.

• Butterfly Pose: They become a bat because they saw wings.

• Snake Pose: They become a worm because everything is blurry.

• Eagle Pose: They become an old chicken.

• Bridge Pose: They become a table because close enough.

• Camel Pose: They become a confused llama.

• Boat Pose: They become a bathtub.

Then the grandchildren appear.

Teacher says:

“But then Grandpa sees one thing clearly… the little face of someone he loves.”

Everyone wipes their imaginary glasses.

Look around the circle as if seeing the children clearly for the first time.

Say:

“When we look with love, we see better.”

Now repeat a few poses again, this time strong and clear:

• Tree Pose

• Eagle Pose

• Warrior Pose

• Butterfly Pose

• Bridge Pose

• Snake Pose

• Etc.

5 Minutes

The walking stick balance challenge

Give each child an imaginary walking stick, or use real sticks/noodles.

Explain:

“When I am old, I might need support. But support is not weakness. Support helps us keep moving, stay connected, and enjoy life.”

Practise balancing poses using the imaginary or real walking sticks:

• Flamingo Grandpa: Stand on one leg with one hand holding an imaginary stick.

• Old Tree: Tree Pose with one hand on the heart and one hand on the walking stick.

• Stork at the bus stop: One knee lifted, peering down the road.

• Grandpa Eagle: Eagle arms only, or full Eagle for older kids, with dramatic “I’m still magnificent” face.

• Grandma Warrior: Warrior II with the walking stick becoming a magic staff.

• Wise Wizard: Wide stance, both hands on staff, slow powerful breath.

• And more…

Now pair up.

One partner becomes the “walking stick” by standing beside the other and offering one hand or forearm for support. The other partner tries a balance pose while clearly communicating what they need:

• “Can you stand closer?”

• “Can you hold softer?”

• “Can I try without help now?”

• “Can you let go slowly?”

Switch roles.

This teaches both empathy and consent.

Support is only helpful when it listens.

5-8 Minutes

Wheelchair yoga grand prix

This can be done with real chairs. No wheels are needed. It is safer to use normal chairs unless you are in a setting with actual wheelchairs and proper space.

Set up each child with a chair.

Explain:

“Some old people use wheelchairs. Some young people use wheelchairs. Some people use them all the time, some only sometimes. A wheelchair is not a sad thing. It is a tool for movement, freedom, independence, and sometimes, in our imagination today, extreme grandparent racing.”

Everyone sits on a chair.

Start with respectful chair yoga:

• Seated Mountain: Sit tall, feet on the floor, hands on thighs.

• Seated Sun Breath: Inhale arms up, exhale hands down.

• Seated Twist: Hold the side of the chair and twist, looking behind.

• Seated Cat/Cow: Hands on knees, arch and round the spine.

• Seated Side Bend: One arm up and over.

• Seated Eagle Arms: Wrap arms and lift elbows.

• Seated Marching: Lift one knee, then the other.

• Seated Star: Legs and arms wide.

• Seated Forward Fold: Fold over legs and relax.

• Seated Butterfly: Soles of feet together if comfortable, knees out.

• Seated Dragon Breath: Inhale, exhale with gentle fire.

• And many more depending on how much time you have…

Then the grandchild energy arrives.

Teacher says:

“Suddenly the grandkids shout, ‘Race you to the moon!’”

Now the chairs become rocket wheelchairs, race cars, pirate ships, flying thrones, safari jeeps, and time machines.

Without moving the chairs around the room, everyone acts from the chair:

• Wheelchair rocket: Hold the sides of the chair, count down 5-4-3-2-1, lift arms and blast off.

• Wheelchair racing: Pump arms fast and march feet.

• Wheelchair surfing: Lean side to side.

• Wheelchair rollercoaster: Arms up, lean back, scream, then forward.

• Wheelchair spaceship: Twist left and right to dodge asteroids.

• Wheelchair dragon: Eagle arms become wings, breathe fire.

• Wheelchair superhero: One arm forward, one arm back, zoom through the sky.

• Wheelchair grandpa disco: Seated dance party.

• Wheelchair fishing trip: Cast the rod, twist, pull in an enormous fish.

• Wheelchair pirate ship: Row, twist, look through telescope, shout “Land ho!”

• Wheelchair yoga parade: Everyone creates one seated pose and passes it around the circle like a wave.

Then say:

“The chair did not stop the adventure. The chair became part of the adventure.”

This is an important message. We are not pretending disability disappears. We are showing that bodies move in many ways, and play belongs to everyone.

5-10 Minutes

The miracle grandchild medicine

Imagine that you are in an old people’s home… Everyone is now sitting in chairs or standing like very old grandparents.

The teacher narrates dramatically:

“Grandpa’s back was creaky.

Grandma’s knees were crunchy.

Grandpa’s ears were on holiday.

Grandma’s glasses were thicker than aquarium walls.

Grandpa’s walking stick was tired.

Grandma’s slippers had retired.

Everyone was just about ready for a nap.

But then…

From far away…

A sound.

A tiny voice.

‘Grandpaaaaaa! Grandmaaaaaaa!’”

Everyone freezes.

Hand to ear.

“Did you hear that?”

The voice comes again:

“Come play with me!”

Now the transformation begins slowly.

Fingers wiggle.

Eyes open wide.

Spine grows tall.

Shoulders roll back.

Knees wake up.

Feet start tapping.

Heart starts thumping.

Grandparent face changes from sleepy to glowing.

The teacher says:

“Love is the strongest medicine. Not the kind that fixes every pain forever. The kind that reminds us why we want to get up.”

Until now, the old people were calmly stretching, sipping tea, and looking for their glasses.

Suddenly…

The grandchildren burst in.

Now everyone chants:

“My grandchild is here!”

Each time, become younger and more alive.

Round 1: Whisper it, seated.

“My grandchild is here.”

Round 2: Say it, standing slowly.

“My grandchild is here.”

Round 3: Say it louder, arms up.

“My grandchild is here!”

Round 4: Jump or dance.

“MY GRANDCHILD IS HERE!”

Then explode into free joyful movement for 20 seconds.

From here, go directly into The Grandchild Tornado.

3-5 Minutes

The grandchild tornado

Now that the grandchildren have arrived, the room becomes a living tornado of love.

Divide into pairs or small groups. One person is the grandparent and one or more are grandchildren.

Round 1: Grandparent relaxing

Grandparent lies down or sits in Easy Pose, pretending to have a peaceful afternoon.

Grandchildren tiptoe around them, then gradually become cheeky:

They crawl around them.

They make animal poses nearby.

They gently try to wake them with funny faces.

They become puppies, kittens, frogs, monkeys, or baby dragons.

No climbing on bodies unless it is a family class or clear permission and safe supervision are present.

Round 2: Grandparent joins the play

The grandparent suddenly wakes up and joins the grandchildren.

Do:

• Crawling races

• Frog jumps

• Bear walks

• Crab walks

• Donkey kicks

• Rolling like logs

• Down Dog tunnels where grandchildren crawl under

• Grandparent mountain where children run around, not climb unless appropriate

Round 3: Love attack

Grandchildren freeze in their favourite pose.

Grandparent walks around and gives each one a “love blessing” without touching unless invited:

• A bow

• A smile

• A hand on heart

• A kind sentence

• A gentle high-five

• A soft shoulder touch if agreed

Add words too. Examples:

• “You are brave.”

• “You are funny.”

• “You are kind.”

• “You are allowed to be yourself.”

• “I love playing with you.”

• “I am so glad you exist.”

Switch roles.

5-10 Minutes

When I am a grandpa, I will say YES!

Everyone stands in a circle.

One child says:

“When I am a grandpa/grandma, I will…”

Then they suggest something imaginative.

“When I am a grandpa, I will take my grandkids to the moon.”

Everyone shouts:

“YES! Let’s go to the moon!”

Then everyone acts it out with yoga:

• Rocket Pose: Chair Pose with arms up.

• Blast-off jumps.

• Moonwalking in slow motion.

• Star Pose.

• Crescent Moon Pose.

Another child says:

“When I am a grandma, I will make a giant soup.”

Everyone says:

“YES! Let’s make giant soup!”

Then everyone becomes vegetables:

• Carrot Pose: Standing tall with arms together.

• Mushroom Pose: Squat.

• Noodle Pose: Wiggly Forward Fold.

• Soup Pot: Group circle holding hands.

Continue around the circle with anyone coming with any idea they want… And everyone saying YES!

Other prompts ideas:

• “When I am a grandpa, I will build a treehouse.”

• “When I am a grandma, I will teach them to rescue animals.”

• “When I am a grandpa, I will let them wear my clothes.”

• “When I am a grandma, I will dance in the kitchen.”

• “When I am a grandpa, I will listen to their secrets.”

• “When I am a grandma, I will teach them how to breathe when they are upset.”

• “When I am a grandpa, I will take them camping.”

• “When I am a grandma, I will make every day a little bit magical.”

The rule is that we say YES to imagination, as long as it is safe and kind.

This is not about grandparents becoming servants to children. It is about adults staying open, playful, and available to joy.

8-10 Minutes

Grandpa’s crazy playground yoga

Set up the room as an imaginary playground.

The grandparent has taken the grandchildren to the park, but this grandparent is not sitting on the bench scrolling.

No.

This grandparent is going in.

Move through a playful yoga obstacle course in small groups or the whole group together:

• The park gate: Gate Pose, side stretch to open the gate.

• The slippery slide: Sit with legs forward, lean back and “slide” down.

• The swings: Chair Pose, swinging arms back and forward. Then partner swing by holding hands and leaning back gently.

• The monkey bars: Standing side stretch, reaching hand to hand across the sky.

• The climbing frame: Tabletop Pose, then one child crawls carefully around the outside, not over the body unless safe and planned.

• The sandpit: Squat and dig, then become a sandcastle in a kneeling shape.

• The seesaw: Partner seated Forward Fold / Backbend. One folds while the other opens, then switch slowly with breath.

• The roundabout: Group holds hands in a circle and walks, then freezes in a pose when the music stops.

• The ice cream truck: Everyone runs in slow motion, then freezes in Tree Pose while licking an imaginary ice cream.

• The lost shoe: One-legged hopping challenge.

• The tired grandparent bench: Chair Pose against the wall or imaginary chair. Hold and breathe.

• And more…

Add storytelling:

“Grandpa said he was only going to watch from the bench. But then the grandchildren shouted, ‘Come on!’ And something ancient and sparkly woke up in his bones. Suddenly the bench was empty, and Grandpa was halfway up the climbing frame, wondering who stole his sensible shoes.”

10-15 Minutes

Grandpa lost his teeth

This is a quick silly yoga game.

Everyone sits in a circle.

Place a soft ball, beanbag, or small toy in the middle. This is Grandpa’s lost fake teeth.

One child is Grandpa and closes their eyes.

Another child silently takes the teeth and hides it behind their back.

Grandpa opens their eyes and says:

“Where are my teeth?”

The group gives clues only through yoga poses:

• If Grandpa is far away, everyone does Sleeping Pose.

• If Grandpa is closer, everyone does Cat Pose.

• If Grandpa is very close, everyone does Lion Pose.

• If Grandpa is touching the right person, everyone roars.

When Grandpa finds the teeth, they put it back in dramatically and lead everyone in Lion Breath.

Then repeat with a new Grandpa.

5 Minutes

The grandparent repair shop

Grandparents sometimes fix things.

Not because children are broken. Children are not broken.

But toys break. Bikes break. Hearts can feel a bit cracked. Confidence can get wobbly. Feelings get tangled. Families sometimes need repair.

Set up pairs.

One child is a “beloved old toy” that needs gentle fixing. They choose a yoga shape:

• Broken robot: stiff angular shape.

• Flat tyre bicycle: lying on side making circles with legs.

• Sad teddy bear: curled-up shape.

• Wobbly tower: Tree Pose falling over.

• Or anything else you and the kids can think about…

The other child is the grandparent repair person.

They do not “fix” by forcing. They fix with kindness, imagination, and permission.

The grandparent asks:

“What do you need?”

The toy answers:

• “I need oil.”

• “I need a hug.”

• “I need space.”

• “I need a new battery.”

• “I need someone to listen.”

• “I need help standing.”

The grandparent offers a yoga repair:

• Oil: Gentle wrist/ankle circles.

• Battery: 3 energising breaths.

• Hug: Self-hug or partner hug only with consent.

• Space: Step back and bow.

• Help standing: Offer a hand.

• Listening: Sit beside them and breathe.

Switch roles.

At the end, say:

“The best grandparents don’t try to fix children. They help them feel safe enough to grow.”

5-8 Minutes

Grandpa’s story blanket

Bring out a blanket, sheet, parachute, or imaginary story blanket.

Everyone sits around it.

Explain:

“Grandparents are often keepers of stories. Stories about when they were little. Stories about mistakes they made. Stories about people they loved. Stories about animals, adventures, strange foods, old houses, storms, songs, journeys, and the world before we arrived.”

One person begins:

“When I was young…”

Then adds one sentence and one yoga pose.

For example:

“When I was young, I rode a dragon to school.”

Everyone does Dragon Pose.

Next person continues:

“But the dragon sneezed and blew us into the clouds.”

Everyone becomes Cloud Pose, soft standing sways or lying down floating arms.

Continue around the circle, creating a ridiculous grandparent life story.

Encourage the story to have love and wisdom, not just silliness.

Possible twists:

• Someone gets lost and learns to ask for help.

• A lonely creature becomes a friend.

• The grandparent makes a mistake and says sorry.

• The children save the day.

• An animal teaches everyone kindness.

• A storm becomes a rainbow.

• But I can’t think for you here… Start and see what you and the grandchildren come up with!

At the end, ask:

“What wisdom did this grandparent learn?”

Examples:

• Be kind to dragons.

• Always pack snacks.

• Say sorry quickly.

• Listen to children.

• Don’t judge monsters before you know their story.

5-10 Minutes

Grandpa’s memory album yoga

Give each child a paper “photo” or ask them to imagine holding an old photo album.

The teacher says:

“Grandparents often have albums full of pictures. Some are real photos. Some are stored in the heart.”

Everyone walks around slowly as if turning pages.

When the teacher says “Click!”, everyone freezes in a memory pose.

Call out memories:

• The day Grandpa learned to ride a bike: Bicycle legs lying on back.

• Grandma’s first dance: Dancer Pose or free dance shape.

• The family picnic: Seated picnic pose.

• The giant storm: Windblown Tree.

• The day the baby was born: Gentle cradle pose.

• The time the dog stole dinner: Downward Dog with guilty face.

• The holiday at the beach: Surfer Warrior Pose.

• The best hug ever: Self-hug.

• The day Grandpa said sorry: Kneeling hands to heart.

• The day Grandma was brave: Warrior Pose.

• And more of course…

Then let children call out memories and choose poses.

Meaning:

“One day, the things we do now will become our memories. So let’s make some worth keeping.”

5-8 Minutes

Grandpa / grandchild acro-yoga play zone

This is best for family yoga or with older children who can work safely.

Frame it clearly:

“Grandparent love is strong, but grandparent backs are not indestructible. So we play with care.”

Do gentle partner/group poses:

Grandparent chair

One partner stands in strong Chair Pose. The other stands behind and gently places hands on their shoulders, pretending to be a grandchild saying, “Again! Again!” The Chair tries to hold steady.

Switch.

Storybook boat

Sit facing each other, knees bent, toes touching or feet sole-to-sole. Hold hands and lift one foot each, then maybe both feet into partner Boat Pose.

Say:

“This is the boat where Grandpa tells stories while crossing the sea of bedtime.”

Double tree family

Stand side by side in Tree Pose, touching shoulders or holding hands.

Say:

“Families balance better when they grow together.”

Grandparent bridge

One person does Bridge Pose. The other crawls around the bridge, not under unless space is safe. For family classes, children may carefully crawl under adult bridges.

Teddy bear lift

Adult or stronger child sits cross-legged. Smaller child or partner sits in front leaning back into them. The back person wraps arms around like a teddy bear, only with permission. Rock gently side to side.

Grandchild airplane

Only if trained and safe: adult base lies on back with feet on child’s hips, holding hands, lifting child into airplane. Otherwise, do standing partner Airplane holding hands.

The meaning:

“When I am a grandpa, I will not only tell my grandchildren I love them. I will show them with my time, my body, my attention, and my willingness to get a bit ridiculous.”

10 Minutes

Grandparent kindness commandments

Sit in a circle.

Ask:

“What rules should every grandparent follow?”

Let the children create “Grandparent Kindness Commandments.”

Write them on a board or large paper.

Examples:

• Always listen before giving advice.

• Never laugh at a child’s feelings.

• Give snacks, but not too many or parents become suspicious.

• Tell stories.

• Say sorry.

• Ask before hugging.

• Play even when tired.

• Teach children to love animals.

• Protect nature for the grandchildren.

• Never say “You are too old to cry.”

• Always have at least one silly hat.

• Know when to be serious and when to become a dinosaur.

After each commandment, make a pose.

For example:

• “Always listen” becomes hands behind ears in Mountain Pose.

• “Ask before hugging” becomes hands open, waiting.

• “Tell stories” becomes Storyteller Pose, seated with arms wide.

• “Protect nature” becomes Tree Pose.

• “Become a dinosaur” becomes T-Rex Warrior.

5-8 Minutes

What kind of grandparent would you want?

Sit in a circle.

Ask the children:

“What would the best grandparent in the world do?”

Write answers on a board or paper.

Guide toward qualities:

• Listens

• Plays

• Laughs

• Gives cuddles when wanted

• Makes yummy food

• Tells stories

• Lets you help

• Teaches you things

• Doesn’t shame you

• Says sorry

• Protects animals

• Protects nature

• Makes you feel safe

• Believes in you

• Doesn’t rush you

• Answers your questions

• Lets you be weird

Now ask:

“What kind of grown-up do you want to become?”

This is the deeper jewel of the class.

Children often think growing up means losing play. This activity says the opposite:

• You can grow bigger and keep your wonder.

• You can become responsible and still be hilarious.

• You can become wise and still crawl around pretending to be a goat.

• You can be old and still be alive inside.

5 Minutes

Heart wrinkles

Give each child a paper heart.

Say:

“When people get old, their skin gets wrinkles. But our hearts also get wrinkles. Some wrinkles come from sadness. Some from laughing. Some from loving people. Some from missing people. Some from being brave. Some from saying sorry. Some from forgiving.”

Invite the children to gently wrinkle their paper heart.

Then ask:

“Is the heart still beautiful?”

Yes.

“Is it maybe even more interesting now?”

Yes.

Now ask them to write or draw on the heart:

• One thing they hope to give children when they are older.

• One thing they want to remember from their own grandparents or elders.

• One loving sentence a child should hear often.

Examples:

• “You are safe.”

• “I love you.”

• “You matter.”

• “You can try again.”

• “Your feelings are welcome.”

• “I am listening.”

• “Let’s play.”

• “You are enough.”

They can decorate the heart and keep it.

This can become very moving, especially if some children have lost grandparents or do not have close relationships with them. Keep the language open:

“Grandparent, elder, teacher, neighbour, family friend, or any older person who loves you.”

5-10 Minutes

Grandpa’s secret snack breathing

Grandparents often have snacks.

Sometimes real snacks.

Sometimes imaginary snacks.

Today, we practise “Grandpa’s secret snack breath.”

Everyone sits comfortably.

Imagine Grandpa has a hot bowl of soup, fresh bread, cinnamon apples, chocolate cake, or vegan cookies.

Smell the food:

Inhale slowly through the nose.

“Mmmmm.”

Cool the food:

Exhale slowly through the mouth.

“Ffffff.”

Now imagine giving the first bite to someone you love:

Inhale: “I receive love.”

Exhale: “I share love.”

Repeat 5-8 rounds.

Then do “Birthday candle grandchild breath”:

Imagine your future grandchild is having a birthday.

Inhale slowly.

Blow out one candle gently.

Inhale again.

Blow out five candles slowly.

Inhale again.

Blow out one hundred candles because Grandpa is very dramatic.

Keep the exhale long, soft, and controlled.

2-5 Minutes

The rocking chair meditation

Everyone lies down or sits in a comfortable position.

You can play soft music.

Guide them:

“Imagine you are very, very old.

Not sick old.

Not boring old.

Beautiful old.

Wise old.

Eyes full of stories old.

Hands full of kindness old.

You are sitting in a rocking chair on a warm verandah.

Maybe there is a garden.

Maybe there are trees.

Maybe there are birds.

Maybe there is a dog sleeping near your feet.

Maybe there are children playing nearby.

Your body is slower now, but your heart is huge.

You watch the children run.

You remember being a child.

You remember falling over and getting up.

You remember laughing so much your belly hurt.

You remember being scared sometimes.

You remember needing someone to listen.

You remember wanting to be loved exactly as you were.

And now you are the elder.

A child comes to sit beside you.

They ask:

‘What is the most important thing you learned in your whole life?’

Take a quiet moment and listen inside.

What would your old wise self say?

Maybe:

• Be kind.

• Play more.

• Love animals.

• Don’t waste your life trying to be perfect.

• Say yes to adventures.

• Say sorry when you hurt someone.

• Listen to your heart.

• Take care of the Earth.

• Hug people you love.

• Dance even when you look ridiculous.

• Breathe…

Now imagine your old wise self smiling at you, the child you are now.

Your future self says:

‘Start now.

You do not have to wait until you are old to become loving.

You do not have to wait until you are old to become wise.

You do not have to wait until you are old to become playful.

You can start becoming the beautiful elder of the future today.’

Take one deep breath in.

And breathe out.

Feel your young body.

Feel your old soul.

Feel all the ages of you together.

When you are ready, wiggle your fingers and toes and come back.”

5-8 Minutes

The grandparent blessing circle

Sit in a circle.

Everyone places one hand on their own heart and one hand open toward the centre.

Go around the circle and each child completes one sentence:

“When I am old, I hope I still…”

Examples:

• “When I am old, I hope I still play.”

• “When I am old, I hope I still love animals.”

• “When I am old, I hope I still dance.”

• “When I am old, I hope I still listen.”

• “When I am old, I hope I still laugh.”

• “When I am old, I hope I still do yoga.”

• “When I am old, I hope I still make children feel safe.”

After each share, everyone says:

“May it be so.”

Then close with:

“May we grow old with open hearts.

May we grow young in our joy.

May we love children well.

May we protect the Earth they will inherit.

May we become the ancestors the future needs.”

3-5 Minutes

Optional extra games

Selective hearing grandparent comedy

This can be a running joke throughout the class.

When the children ask:

“Can we clean up?”

Grandpa says:

“What? Did you say ice cream?”

When someone says:

“Time for homework!”

Grandma says:

“What? Time for treehouse?”

When someone says:

“Let’s be quiet.”

Grandpa says:

“What? Let’s be pirates?”

When someone says:

“Bedtime.”

Grandma says:

“What? Dance time?”

But when a grandchild whispers:

“I need a hug.”

Grandpa hears perfectly.

When a child whispers:

“I’m sad.”

Grandma hears perfectly.

When someone whispers:

“Will you play with me?”

All grandparents hear perfectly.

Then say:

“Maybe love has its own ears.”

Grandpa lost his glasses

One child is Grandpa or Grandma and closes their eyes while another child hides the imaginary glasses somewhere visible.

Everyone else gives clues through yoga poses only.

Hotter: Sun Pose, Star Pose, Volcano Pose.

Colder: Snowflake Pose, Frozen Tree, Shivering Mountain.

When Grandpa finds the glasses, they put them on and suddenly “see clearly” and name one beautiful thing they see in the room.

5 Minutes

The grandchild taxi

Partner up.

One person is the grandparent taxi driver. The other is the grandchild passenger.

Seated car pose:

Sit with legs straight. Hold imaginary steering wheel.

Grandchild gives directions:

• “Turn left!”

• “Go uphill!”

• “Go through a tunnel!”

• “Stop for ducks!”

• “Emergency ice cream!”

• “Grandpa, faster!”

Driver moves:

• Lean back for uphill.

• Fold forward for tunnel.

• Twist to turn.

• Make car sounds.

Switch roles.

For a group version, create a long family bus sitting one behind the other holding shoulders or elbows.

5 Minutes

Wrinkle freeze dance

Play music from different decades: old jazz, disco, 80s, 90s, silly kids music, whatever feels joyful.

Everyone dances as their future old self.

When the music stops, call out a grandparent moment:

• Grandpa finding his teeth

• Grandma seeing her grandchild for the first time

• Old person winning a dance competition

• Grandpa sneaking cookies

• Grandma riding a motorbike

• Grandpa doing yoga at 100

• Grandma telling off a dragon

• Grandpa hearing his favourite song

Everyone freezes in a pose.

5 Minutes

The family tree human mandala

Stand in a circle.

Explain:

“A family is not only people with the same blood. A family can be anyone connected by love, care, and belonging. Today we become one big family tree.”

Start with everyone in Mountain Pose, holding hands or connecting elbows.

The leader guides a flowing circle mandala:

• Roots: Everyone bends knees into Goddess Squat, hands still connected.

• Trunk: Rise up into Mountain.

• Branches: Arms lift overhead, fingers touching neighbours if possible.

• Wind: Sway side to side.

• Old branches: Gentle backbend.

• Young leaves: Wiggle fingers.

• Falling leaves: Forward Fold.

• New seeds: Squat low.

• Growing again: Slowly rise.

• Birds in the tree: One leg lifts for Stork or Tree Pose, holding hands for support.

• Fruit of kindness: Everyone reaches one hand to the centre and says one gift they want to give future children: love, play, food, safety, stories, patience, laughter, courage, kindness.

End with everyone stepping closer, hands to heart.

“This is the tree of before us, with us, and after us.”

5-8 Minutes

Music to match

Weekly class plans and music playlists to match from Grandpa Gopala are here