Christmas Fun for Kids
The real spirit of Christmas: giving and receiving. By Gopala Amir Yaffa
Reading time: 2 minutes
For adults, Christmas is defined by giving…but for children, it is about receiving. Both are ways to show love and appreciation.
For me, giving and receiving are like the breath of the universe; we inhale air with oxygen and exhale air with more carbon dioxide. The trees inhale this CO2 rich air and exhale more oxygen for us. With each breath, we are connected to this bigger whole.
So we give and receive even when we are not aware of it, but how much more powerful can it be if we do it consciously? Here are some ideas to help children do just that:
Discussion in sole mates
While sitting in a circle in ‘sole mates’ (each participant giving their right foot for their neighbour on their right to be massaged; switch sides halfway), each answers this question: What do you like giving and what do you like receiving? This is a great opportunity to learn more about each other.
The present of the present
We always inhale here and now, and always exhale here and now. So sit tall and start breathing deeply. Try to feel how with your breath you connect to your family, your friends, the animals, the trees and the whole universe. We and all the other animals inhale the same air and exhale more carbon dioxide; the flowers, grass and trees breathe in carbon dioxide and in return exhale more oxygen. We are all interconnected through our breath.
After a minute or two
In a circle, we pass a beautiful wrapped gift around. Inhale deeply when you receive the gift from the friend on your left and exhale completely when you give the gift to the friend on your right. Pass around the circle a few times.
Yoga present chain
Standing in a line, pass the present down the line while in yoga poses. The first person in the line chooses the pose and passes it down the line with the present. After receiving the present and doing the pose, the last person in the line walks with the present to the front of the line and chooses the next pose to pass with the present.
Gopala Amir Yaffa is co-founder & wizard at Rainbow Yoga (RainbowYogaTraining.com)