How Imagination and Play in Yoga Help with Emotional Regulation

Let me tell you a little something about my household: it’s loud, full of energy, and my kids? Well, they struggle with their emotions sometimes—just like any other kid. They’ve got big feelings and some pretty challenging people to deal with in their world. And let’s be real, who doesn’t have a little chaos in their life? As a mum, I’ve felt that chaos, and it’s why I’m so passionate about emotional regulation, not just for my kids but for all of us.

Today I want to share how play and imagination play a crucial role in our yoga practice and how they help with emotional regulation for kids. Trust me, it’s not about sitting perfectly still or being calm 24/7. Spoiler alert: emotional regulation isn’t always calm, and that’s okay. Sometimes kids (and adults) need to move, laugh, and play their way through those feelings.

1. Imagination Lets Kids Safely Express Emotions

First things first—kids are naturally imaginative. Imagination is how they make sense of the world, and when it comes to emotions, it’s no different. Through imaginative play in yoga, kids get to explore their feelings in a safe, non-threatening way. My kids love pretending to be animals during yoga—roaring like a lion pretending they’re angry or hiding in their turtle shell pretending to feel shy. Yoga offers them a way to act out emotions without needing the perfect words to explain them.

2. Play Turns Emotional Regulation Into Fun

Here’s the thing: Kids learn best when they’re having fun. As much as I’d love to sit them down and practice all the things I find really grounding, it just doesn’t work like that. But through yoga games, emotional regulation becomes something fun, not just another thing on the to-do list.

Take, for example, a game we play called “Freeze and Listen,” where I ring a singing bowl and they freeze when they hear it and move when they don’t. Not only does it get them moving and focused, but it also teaches them to slow down and notice not only what’s going on around them but also what’s happening inside their body—something that’s key for emotional regulation. Movement is magic for helping kids process their feelings.

3. Yoga Games Build Focus and Mindfulness

One of my favourite things to do is challenge my kids to focus through play. Focus is a big thing we need work on in our family! We like to play little game of “Tree Pose Challenge” where we try to find all the different ways we can practice one pose —lying down, leaning on a partner, upside down—you name it! What seems like a silly game is actually helping them build focus, balance, and awareness. All of these skills are essential when the big emotions start bubbling up.

And the best part? There’s no pressure for perfection. My kids can wobble, fall, and laugh the whole way through. Emotional regulation is all about learning to notice what’s going on inside you and responding to it, without judgment.

4. Building Resilience Through Play

In our house, mistakes aren’t something to fear—they’re part of the process. Yoga gives kids a safe space to practice emotional resilience. Whether it’s falling out of tree pose or getting tangled up in a partner pose, it’s all part of learning how to recover from setbacks without falling apart.

We practice things like “Bunny Breath”—a simple technique where you take three short inhales and one long exhale. It’s playful and easy for them to do, but it’s also a serious tool for self-soothing when things get a bit much. These little tools build their emotional toolkit over time.

5. Developing Social-Emotional Skills

Yoga isn’t just about individual practice. When we play yoga games as a family, my kids are learning empathy, cooperation, and how to read the emotions of others. Games like “Mirror My Body” encourage them to watch closely, notice how the other person is feeling, and reflect that back in their movements. It’s a powerful way to build emotional intelligence without them even realizing they’re learning.

6. Consistency Is Key (But It Doesn’t Have to Be Hard)

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that consistency matters, but it doesn’t have to be this huge, overwhelming task. Just 10-15 minutes of yoga games a day (or even a weekly practice) can have a long-lasting impact on emotional regulation. It’s simple, it’s fun, and it works. Plus, when parents join in, we’re modelling emotional regulation ourselves, showing our kids that it’s okay to express emotions, and that calming down is something we do because it feels good—not because we’re forced to.

---

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been feeling like emotional regulation is just about calming down, believe me, I’ve been there too. I thought it was all about sitting still and being “zen.” Boy, was I wrong. Sometimes, it’s about getting up, moving your body, and finding that calm through playful connection.

Yoga gives kids the space to feel their emotions fully and learn how to manage them in a way that feels natural to them—whether that’s roaring like a lion or balancing like a tree. And let’s be real, sometimes we all need a little imagination and play to get through the hard stuff.

If you’re ready to make emotional regulation fun, easy, and a consistent part of your family life, then join me in Peaceful Play – my Free Challenge where we can dive even deeper! I’m here to help you make this journey a joyful one for your family. See you there!

Liked that blog post? Check out this Youtube Video!