FREE Caterpillar / Butterfly Relaxation Script for Children
In this day and age, children don’t often get many opportunities for stillness. In a world where our senses are constantly in over-drive, relaxation can provide a much needed break from the whirlwind of chaos that surrounds us daily. The end of every yoga class traditionally ends with a Savasana (corpse pose) where the body and mind are given a moment to relax completely, allowing the benefits of the yoga class to integrate into the body and mind.
If you are wanting to incorporate a bit more stillness in your little one’s life - then this script is a good place to start! This Caterpillar / Butterfly script is suitable for ages 3-10years. Tell the children to find a comfortable position, maybe even lying down with a blanket and pillow. Encourage them to close their eyes, if they are happy to do so, and simply listen to the story you are about to tell! Simply read the script below in a slow and gentle voice, giving them opportunities in between to let their imagination go!
Script:
Get comfy in your lying position and close your eyes. Take a deep breath in, as your belly button lifts up to the sky. Breathe out and relax on the floor. Take another full breath in as much as you can, and then a full breath out. With your eyes closed, imagine you are a little caterpillar inside a cocoon. It's dark and cozy as you lie inside. You have been in your cocoon for a while and it is almost time for you to come out. As you lie inside your cocoon, you start to feel how little wings start to grow on your caterpillar.
As they start to grow bigger, you can hear how the edges of the cocoon start to crack open a little bit, allowing some sunlight to come into your cocoon. As you breathe in, your wings start to grow bigger and bigger. Feel how the cocoon around you starts to fall away and your wings take up all the space around you. Start to imagine what your wings look like. What colour are your wings? Do they have shapes or patterns on them? What size are they? And then on your next breath in, reach your arms all the way out to the side, imagine that you are spreading your wings out to the sides of the room! Stretch through your feet and make your butterfly as big as possible!
Take a nice breath in, and then round your wings into your chest and make yourself into a little ball, rolling on to one side…. Staying as the beautiful, strong butterfly that you are, bring yourself up into a cross legged seated position and reach your arms / wings up high. Rest your arms down.
Can you tell me what your butterfly looks like?
