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The Thanksgiving holiday is the perfect time to step back from screens, social media, and the daily hustle. Recent research highlights the benefits of unplugging — especially for teens. Jean Twenge, a leading expert on social media and youth, recommends no smartphones until your teen earns a driver’s license and delaying social media until age 16. These boundaries support healthier sleep, focus, and emotional balance.

Families across the country are finding creative ways to disconnect together. Some are embracing “warrior monk” workouts, inspired by professional athletes who blend meditation, martial arts, and mindful off-season training. Others are turning to yoga, which studies show can boost total sleep time and reduce stress, making it an ideal family activity during a busy holiday.

Here are some ideas for a screen-free, mindful Thanksgiving break:

🧘 Family Yoga Flow – Start the day with a 10-15 minute yoga practice together. Try simple poses like Tree, Warrior, and Child’s Pose to get everyone moving and centered.

🌿 Nature Walks – Leave the devices at home and explore a local trail, park, or even your backyard. Encourage everyone to notice sounds, smells, and colors — a natural reset for mind and body.

🍂 Gratitude Circle – Before meals, take turns sharing what you’re grateful for. Encourage kids to be specific — even small things count!

🎨 Tech-Free Creativity – Draw, paint, bake, or craft together. These activities build connection, communication, and shared joy.

This Thanksgiving, prioritize connection over convenience. A few mindful, screen-free hours can help your family rest, recharge, and return to the holiday season with calmer hearts, stronger bonds, and happier minds.

💛 Take a deep breath, unplug, and enjoy the gift of being together.

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Thanksgiving is a time to pause, give thanks, and reconnect with what truly matters — family, friends, and the small moments of joy we often rush past. For kids, it’s also a wonderful opportunity to practice gratitude through movement, breath, and mindfulness.

Yoga helps children connect their bodies and minds, creating space to notice and appreciate the present moment. When we blend yoga with gratitude, we teach kids that thankfulness isn’t just something we say — it’s something we feel and live.

Here’s a simple Kids Yoga Gratitude Flow to try this Thanksgiving:

Mountain Pose (Thankful and Tall)
Stand with your feet grounded and hands at heart center. Take a deep breath and say one thing you’re thankful for. Feel your feet rooted in gratitude.

Tree Pose (Growing Gratitude)
Balance on one foot and imagine you’re a tree soaking up the love and support around you. Think of someone who helps you grow — a friend, teacher, or family member.

Child’s Pose (Peaceful Pause)
Kneel, fold forward, and rest your forehead on the ground. Take a few slow breaths and whisper “thank you” with each exhale.

Partner Pose (Thankful Together)
Sit back-to-back with a sibling or parent. Breathe together and feel the support of someone you love. Gratitude grows when it’s shared.

At the heart of Thanksgiving is connection — to each other, to nature, and to the moment we’re in. Yoga gives kids a way to embody gratitude, turning the holiday into a living practice of appreciation, calm, and joy.

This year, instead of just saying “thank you,” let’s move through gratitude.

🧡 Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at It’s Yoga Kids® — may your hearts, bellies, and breaths be full.

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The stress is real! Between work, kids’ schedules, and the endless stream of distressing news on our screens, it’s no wonder we’re all feeling it. Exposure to violent or traumatic images — especially when we don’t expect them — can trigger early stress symptoms like poor sleep and mood swings.

Even parents are showing signs: the internet is calling it “Cougar Puberty” for moms in perimenopause and IMS (Irritable Male Syndrome) for dads. And let’s not forget the academic and social pressures our kids face daily.

So what’s the answer to all this stress? Yoga.

If you can’t make it to class, try these proven, portable practices:

🧘 Resonance Breathing — your ultimate anti-stress hack.

1. Inhale through your nose for 5 counts.
2. Exhale through your nose for 5 counts.
3. Continue for at least a minute. Adjust the count as needed — just keep it even.

☄️ The Stress Springboard — channel the meltdown into meaning. Helping others has been shown to reduce stress and increase resilience.

✨ Bonus: Yoga aligns with the 11 Things Therapists Wish Every Kid Knew — Time Magazine Article.

Take a breath. You’ve got this. 💛