Noah’s Ark Childcare in Narberth, this week celebrated becoming the first childcare setting in Wales to achieve ‘Mini Me Yoga Accreditation and Nursery status’, with an unveiling of their accreditation plaque.

Noah’s Ark Childcare are fully committed to the well-being of children through training all of their staff in a yoga and well-being programme. Not only have staff trained but even gave up their Sunday to do so!

International children’s yoga company Mini Me Yoga provides children with the tools to understand and take control of their feelings, using breathing, meditation and mindfulness.

It increases children’s capacity to learn and be gentle to one another; it teaches respect for nature and how to grow strong mentally and physically.

Noah’s Ark staff are able to implement daily yoga and positive life skills into the children’s everyday lives supporting and promoting mental health and well-being.

“Using the programme within our nursery has increased happiness and created a calmer atmosphere,” explained deputy manager Charmaine Davies.

“It provides the children with more opportunities for physical exercise whilst promoting fun activities supporting their well-being.”

“The children have really enjoyed learning the yoga poses and are developing their motor skills and balance,” said senior assistant Vicky Winship.

“There is lots of joy, laughter and smiling face when we are doing the programme together.”

These tools and techniques have been implemented across the setting, including their day nursery, play group and after school club covering ? range of ages from 0-12 years.

“I feel extremely privileged to have trained and worked with a team of staff who are dedicated to support the children in their care, implementing the strategies,” said Mini Me Yoga Wales Ambassador, Vicki Readings.

“Being a trained teacher, I understand and have seen the impact of using these techniques to support well-being alongside the importance of providing future generations with tools to create happier, healthier, confident children. We need to do this together as a community and that is exactly what Noah’s Ark Childcare aim to do.

“Noah’s Ark are setting the standard for implementing new strategies within settings to increase happiness and support well-being of young children across Wales.”