How Kids Yoga Supports the EYLF and National Quality Standard
Yoga is a natural fit for early childhood education, but when it comes to assessment and rating you need to show how it connects to the frameworks. This guide maps a weekly yoga program to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF V2.0) and the National Quality Standard, so you can document it with confidence.
The Five EYLF Learning Outcomes
The EYLF sets out five learning outcomes for children from birth to five. A well designed yoga program touches every one of them.
Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity
Yoga builds confidence because every child can take part at their own level. Children learn to try new movements, persist when a pose is tricky and feel proud of what their body can do.
Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world
Partner poses, group games and turn taking help children cooperate, notice others and work together. Many yoga stories also explore animals and nature, building connection to the natural world.
Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
This is where yoga shines. Movement supports physical wellbeing, while breathing and relaxation give children practical tools to manage emotions. Children begin to recognise how their body feels when they are calm, excited or upset.
Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners
Following a sequence, remembering poses and using imagination in yoga stories all support attention, memory and creative thinking.
Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators
Children follow spoken instructions, learn the names of poses and body parts, join in songs and describe how they feel. Yoga is full of language.
Linking Yoga to the National Quality Standard
The NQS has seven quality areas. A regular yoga program gives you evidence across several of them:
Quality Area 1: Educational program and practice. A structured weekly program with clear learning intentions, linked to EYLF outcomes.
Quality Area 2: Children's health and safety. Daily physical activity and practices that support emotional wellbeing and rest.
Quality Area 5: Relationships with children. Children practise cooperation, respect and supporting each other in group and partner activities.
Quality Area 6: Collaborative partnerships with families and communities. Sharing breathing games and poses with families extends learning into the home.
How to Document Yoga in Your Program
Capture the learning, not just the activity. Instead of "children did yoga", note what you saw: "Mia balanced in tree pose for the first time and told her friend how she did it."
Use the language of the outcomes. Link observations to the specific outcome, for example Outcome 3 when a child uses a breathing game to settle.
Extend it during the week. When educators reuse poses or breathing games outside the session, record it as intentional teaching.
Share with families. A quick photo and caption about a new pose or breathing game is easy family engagement.
A Program Built With the Frameworks in Mind
Yoga Bears Kids Yoga programs are designed around the EYLF and NQS, with sessions adapted for every age from 6 months to 6 years. We have supported more than 600 early learning centres across Australia since 2019. Learn about our early childhood yoga program or get pricing for your centre.
