One of the best things about yoga is that it could be a safe and effective form of exercise throughout the lifespan. Toddlers, kids, tweens, teens, adults, and seniors alike can enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of yoga.
Yoga for kids can improve muscle strength, flexibility, and balance, as well as increase focus and reduce anxiety. Many children also enjoy doing yoga alongside parents as a form of bonding together.To ensure your little one’s yoga practice is safe and comfortable, you’ll want to get your child a yoga mat for kids.
The best yoga mats for kids provide a secure, slip-free surface for your child to perform yoga with the added benefit of some cushioning for enhanced comfort over doing yoga on a bare floor.
The best yoga mats for kids are also visually appealing to young yogis, motivating and exciting them to have their own special, designated space to exercise and enjoy yoga.
Fortunately, as the awareness of the benefits and effectiveness of yoga for toddlers and children has grown, so too has the number of yoga mats designed for children.
To help you find the best yoga mat for your toddler, child, or teenager, we’ve put together our recommendations of the best yoga mats for kids, and have reviewed them below.
Best Yoga Mat for Children: Gaiam Kids Yoga Mat
Our pick for the best kids yoga mat overall is the Gaiam Kids Yoga Mat.
Available in tons of cute patterns or graphics like Birdsong, Animal Surprise, sharks, dinosaurs, cacti, unicorns, butterflies, turtles, elephants, and mares, this yoga mat is not only sized for kids, it’s designed for kids.
If you have more than one kiddo, each child can choose a yoga mat with their favorite design.
The Gaiam Kids Yoga Mat measures 60 inches long, 24 inches wide, and 3 millimeters thick.
It is ideal for kids ages 5-8, though it’s also a good yoga mat for toddlers, older kids; and tweens, as long as they are under five feet tall.There’s a slight sticky or tacky feel to the yoga mat, which helps prevent slipping and ensures your child feels safe and secure on the mat and that the mat stays in place on the floor.
Best of all, all Gaiam Kids Yoga Mats are non-toxic and 6P Free, which means the PVC mat is free from the phthalates DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP and DNOP
As a nice bonus, when you purchase the Gaiam Kids Yoga Mat, you also get access to a free downloadable kids yoga class.
Best Yoga Mat for Young Kids: Good Banana Kid’s Yoga Mat
When it comes to whimsical, child-appealing designs, we love the Good Banana Kid’s Yoga Mat.
Rather than being a boring rectangle like an adult yoga mat, these fun kids yoga mats are die-cut into cute designs like a rainbow with clouds, a kitty cat with ears, an adorable llama, and a panda with sweet ears.
The graphics and fun shapes are eye-popping and appeal to toddlers and child yogis, encouraging them to practice yoga.
Measuring 65.5 x 31.5 inches, these yoga mats for children are made from environmentally friendly TPE, which is durable, comfortable, and anti-slip to ensure safety.
They are also free from latex and PVC, lightweight, and easy to wipe clean, all definite perks for any kids yoga mat.
Best Yoga Mat for Teens: NewMe Fitness Yoga Mat
Although teens can certainly use regular adult mats, sometimes, they prefer yoga mats with graphics or designs that pop. They feel more motivated to roll out their yoga mat and practice some poses if their mat feels like its look is personalized or appeals to their interests.
Our pick for the best yoga mat for teens is the NewMe Fitness Yoga Mat, a full-sized yoga mat (24 inches wide by 68 inches long) covered in high-quality, clear illustrations of 70 different yoga poses.
Burgeoning teen yogis will love having the visual yoga asana encyclopedia right on their very own yoga mat, allowing them to learn and practice their own poses, even self-guided, which is great for the oft-independent mindset of teens.
It’s also a great yoga mat for teens because it’s a generous 5 mm thick, providing more cushioning for bony prominences and tender joints during growth spurts and changing bodies.
For safety, the NewMe Fitness Yoga Mat is anti-slip and made from PVC that’s BPA free, phthalate free, and wicks moisture and sweat away to prevent bacterial growth and odor.
Best Eco-Friendly Kids Yoga Mat: YOGA DESIGN LAB The Kids Yoga Mat
YOGA DESIGN LAB makes fantastic yoga mats, and the YOGA DESIGN LAB The Kids Yoga Mat is no exception.
This is our pick for the best eco-friendly kids yoga mats, as it is made from recycled water bottles and non-fade and non-toxic dyes.
This sustainable kids’ yoga mat has an effective anti-skid bottom to keep the mat in place on the floor, has absolutely no odor, and is fully machine washable, which is relatively unheard of when it comes to cleaning yoga mats.
We also love the feel of this children’s yoga mat because it’s a little cushier than most. It is a nice 4.5 inches thick and has a plushier feel than many kids yoga mats.
It measures 60 inches long by 24 inches wide.
Best Kids Yoga Mat for Beginners: Really Good Stuff Kids Yoga Mat with 24 Illustrated Poses
Our recommendation for the best kids yoga mats for beginners is the Really Good Stuff Kids Yoga Mat with 24 Illustrated Poses.
This is a great yoga mat for teens because it’s essentially full-sized, measuring 68 inches long by 24 inches wide, so it’s good for growing children entering adolescent growth spurts.
It’s also a comfortable yoga mat, being 5 mm thick, and has a super nice cushioned feel to it.
We think it’s one of the best kids yoga mats for beginners because it has illustrations of 24 yoga poses displayed on the mat, helping teach new yogis good poses to try.
This durable kids yoga mat is free from phthalates, including DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIBP, DPENP, DHEXP or DCHP, and has an anti-slip texture for traction.
Best Cork Kids Yoga Mat: Little Bodhi Leaf Kids Yoga Mat
Cork yoga mats are a natural, eco-friendly alternative to any sort of plastic or synthetic rubber yoga mat.
There are an increasing number of cork yoga mats for kids these days, but our pick for the best kids’ cork yoga mat is the Little Bodhi Leaf Kids Yoga Mat.
Designed and sized for little yogis from 2-12 years old, the Little Bodhi Leaf Yoga Mats are made from sustainably-harvested and eco-friendly cork and natural rubber.
They are free from PVC, PER, or TPE.
The all-natural kids yoga mats measure 59 x 23 inches and come in an adorable sloth or mermaid pattern. You also get a free yoga mat strap for carrying the mat.
Best Non-Slip Kids Yoga Mat: Bean Products Yoga Mats
An anti-slip, non-skid yoga mat is ideal for kids to ensure safety while your little yogi practices poses, but some kids’ yoga mats have better traction than others.
The best non-skid kids yoga mat we tried was the Bean Products Yoga Mats.
It stays put and has a nice, tacky feel on top as well to ensure your child’s hands and feet stay in place, whether doing Warrior I Pose or Downward-Facing Dog Pose.
The Bean Products Yoga Mats are better for your children and better for the planet.
Made of CleanPVC, a natural rubber and synthetic blend, these kids’ yoga mats are free of toxic phthalates, dioxins, furans, phenols, and heavy metals.
All the yoga mats are SGS tested and verified.
The yoga mats for children measure 24 inches wide by 60 inches long and 3.5 mm thick, so they are ideal for toddlers through tweens.
You can pick from a variety of child-friendly graphics, such as panda bears, emoji faces, and slime.
Most Durable Kids Yoga Mat: ZULY Premium Microfibre Suede Kids Yoga Mat with Free Yoga Strap
ZULY is committed to offering sustainable, eco-friendly products.
So instead of making PVC or TPE kids yoga mats, which have compounds that can increase pollution, block drains, and harm animals if not disposed of properly, their yoga mats for children are made from an eco-friendly, safe, synthetic velvety suede material and organic rubber backing.
The yoga mat has a much softer feel, even though it’s anti-slip.
It is also anti-tear and anti-rip for lasting use and completely machine washable, a perk we really value in kids yoga mats.
You’ll get a free yoga mat strap as well, and the graphics are eye-popping for children and tweens.
It comes in adorable patterns like Lilac Boho Fox, Bubblegum Unicorn Fun, Magenta Space Party, and Teal Space Party.
Best Organic Rubber Kids Yoga Mat: Little Yogi Tribe Eco-Friendly Kids Yoga Mat
Who doesn’t want an organic kids’ yoga mat?
The Little Yogi Tribe Eco-Friendly Kids Yoga Mat is made from 100% organic, natural rubber with a soft, microfiber suede top.
It is non-toxic and free from PVC, silicone, phthalates, and chemical odors.
This rubber kids’ yoga mat measures 60 inches long, 24 inches wide, and 3 mm thick. It is tear-resistant, non-slip, and velvety soft, and comes with a carrying strap.
Want some ideas for yoga for kids? Check out this free yoga for kids workout video.
