Published November 13, 2025 11:12AM
As a kids’ yoga teacher, I know the magic of a special, just-for-kids yoga mat. Not only do they provide a non-slip surface for balancing and a cushy texture for the inevitable fall, just like adult mats, but they make a vivid visual marker of personal space. This lets small practitioners learn the power of having autonomy, boundaries, and a space all to themselves as they come to understand where their bodies can go in their practice. It denotes a personal world all their own.
When I first started teaching, there weren’t many yoga mats for kids out there, so I often found myself cutting adult mats to make them more size-appropriate for little bodies. I pulled out Sharpies and marked where young students could sit on the mat or stand in Mountain Pose. Sometimes we decorated our mats.
Fortunately, there are now kids yoga mats designed specifically for smaller students. All of the following options are PVC-free and non-toxic. Plus, just like pint-size practitioners, they’re each unique! On these mats, sharing yoga with kids can mean poses, breathwork and games. On these mats, all are welcome, and you’re providing a platform for one of the most significant gifts of all: an understanding of how to move and breathe with awareness.
Best Kids Yoga Mats: At a Glance
Most Adorable
Mindful & Co Printed Kids Yoga Mat
Measurements: 56 x 24 x 1/8 inch
Material: PVC high-density foam (no phthalates)
Pros and Cons
+ Charming illustrations
+ Grippy yet soft
– Slightly heavy for small bodies
What kid wouldn’t want to practice on a yoga mat alongside Bert and Ernie or among cute unicorns, cupcakes, and rocket ships? These whimsical and sturdy mats are great for kids. Choose from themes like Sesame Street, nature, or enchanted with all charming illustrations drawn by artist Chloe Jasmine. The mats are machine washable (yay!) and comfy, with a microfiber top and rubber bottom.
Some smaller bodies might find them a bit heavy once rolled, but given how cute they are, perhaps little yogis will keep them out on the floor for reading and other play.
Best Budget Option
Gaiam Kids Yoga Mat
Measurements: 60 x 24 x less than 1/8 inch
Material: PVC (no phthalates)
Pros and Cons
+ Bold, fun illustrations
+ Non-slip pebbled texture
– Thin
Tap into kids’ imaginations and readiness for play with super fun and bold illustrations. Kids can step bare feet on a shark’s teeth without the bite, pretend they’re riding a seahorse, or make friends with an owl or unicorn. The illustrations fill the entire mat for a real-life vibe and work well for themed classes. (I can imagine an ocean-themed class that relies on these mats to set the mood.) Other designs include a ballerina or rocket ship, so you (or your child) can pick the world they want to explore.
With a pebbled texture, these kids yoga mats are non-slip and easy to clean. Some yogis might find the mats thin, but at this price point, it makes sense and is worth it.
Best for Older Kids
Yoga Design Lab Celestial Kids Combo Yoga Mat
Measurements: 60 x 24 x 1/8 inches
Material: Natural rubber base with recycled PET
Pros and Cons
+ Grippy
+ Water-based inks
– Slightly heavy
Aside from its smaller shape, this kids yoga mat might trick you into thinking it’s for adults! Featuring an ombre dark blue surface with a white star-like pattern, the look is calming and magical. The sophisticated cosmic pattern doesn’t feel too childish and is great for the young yogi who wants to feel like a grown-up yogi when they go to class or practice at home. With an extra inch of wiggle room, this mat is good for older kids and tweens versus toddlers. The sturdy materials mean you won’t have to replace it often, so the yoga mat will be there as the kid grows.
The surface is made from a felt-like micro-fiber and feels super soft on feet, while the back is a grippy rubber that ensures the mat won’t slide around. The subtle dot design down the center of the mat can help kid yogis understand where to line up their body in shapes, and the circles made of stars at the top and back of the mat can offer great visual markers for where to stand in Mountain or where to rest one’s head in Savasana.
Some smaller bodies, say under age six, might find this mat a bit heavy for transporting. But those seven and up will love the spatial and visual world this creates. It also comes with a carrying strap to keep things tidy when not in use.
Most Educational
Plyopic Animal Kids Yoga Mat
Measurements: 59 x 24 x 1/4 inches
Material: TPE foam
Pros and Cons
+ Visuals that teach
+ Great size
– Slightly slippery
This vibrant kids yoga mat is decorated with animal and nature shapes and yoga poses that mirror those shapes, drawing on kids’ natural interests in the world around them. Super soft and squishy, this mat offers a cloud-like world to practice on. Kids can move through the shapes they see beneath their feet as they lead themselves through a mini-practice.
In addition to the inviting images, the size of the mat is just right for little yoga bodies. Having watched kids walk themselves through yoga practices using visual picture books, I know this mat will keep little ones busy and engaged on their own.
This mat has two sides: one for ages 3-11 and one for 7 and up.Each option leads yogis through a visual sequence via a number, an illustration of the animal or nature image, and the pose. The cushiony feel of this thicker-than-usual mat will make for lovely nap times (aka Savasanas). And it comes in fun, bright colors like Barbie pink and bubblegum blue.
Some might find this mat a bit too slick on the surface as it lacks texture. Plus, I know from teaching that kids can be little germ factories (I say this with love!), so the squishy, absorbent surface might be an issue as it could hold be more challenging to clean than harder mats, so it’s essential to wipe the mat’s surface on the regular. Luckily, learning to clean mats can give kids another yoga lesson: saucha or cleanliness. Caring for our props means caring for ourselves.
Most Colorful
Yoga Direct Fun Yoga Mat for Kids
Measurements: 60 x 24 x 1/4 inches
Material: PVC high-density foam (no phthalates)
Pros and Cons
+ Grippy
+ Lightweight
– A bit…basic
This kids yoga mat is colorful, fun, and inviting! Its pebbled texture keeps kids from slipping around too much while practicing, plus it rolls up well and isn’t too bulky or big for little arms to carry.
Available in color and design combos such as sea blue with a green turtle or lavender with green butterflies, this mat will fit into playrooms and kid classes. The orange mat with little sun illustrations splashed all over is fun and cheerful when viewed from Downward-Facing Dog. Vibrant patterns and colors set the mood for play and joy—two big things that are emphasized in kids yoga. Plus, with its lightweight build and design that’s easy to roll or fold, it’s good for travel. You can even fold it and stash it in the family suitcase as you hit the road for the holidays or other adventures.
The material is on the thinner side so it’s perhaps best not to have expectations for its longevity.
