5 Fun Ways to Learn Deep Breathing to Help Children Learn Self-regulation
Posted by pchays on Apr 19, 2016Learning to self-regulate emotions is a big step for any child. Many of the children I work with as a occupational therapist struggle with this skill. I have been collecting resources for parents to use at home for several years, so here are a few of the best tools for parents to try at home to engage their child in learning this new skill:
Learning to take a deep breath is a skill I work on with many children in occupational therapy. It slows down the body and helps to refocus a brain that is being flooded with emotions. This skill is best practiced during play time, so here are 5 ways to work on teaching children about taking a deep breath.
Find an object that moves when you blow. Go on a nature walk and find things to blow- dandelions, leaves, grasses, and flowers. Or try a feather (from any craft store) or pinwheeel (easy to make or the dollar store usually has them). A lightweight scarf or tissues will also work to explore how breathing can move objects.
- Blow bubbles through a straw in a cup water or even the bathtub. See this post on bubble blowing in soapy water. Or just blow traditional bubbles together.
- Make blowing into something more interesting by using your imagination:
- Try using your fingers as birthday candles and blowing them out one by one.
- Put both hands in prayer position on your chest, then blow out as you reach your arms straight up and out as a volcano exploding.
- Put both hands near your mouth like they are holding a tennis ball, then as you blow expand you hands like a huge balloon.
- Pair breathing with a movement to build awareness of breathing. Breath as a swing moves in and out, as you roll a ball back and forth, or as you practice yoga or karate moves.
- Use music to help you. Sing, hum, or play a wind instrument (whistles). Show the child how you have to take a bigger breath to make more music and how to control your breath to control the music.
For other ideas on deep breathing:
- 4 Breathing Exercises for Kids from Move with me Yoga Adventures
- Deep Breathing Ideas from Kids Relaxation
- Take 5 Breathing Exercise
Looking for more ideas?
- Helping Children Learn about Emotions
- 5 Free at Online Resources for Helping Children Learn Self-regulation
- 5 Free at Home Activities for Helping Children Learn Self-regulation
- Helping Children Learn About Emotions
- Now What? What parents, teachers, and therapists can do to help build executive functioning and self-regulation skills in everyday life.
- Activities and Games for Home to Build Impulse Control
- Free Tools for Teaching Children to Calm (self-regulation)