- In the classroom, you can introduce a quick 5-minute lesson on belly breathing. Begin by demonstrating the technique, then allow students to practice it themselves.
- Encourage them to place their hands on their bellies to feel the rise and fall of their tummy.
- For students who are feeling stressed or angry, offer a quiet space where they can practice belly breathing to help manage their emotions.
6 of Spades
Belly Breathing
Easy Level
Have you ever thought about how you breathe?
It’s super cool because it’s an easy way to relax and feel better anytime during the day or even before bed!
Ready to try belly breathing in bed this week?
Breathe in:
Take a deep breathe through your nose. Try to make your belly button go up, not your chest.
Breathe out:
Slowly breathe out through your mouth. You should see your belly fall.
Repeat.
Here’s a fun tip
Put a teddy or toy on your tummy and watch it go up and down as you breathe or imagine filling your belly with air like a balloon, and then slowly letting it out.
This simple trick can help you feel calm when you’re stressed or angry. Plus, it can help you fall asleep by slowing down your heart and relaxing your muscles.
Guess what? A study showed that belly breathing improves your focus so it can help you concentrate at school! The findings also showed improved brain function and response to stress.1
Small changes CAN make a big difference – that’s what The 1% Kids’ Club is all about.
Website
Info on belly breathing
Teaching Belly Breathing to Kids So They Can Calm Down (yourkidstable.com)
Videos
- Practicing belly breathing with your child before bed can be very helpful.
- Encouraging this practice most evenings can improve their sleep and reduce restlessness or anxiety during the night.
- Ma, X., Yue, Z.-Q., Gong, Z.-Q., Zhang, H., Duan, N.-Y., Shi, Y.-T., Wei, G.-X. and Li, Y.-F. (2017). The Effect of Diaphragmatic Breathing on Attention, Negative Affect and Stress in Healthy Adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 8.
doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00874