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Deep Breathing Exercises for Kids

There are many benefits of deep breathing exercises for children.  Not only will they help children but the adults who are leading the deep breathing exercises will also benefit. 

There are many benefits of deep breathing exercises for kids.  Not only will they help children but the adults who are leading the deep breathing exercises will also benefit. 

10 Benefits of Deep Breathing Exercises for Kids

  1. Decreases stress.
  2. Reduces anxiety.
  3. Helps you to remain calm.
  4. Strengthens sustained attention.
  5. Sharpens the ability to focus and learn.
  6. Slows the heart rate.
  7. Lowers blood pressure.
  8. Helps to control your emotions.
  9. Promotes appropriate social behaviors.
  10. Encourages happiness.

5 Tips When Teaching Deep Breathing Exercises for Kids

It is important to practice deep breathing exercises for children when the body is in a calm state to learn the techniques properly.
At first, you will want to practice every day. Breathing techniques take time to master.  You will want to practice in a quiet environment so children can focus on their breathing.

Educate the children on the purpose of breathing techniques. They help our bodies to relax, to slow our heart rate and avoid “flight or fight” mode. 

Children will respond differently. Be mindful that some children will respond to breathing techniques quicker than others. Allow the children to repeat each technique until the body is calm and relaxed.

Fun Activities to Encourage Deep Breathing

If children need visual or physical supports to learn deep breathing exercises, practice fun activities that require deep breathing. Any activities, where the children have to exhale, are
beneficial.

  • Try blowing crepe paper.
  • Blow bubbles.
  • Inflate a balloon.
  • Use a party blower horn.
  • Blow feathers in the air or off of a table.
  • Blow ping pong balls on the floor.
  • Blow small pieces of tissue paper.
  • Blow through a straw to spread out paint on paper.

Teach Various Deep Breathing Exercises for Kids

Children will be able to master certain deep breathing techniques better than others.  Teach various deep breathing exercises to children so they can determine which ones are most beneficial.

Give it a try with this FREE Bumble Bee Breathing Break.  Download your FREE breathing break here (a tab will open in a new window).  This is from the Breathing Breaks complete packet.

Deep Breathing Exercises for Children Bumble Bee Breathing

Bumble Bee Breathing and all the Breathing Breaks are a great activity to teach children to help them to tune out stress, to relax and to get the mind ready to learn.  Here are some suggested times throughout the day to try Bumble Bee Breathing with children:

  1. Before the school day begins.
  2. After recess to help calm the class.
  3. After a brain break.
  4. Following a kinesthetic lesson.
  5. After lunch.
  6. Before a test.

Give the children some time to learn how to do the bumble bee breathing.  Make sure they understand the benefits to the exercise and try and keep it serious.  Children can get silly easily so remind them to stay focused and mindful on their own breathing.

Check out the complete Breathing Breaks packet.

Breathing Breaks: This digital download is a collection of 16 deep breathing exercises and 3 tip sheets. Deep breathing exercises can help to decrease stress, reduce anxiety, remain calm, strengthen sustained attention, sharpen the ability to learn and more! This packet includes 16 full page breathing exercises and 3 tips sheets in color or black and white. In addition, the breathing exercises are provided 4 to a page to make smaller cards or booklets.  FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION.

Breathing techniques offer easy-to-practice activities for building basic self-regulation in the body of youngsters and in your classroom.  When you connect children to an awareness of how they are breathing and give ways they can change and manage their breath themselves, you give them a life-long tool for healthy self-regulation.

If you need more calming activities check out:

Calming Strategies for the Classroom

Self Calming Strategies

Emotions Packet

Calm Down Cards

There are many benefits of deep breathing exercises for children.  Not only will they help children but the adults who are leading the deep breathing exercises will also benefit.