Breathing Star – FREE Printable
When it comes to emotional regulation, breathing is key. And what better way to help kids remember to take deep breaths than with a breathing star? This breathing star free printable can be used by kids of all ages to help them calm down and regulate their emotions.
It is part of the Sensory Path for School and Home – SENSORY STOPS. If you are looking for an easy way to set up a sensory path in your school or home? Check out SENSORY STOPS! This collection of 8 sensory breaks will get your student’s body and mind ready to learn.
WHAT IS A BREATHING STAR?
A breathing star is a simple visual tool that helps kids to focus on taking deep breaths. It can be used to calm down during moments of stress or anxiety, or simply to help get into a more relaxed state. This is a great activity to do after brain breaks or recess. It can help the student’s get their body and mind ready to learn.
The star is made up of 5 points, each representing a breath. As kids focus on taking deep breaths, they can follow the points of the star one by one.
Sensory Path for School and Home DIGITAL version Sensory Stops
HOW TO DO STAR BREATHING
Calm down with the deep breathing technique. The instructions are:
- Pick any green circle to begin.
- Breathe out (exhalation) for a count of 3 – hold the breath for a count of 3 on the green circles.
- Breathe in (inhalation) for a count of 3.
- Go around the whole star doing your deep breathing until you return to the green circle where you started.
- Repeat as needed.
HOW TO USE THE BREATHING STAR TEMPLATE
There are a few different ways that you can use the breathing activity with your kids. Here are a few ideas:
- Print out a copy of the star and put it somewhere that your child can see it easily, such as on their wall or door in the classroom or home.
- Use the breathing star as a visual aid during breathing exercises. Hold up the star so that your child can see it, and then help them to follow along with the breathing pattern.
- Laminate the breathing star and use it as a dry-erase board. Kids can write or draw on the star with a dry-erase marker, and then erase it to start again.
- Use the breathing star as a coloring sheet. Kids can color in the star while they focus on taking deep breaths.
- Add to your calming corner tool kit.
- Model self-regulation of your own emotions by using the breathing star to calm your won behavior.
WHY IS DEEP BREATHING IMPORTANT?
Breathing is an important part of emotional regulation because it helps to calm the nervous system. When we take deep breaths, it sends a signal to the brain that everything is okay. This is a useful tool to help:
- ease feelings of anxiety or anger.
- lower stress
- decrease the heart rate
- increase oxygen intake
- social-emotional learning – is a great self calming technique
- self-regulation
The breathing star is a simple way for kids to focus on their breathing and to get in touch with their emotions. By using the star regularly, kids can learn how to take deep breaths and calm down when they need it most.
GET ALL THE SENSORY STOPS
This emotional regulation breathing activity is the last stop in the Sensory Path for School and Home set. Get all 8 sensory stations posters here.
The SENSORY STOP stations are:
- Heavy Work Stop – Includes 4 proprioception exercises to add deep pressure input to the body.
- Movement Stop – Includes 4 vestibular exercises to encourage movement and balance.
- Energy Stop – Includes 4 energy-burning bilateral coordination exercises: cross crawls, squat and jump, running in place, and cross country ski jumps.
- Coordination Stop Numbers – Challenge both sides of the brain to work together! Use both fingers together to tap on the numbers 1-9.
- Coordination Stop Letters – Crossing midline exercises with visual scanning to tap on the alphabet A to Z.
- Foot Coordination Stop (2 Posters) – Work on balance, eye-foot, and eye-hand coordination with these two fun posters!
- Motor Planning Stop – Follow the code to complete the cardio aerobic exercises.
- Calming Stop – Calm down with star breathing to get ready to return to your schoolwork!
ACCESS YOUR BREATHING STAR PRINTABLE HERE
Simply click the link below to download a copy of the printable. This PDF includes both the black and white and color versions of the engaging star-themed card.
