LOL Breathing Exercises Your Kids Will Dig!
14 At-home or Classroom-friendly Respiratory Workouts for Kids
Read this post to discover some hilarious and super fun breathing exercises that will keep your kids calm when they're stressed, upset, or over excited. Plus, grab our FREE download of BREATHING EXERCISES FOR KIDS, worksheets (available at the end of this post) and learn the benefits of deep breathing for kids of all ages.
Deep breathing is a fantastic relaxation technique adults often turn to when tension or stress gets too much. Slowing down our breath and taking deep slow breaths provides immediate benefits. But we don't often teach our kids the power of deep breathing.
If you've tried in the past and didn't see results, chances are you overlooked these key steps:1. Practice at calm moments, so your kiddo can use it when unsettled, angry, or facing stressful situations.2. Make breathing as fun as a rock concert!
This post will focus on making deep breathing enjoyable for your little one. Let's dig in!
First, let's cover some basics about breath and its benefits:
What is Breath?
Breathing is a necessary, unconscious process that supplies oxygen to our cells and disposes of carbon dioxide. Our rate and depth of breathing can change due to our physiological needs, moods, and emotional state.
Slow breathing techniques tend to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps relax the body. So let's dive into some LOL breathing exercises for your kids:
Tech-Friendly Breathing Games:1. Breathe in, set a 10-second timer, breathe out — Repeat 5-10 times (Adjust timer to child's age and breathing ability)2. Squ poss um Breathing: Trace the shape of a square with your finger, taking deep breaths when moving horizontally and shallow breaths along the vertical lines. (Or try triangle, star, heart, etc. shapes!)3. Rainbow Boss Breathes: Trace a rainbow arc while taking a deep breath on the inhale and holding for the color, exhale gradually once you reach the next color.*Bonus: You can even create a colorful, interactive printable for this exercise.
Animal-themed Breathing:1. Lion's Breath: Crawl on all fours, take a deep breath in, open your mouth wide, stick out your tongue, and roar as you exhale.2. Beeeat Breathes: Breathe in silence, hum like a bee as you exhale through your mouth.3. Croccy Blow: Lie on your stomach, place your arms above your shoulders, and exhale forcefully like a crocodile.
Other LOL Breathing Exercises:1. Belly Burp: Place your hand on your belly, take a deep breath in, and burp in a controlled manner as you exhale.2. Pin Wheel Blows: Use a pinwheel and watch it spin with each breath in and out.3. Cotton Race: Place cotton balls on a flat surface, blow gently to move them along.4. Feather Whoa: Imagine a feather in front of your mouth, and exhale slowly, as if blowing on it.
Having fun while practicing deep breathing will make it much easier for your child to learn this powerful technique—and much more enjoyable for both of you! Plus, don't forget to grab our free worksheets at the end of the post.
Sources
- EurekAlert! - Association for the Advancement of Science
- HelpGuide
- Headspace Blog - Square breathing
- PositivePsychology
- HealthInAFlash
- Deep breathing games, such as tech-friendly breathing games and animal-themed breathing exercises, can make deep breathing enjoyable for children and aid in their relaxation.
- For instance, the 'Squ poss um Breathing' exercise involves tracing the shape of a square while taking deep breaths, whereas the 'Lion's Breath' has children imitating a lion's roar during exhalation.
- Additionally, fun activities like 'Belly Burp' and 'Feather Whoa' can be incorporated into deep breathing routines to enhance engagement and learning.
- Incorporating deep breathing exercises into your child's lifestyle can contribute to their overall personal growth and emotional well-being.
- To further support your child's deep breathing practice, you can leverage resources like worksheets, which can be downloaded for free at the end of this post, and engage in educational materials on breath and its benefits.
