When was the last time you paid attention to your breathing? Does it sound like an activity too far from your reality? Breathing is how the oxygen travels to our body and when it is done slowly it lowers anxiety and anger by promoting relaxation. In the next few posts I will give tips on how to assist your child on practicing breathing techniques. Try all of these techniques to see which work best for the child. Practice, practice, practice! 

Teddy Bear – Have the child hold a teddy bear or another stuffed animal against their stomach. Explain to the child that you will help them breath in and out on the count to three and they need to feel the stuffed animal moving. This will teach them how they are supposed to breath correctly. Tell the child to breath in (count out loud to three) then tell the child to breath out (count out loud to three).

Balloon technique – Tell the child: “imagine there is a balloon inside your tummy, breath in like you are inflating the balloon and breath out as you are deflating the balloon.” Tell the child to breath in (count out loud to three) then tell the child to breath out (count out loud to three). Repeat this activity for two minutes. 

Flower and bubbles – Have the child imagine she is holding a flower then breath in as if she was taking a “whiff” at the flower (count out loud to three) then breath out as if she was blowing bubbles (count out loud to three.)

Bubble Bee – Have the child breath in (count out loud to three) then have the child make a “buzzzz” sound as if he was a bee (count to three). The child can hold his ears while he exhales, feeling the vibration of the sound is comforting.