As parents, we often find ourselves telling our kids to "calm down" when they are upset. But just like skydivers who need to learn everything they need to know before jumping out of a plane, it's important for us and our little ones to learn how to "calm down" before things get hard. In this blog post, we will explore a simple technique for helping kids calm down - deep breathing.
Now, imagine if skydivers learnt how to open a parachute mid-air, after jumping out of the plane.
While someone on the ground is yelling "ok it's time to OPEN THE PARACHUTE now!" "Whaaaaatt??? HOWWWW!!!!?"
It's similar to when we're upset and someone tells us to "calm down" 🤯 "Whaaaaatt??? HOWWWW!!!!?"
The Benefits of Deep Breathing
Deep breathing is a simple and effective technique for reducing stress and anxiety. It can help to calm the mind, slow down the heart rate, and promote a sense of well-being. By teaching our kids how to deep breathe, we are giving them a powerful tool for managing their emotions.
How to Practice Deep Breathing with Kids
To practice deep breathing with kids, find a calm and quiet environment where you and your child can be comfortable. Start by taking a few big audible breaths and say "wow that feels so nice!" Encourage your child to follow along and take deep breaths as well. Most of the time, they will copy you!
Fun Tips for Caretakers
Make deep breathing fun by incorporating it into your daily routine. You can practice deep breathing while eating breakfast, going for a walk in the park, or singing in the car. This is when it's most effective - learning when things are calm. Like those skydivers who learn to open their parachutes on the ground. With all that practice, the next time your child starts feeling upset or anxious, you can encourage then to take deep breaths with more ease.
Deep breathing is a simple and effective technique for helping kids calm down. By teaching our kids how to deep breathe, we are giving them a powerful tool for managing their emotions. Remember, just like the skydivers, we want to practice these skills while things are calm and relaxed. So that the next time your child is feeling upset or anxious, you can try taking a few deep breaths together and see how it can help. Start simple and practice often, and one day, they will have this powerful tool in their back pocket for when they need it most.
Belly Breathing is part of Metta Play's Bilingual Yoga Card pack available here https://mettaplay.com/products/yoga-cards
Or if you want to print-at-home https://mettaplay.com/products/digital-yoga-cards