Play recipe
Visual cue makes deep breathing concrete for young children.
Use light stuffed animal. Stop if dizzy.
A light stuffed animal on the belly turns breathing into something a child can see. In, the animal rises. Out, it falls. That visual is why this works when 'take a deep breath' is just noise.
Use it when the room is already winding down, not as a correction mid-tantrum. A child who is flooding cannot follow a breathing cue. Lie down with them, do it yourself, and keep it to a handful of breaths so it stays a settling trick, not a drill.
Slow belly breaths are a concrete way to practice settling the body, with a visual cue young kids can actually follow.
You'll need: Paper cube or dice, Markers
You'll need: Music (phone or speaker), Clear floor space
You'll need: Aluminum foil, Scissors (adult use)
You'll need: Clear floor space
You'll need: Magnifying glass (optional), Container for temporary observation, Nature area
You'll need: Blanket to lie on, Sunglasses (optional)
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