Mindfulness Activity: "Teddy Bear Belly Breathing" Helps Children Focus and Relax
"Magnificent in its simplicity."
We love this activity that Greg Graber, Director of SEL and Mindfulness at Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, provided to us about "Teddy Bear Belly Breathing."
"A mindfulness program does not have to be anything elaborate or complex. In fact, I have seen some of the most simple ones net the best results. For instance, one time visiting a kindergarten, the teacher had the students lie on their backs. She then had them place stuffed teddy bears on their stomachs and encouraged them to watch their “breathing buddies” go up and down every time they breathed. It was magnificent in its simplicity and in its effectiveness in getting the little kids to focus on their breathing. It calmed them down and put them into a relaxed state in no time."
mindful activity packs for families, educators, and those who work with children
Thank you to Greg and Lausanne for sharing this activity with us! You can read more about mindfulness from Greg's book, "Slow Your Roll," found on Amazon here.