Mindfulness Activity: "Teddy Bear Belly Breathing" Helps Children Focus and Relax
belly breathing: "MAGNIFICENT IN ITS SIMPLICITY." ~ Greg Graber
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." ~ Greg Graber, Lausanne Collegiate School, Memphis
Teddy Bear Belly Breathing at home and in the classroom:
Have your child lie down on their back
Place the Teddy Bear on their belly
Try breathing in for a few seconds, then breathing out for a few seconds
Encourage them to watch their “breathing buddy” go up and down with every breath
sesame street belly breathe with elmo
Another belly breathing exercise to try at home is explained in this video by Sesame Street with Elmo, Common and Colbie Caillat. It’s about how to “let your inner monster out” and “Belly Breathe!”
restorative yoga pose
Belly breathing of course isn’t just for kids! As Jen explains, we can do this incredibly helpful restorative pose too and it only takes a few minutes.
“This restorative pose is really nice the morning time. Just do one or two minutes in it before the day begins. It can really help calm your nervous system and reduce any feelings of anxiety and stress about the day ahead. Try this with your little ones too and see how it affects them with a calm start to the day!” ~ Jen Armstrong
Jen Armstrong, Here For You For Them Co-Founder: Brighton Beach, UK
More Mindful Activity Packs For Homes, Classrooms and Those Who Work With Children
“Floating Kitty”
We hope you enjoy this mindful activity pack, inspired by 7-yr-old Axel! Axel has noticed how his kitties would rest with their paws tucked in, and how calm and relaxed they are in this position… He also said they look like “floating kitties!” And with that, we bring you this “Floating Kitty” theme for calm and relaxation.
“Focused and Brave Like An Eagle”
We are thinking about focus and bravery as we venture into this new season. We hope you enjoy this theme, centred around the eagle! Utilise at home, in your sessions, your classroom and camps, and please feel free to share as well!
For more on "Teddy Bear Belly Breathing," we also like this article from Blissful Kids: "Mindfulness For Kids – Teddy Bear Belly Breathing aka Breathing Buddies"
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. You can also ready more on Lausanne’s Culture of Mindfulness below.
Lion’s Breath To Help Release Overwhelming Feelings
Another breathing technique that helps children relax is “Lion’s Breath!” Give it a go in your home or classroom and have some fun with it too! Follow along with Alby and Friends to learn how.
