Five finger breathing
Have you ever been really upset and needed to remind yourself to take a deep breath? Now what if you were REALLY angry and someone else (maybe the person you were angry with!) told you to “just calm down and take a breath”?
When our kids are feeling big emotions they’re not always receptive to our help. That’s where specific breathing techniques are handy. By practicing breathing techniques in moments of calm, your child is more likely to use them on their own, or be receptive to your guidance during a meltdown. Remember, what we practice grows stronger!
Here’s a simple five finger breathing exercise for kids and some ways to make it even more fun:
Hold out your hand with palm facing out and fingers pointing up.
Touch the pointer finger of the other hand to the base of the thumb/wrist.
Slowly inhale as you trace your finger up your thumb. Exhale as your finger moves down the other side of your thumb.
Inhale again as you trace up your pointer finger and exhale down your pointer finger.
Inhale and exhale your way up and down all fingers.
Variations:
Call it star or starfish breath
Pretend your hand is a spider web and your finger is the spider.
Pretend your hand is a mountain range and your finger is a bear or hiker
Do it together- your hand while your child breathes and traces or vice versa.
