Deep Breathing for Kids: Using Deep Breaths
This session includes deep breathing exercises for kids, helping students calm their body when stress starts to build. Through a short video, a discussion about noticing a tense body and racing thoughts before class, and a quick game where they finish open-ended sentences in their own words, they practice breathing in and out slowly. The takeaway is a simple calming strategy they can use in tense moments.
Extension activity
- Skill
- Self-Regulation
- Goal
- Managing Stress
- Grade level
- Elementary School
Get everything you need to teach the skill
These materials are part of a no-prep session designed by our clinical team, with all the structure, scaffolding, and support you need to teach included.
Engaging materials
Video modeling lessonUsing Deep Breaths to Calm Down
Madison is feeling stressed but uses deep breaths in and out to calm down.
- Extension activity
Interactive Worksheet: Keeping a Safe Body
If we are upset, our body might need to move. There are strategies and types of movement that can help us feel calm again.
Plus everything you need to teach them
Warm-up
- Video: Hot Cocoa Breathing2:05
- Video: Daily Intention2:59
- Video: Body Squeeze2:12
Session Opener
Guiding Question: How can deep breaths help someone feel calm?
Practice
- Discussion Question
- Role-Play Activity
- Mini Game
How to use it with your students
- 1Watch Play the video modeling lesson so students see the skill in action.
- 2Practice Try the skill together with a discussion prompt, role-play, or mini game.
- 3Extend Use the extension activity to help students carry the skill further.
What's Covered
In this lesson, students learned how to use slow, deep breaths to feel ready again when a strong feeling comes up. They practiced breathing in while counting to five and breathing out the same way, then checking in with their brain and body to see if they felt better.
Key Terms
- Deep Breaths
- A calming strategy where you slowly breathe in while counting to five, then slowly breathe out counting back down. Focusing on your breath gives big feelings time to settle so your mind feels quieter and your body feels still.
- Calming Strategy
- Something you do to shrink a big feeling, like taking slow breaths, walking to a calm spot, or tensing then relaxing your muscles. You use it when you notice a strong feeling starting so it doesn't get too big.
Sample IEP Goal This Session Supports
-
Managing Stress
Learner will recognize signs of stress in their own body or thinking (e.g., tight chest, racing thoughts, feeling overwhelmed) and apply a self-selected strategy (e.g., deep breathing, positive self-talk, taking a break) to manage the feeling in 4 out of 5 opportunities independently/given X prompt(s).
Send this tip home to support generalization
At home or in the classroom, when a student seems upset, you can try breathing slowly alongside them and counting to five together. Doing it with them gives them a steady example to follow in the moment.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this intervention free?
Yes, this ready-to-teach session on Using Deep Breaths is free. You can access this intervention free for 14 days through the Everyday Speech Session Library. Every user gets three free sessions, but you can get more or extend your access by sharing the Session Library with friends and colleagues.
What ages is this for?
These materials are designed for elementary school students.
What's included?
You'll get access to your choice of warm-up videos, a session opener, a core material on Using Deep Breaths to Calm Down, three practice prompts, and an extension activity, Interactive Worksheet: Keeping a Safe Body.
What skill does this intervention teach?
This ready-to-teach session is on self-regulation - more specifically, managing stress.
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