Deep Breathing for Preschool: Using Belly Breathing
This session includes deep breathing exercises for kids, helping young students try belly breathing when big feelings show up, like when a block tower falls over. After a short video, students talk about how belly breathing could help them feel ready to try again, then play a quick movement game where they show with their bodies what to do in different moments. The takeaway is a simple, steady way to feel ready.
Extension activity
- Skill
- Self-Regulation
- Goal
- Managing Stress
- Grade level
- Pre-K & K
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 Belly Breathing
Last time, we learned about using calm-down strategies when we feel angry. Today, we’re learning about how to use belly breathing as one of our calming strategies.
- Extension activity
Interactive Worksheet: How to Belly Breathe
Learners will demonstrate mastery of belly breathing by correctly sequencing the steps needed to use it as a useful calm-down strategy.
Plus everything you need to teach them
Warm-up
- Video: Lion and Cat Breathing3:12
- Video: Our Senses Calming Break2:27
- Video: Yoga Pose Library
Session Opener
Guiding Question: What is belly breathing?
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 that belly breathing is one way to help their body settle when they have big feelings like feeling scared, mad, or frustrated. They talked about how those feelings can show up on the face and in the body, and how slowing down their breathing can help them feel better. Students practiced noticing a big feeling and choosing belly breathing as a way to work through it.
Key Terms
- Belly Breathing
- Belly breathing is when you put your hands on your belly, breathe in slowly through your nose, and breathe out through your mouth. It can help your body feel calm when you have a big feeling.
- Calming Strategies
- Calming strategies are things you can do to help your body feel calm, like taking slow breaths or asking for a break. You can use one when a big feeling starts.
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
When a strong feeling starts to build at home or at school, try doing a few belly breaths together with hands on your bellies. Counting down from three as you breathe out gives the student a simple step to follow.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this intervention free?
Yes, this ready-to-teach session on Using Belly Breathing 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 PreK and kindergarten students.
What's included?
You'll get access to your choice of warm-up videos, a session opener, a core material on Using Belly Breathing, three practice prompts, and an extension activity, Interactive Worksheet: How to Belly Breathe.
What skill does this intervention teach?
This ready-to-teach session is on self-regulation - more specifically, managing stress.
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