Activity Introduction
Quick summary:Did you know you have a superpower? It’s your breath and the way you breathe! In this activity, you and your kid/s will participate in a mindful breathing exercise that will help you both learn how to shift emotional states. Using the element of water, it explores breath and emotional regulation to help calm high-energy children, or prepare them for a task where they need to focus.
Time required: 20 minutes.
Information For Parents and Carers
To learn more about the benefits of breathing exercises, click here.
To learn about social and emotional learning, click here.
Other useful information:
- In this activity, you will be sharing a clip with your kid/s. The clip is a guided breathing exercise which requires your kid/s to follow the instructions and actions presented in the clip. If you can, go through the breathing exercise yourself before sharing it. That way you will know what is expected of your kid/s, and be able to support them through the activities.
- Research has shown that spending time outdoors has many benefits, especially for children. This also applies to practices like breathwork and mindfulness. Research suggests that presenting these activities outdoors may make our minds wander less, and allow us to focus more on being present. The research also suggests that mindfulness practices conducted outside can have greater benefits to mental, physical, and social health than those undertaken indoors. Find out more here and here.
EYLF Outcomes: Outcome 1.1, Outcome 3.1 Outcome 3.2, Outcome 5.1
Curriculum codes:
- A device to share a clip with children.
- An indoor or outdoor space to do breathing exercises.
- This image or your own (printed if possible), or a memory of a time spent with water.
This activity has been developed in partnership with Breath Circle, and with the support of the Phillips Foundation and the Thyne Reid Foundation.
