We start by telling the class that breathing is very important.
Breathing is important because it makes us feel good. It makes us feel calm. “Let's breathe together”
• HOBERMAN SPHERE This is a great tool for your classes. Show them how to breath in from the nose (as you expand the sphere) and breath out from nose or mouth as you make the sphere small again. They love it! Remember the smaller the children, the lower the lung capacity, so make the inhales and exhales shorter than you would have if you were breathing yourself. • BELLY BREATHING (Calming technique) Have all the kids lie down on their backs and place their hands on their bellies (if you have soft toys, you can also ask them to place that on their bellies instead of their hands). Now ask them to take a deep breath in and have their bellies grow like an inflated balloon.... And then exhale and have them relax their bellies. Make sure to make lots of funny noses while taking a deep breath in, and exaggerate your own belly while showing them, so they understand what they have to do. • POM POM RACE Bring some pompoms with you. Place on pom pom on the hand of each child. Then teach them to blow very slowly into the pom pom so that it doesn’t fall from their hand. Switch hands. Next, place each child at the end of their mat - or room and the pom pom on the floor in front of them. We will do a pom pom race by blowing into our pom pom and seeing who arrives first to the end of the mat / end of the room / finish line
