Breathe Like a Bear: 30 Mindful Moments for Kids to Feel Calm Anytime Anywhere

Do you ever feel a little, well, hyper? Like you have ants in your pants? It can be really hard to calm down sometimes. These exercises are easy and fun, and they’ll help you settle your mind and your body so that you feel calm and peaceful. You can do these as many times as you like, and you might even want to try your favorite one with your eyes closed. Before you start, sit up tall and hold your body still.

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Candle Breath
Imagine you’re holding a candle.
Take a long breath in, and slooowly blow the air out toward your candle.
You want to make your candle flame wiggle, but… DON’T BLOW IT OUT!
Long breath in, slooow breath out.
Long breath in, slooow breath out.
Long breath in… now blow your candle out!
Aaahhh…
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Hot Chocolate
Imagine you’re holding a cup of hot chocolate in your hands.
It’s much too hot to take a sip, so you need to blow on it to cool it off.
Bring your cup up close to you, take a long breath in, and slowly blow the air out, to cool off your hot chocolate.
Take another long breath in, and slowly blow the air out.
Now take a tiny little sip of your hot chocolate, and say “Mmmmm… !”
Make the “mmm” sound last as long as you can.
Try it again! Take a tiny little sip and say, “Mmmmmm…
Put your hot chocolate down, take a long breath in, and let the air all the way out.
yum!
Flower Breath
Imagine a flower in front of you.
It’s the most beautiful flower you’ve ever seen.
Can you see all the colors of the flower in your mind? Imagine how it smells.
Take a long sniff in through your nose, and let all the air out through your mouth.
Take another long sniff in through your nose, and let all the air out through your mouth.
Take another long breath in, and let it all the way out!