Breathing buddy practice
4–5 yearsSuccess MindsetMaterials: Small stuffed animal or toy
Lie down together with a small stuffed animal on your stomach. Watch the toy rise and fall as you breathe slowly. Count to three while breathing in, then count to three while breathing out. This simple practice helps your child learn to calm their body and mind. You can use this technique whenever your child feels frustrated, excited, or needs to settle down.
Part of the Imprint developmental journey — personalized to your child.
How to Do This Activity
Lie down together with a small stuffed animal on your stomach. Watch the toy rise and fall as you breathe slowly. Count to three while breathing in, then count to three while breathing out. This simple practice helps your child learn to calm their body and mind. You can use this technique whenever your child feels frustrated, excited, or needs to settle down.
Why It Works
Learning stress management and emotional regulation techniques supports mental wellness, which is crucial for overall health and development. Better psychological wellbeing is associated with higher academic achievement in children (Visier-Alfonso et al., 2024). Teaching concrete breathing exercises gives children a tool they can use independently to manage their emotions, supporting both mental health and self-regulation skills.
Tips for Parents
Practice this when your child is already calm so they learn the skill before they need it during stress.
Keep it short. Even two minutes is enough for this age.
Make it playful. Ask questions like, can you make your buddy go really high or can you make gentle movements.
Materials Needed
Small stuffed animal or toy
Learning Methods
Structured Academic LearningCooperative LearningProject-Based and Thematic Learning
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