Breathing Buddy — Mindful Breathing Activity Kit (K–1)
Telling an upset kindergarten student to calm down doesn’t show them how. Breathing Buddy does, with a stuffed animal or beanbag that rises and falls on each child’s belly so they can watch their own breath slow down.
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About this resource
Telling an upset kindergarten student to calm down doesn’t show them how. Breathing Buddy does, with a stuffed animal or beanbag that rises and falls on each child’s belly so they can watch their own breath slow down. Made for Grades K–1, this mindful breathing lesson builds the body awareness behind Self-Management, with Self-Awareness close behind, in a set of SEL activities young children enjoy.
What students practice
- Paying attention to what is happening right now
- Breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth
- Noticing how calm feels in their body
- Choosing when to use the breathing exercise
What’s inside
- A teacher script with timed steps, about 20 minutes, and a flexible outline
- An Instructions Card with five simple steps, as small cards and a full-page version
- Reflection Questions Sheet with four questions on how the breathing felt and when to use it
- Breathing Tracker: a 30-day log of practice
- a certificate; 19 pages
A look inside
- Teacher script: “Take a deep breath in through your nose. Feel your Breathing Buddy rise as your belly fills with air.”
- Instructions card: “Remember to stay relaxed and enjoy the calm moment.”
- Reflection Questions Sheet: “Can you think of other times when you can use this breathing exercise?”
How to use this Breathing Buddy kit
- Introduce mindfulness as paying attention to the present, then give each child a buddy
- Have students lie on their backs with the buddy on their belly, breathing in to watch it rise and out to watch it fall, with calm music if you like
- Bring wandering minds back to the buddy, then sit up and talk about how it felt
- Use the reflection sheet and the tracker to carry the practice past the first lesson
Grade fit
The toy, the lying-down routine and four short questions are right for kindergarten and first grade, Grades K–1. Letting each child name their buddy makes it their own, and the Breathing Tracker keeps the practice going for 30 days.
Good to know
You supply a small stuffed animal or beanbag for each child.
Pairs well with
Pair it with Balloon Breathing, which teaches the same slow belly breath with hands on the belly instead of a toy, so it travels anywhere, or with Guided Imagery Journey.
Questions teachers ask
How long does the lesson take?
The script runs about 20 minutes.
What do I need to supply?
A small stuffed animal or beanbag for each child. Calm music is optional.
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