The Power of Breath: Teach Children to Breathe on Purpose & Calm Big Emotions
If we are loved, nurtured, and cared for by connected and emotionally regulated adults, then we can grow to handle life situations as they come our way. This isn’t the case for all humans who enter the world, however, so learning how to be a Calm, Cool Adult is one sure way to help all children become Calm, Cool Kids.
Some days are trickier than others, and lots of life events can be accompanied by BIG emotions. Learning mindful breathing practices is one way to help ourselves as adults become regulated and integrated so that we can co-regulate with the children in our homes, classrooms, or communities. This is an essential skill to acquire as adults, and it is so important to teach to our children.
When we pay attention to our breathing, this helps to build our self-awareness skills. Building self-awareness then becomes essential as we build effective self-management and coping skills. When life throws us a curve ball or two, these skills become more important than ever.
Helping children handle big emotions and grow to be integrated and regulated adults is our number one job as parents and educators. Mindful practices, beginning with intentional breathing, are long researched by psychologists and neuroscientists as effective ways to help regulate the central nervous system when we’re in stress mode.
I hope that you will take a moment to check out these free worksheets on developing your child’s self-awareness and self-management skills through purposeful breathing. Children in early elementary grades will have a great time learning to become more tuned into their emotions and begin a lifelong practice of mindfulness.
Bonus material for educators, parents, and caregivers includes simple mindful breathing exercises and step-by-step mindfulness techniques.
Kellie Doyle Bailey, MA, CCC-SLP, MMT/SELI, is a veteran speech-language pathologist of more than 30 years and a certified mindfulness/social-emotional learning (SEL) specialist. She is the founder of Calm Cool Kids Educate and provides workshops and trainings for families, educators, and community partners to learn the importance of using mindful practices as a tool for SEL development. Some days I Flip My Lid and Some Nights I Flip My Lid are her two other books.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Kellie Doyle Bailey is a published author and receives royalties. She receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Kellie Doyle Bailey has no relevant non-financial relationships.
