The Power of Breath: Helping Young Children Learn Calm, Focus, and Self-Regulation
As preschool teachers, one of our jobs is helping children learn how to be in their bodies, understand their emotions, and feel safe in the world. One of the simplest and most powerful tools we have to support this work is something children do naturally every day: breathing. Teaching young children how to breathe with awareness helps build the foundation for emotional regulation, focus, resilience, and kindness. Just as importantly, it helps us create calmer, more connected classrooms.
Why Breath Matters for Preschoolers
Young children experience big feelings, often without the words or skills to manage them. When children feel overwhelmed, their bodies go into “fight, flight, or freeze.” Conscious breathing helps their nervous systems return to a place of calm.
Regular breathing and mindfulness practices can help preschoolers:
- Calm their bodies during big emotions
- Improve focus and listening
- Transition more smoothly between activities
- Develop early self-regulation skills
- Build empathy and body awareness
- Feel safe and connected to their teachers
Breathing is not about being “quiet” or “perfect.” It’s about giving children a tool they can use when their feelings feel bigger than they are.
How Preschoolers Learn Best
Preschoolers learn through:
Preschoolers learn through:
- Play
- Imagination
- Modeling
- Repetition
- Gentle guidance
Breathing practices should always be:
- Short (30 seconds to 2 minutes)
- Playful and visual
- Free of pressure
- Optional and invitational
Children learn breathing best when they see you doing it too.
Breathing & Mindfulness Activities for Preschool Classrooms
1. Belly Breathing with a Stuffed Animal
What it teaches: Body awareness and calm breathing
Have children lie down and place a small stuffed animal on their belly.
- “Let’s make our stuffed animal go up and down.”
- Inhale through the nose to lift the animal.
- Exhale slowly through the mouth.
Do 3–5 breaths together.
2. Flower and Candle Breath
What it teaches: Slow, controlled breathing
What it teaches: Slow, controlled breathing
Have children pretend:
- Smell a flower (slow inhale through the nose)
- Blow out a candle (slow exhale through the mouth)
- Repeat 3 times.
3. Bubble Breathing
What it teaches: Gentle breath control and focus
Blow bubbles together and explain:
- “If we breathe too fast, the bubbles pop.”
- “Slow breaths make big, beautiful bubbles.”
You can also pretend to blow bubbles without actual bubble wands.
4. Rainbow Breathing
What it teaches: Mindful movement and calming transitions
Have children trace an imaginary rainbow in the air:
What it teaches: Mindful movement and calming transitions
Have children trace an imaginary rainbow in the air:
- Inhale as their finger goes up one side
- Exhale as it goes down the other side
Repeat several times slowly.
5. Starfish Breathing
What it teaches: Counting breaths and calming the body
Have children trace their hand like a starfish:
What it teaches: Counting breaths and calming the body
Have children trace their hand like a starfish:
- Inhale as they trace up one finger
- Exhale as they trace down
Move through all five fingers together.
6. Listening Ears Moment
What it teaches: Mindfulness and attention
Ask children to:
What it teaches: Mindfulness and attention
Ask children to:
- Close their eyes (optional)
- Take one deep breath
- Listen for a sound (a bell, chime, or classroom sound)
Ask: “What did you hear?”
7. Calm Corner Breathing
What it teaches: Independent self-regulation
Create a cozy space with:
What it teaches: Independent self-regulation
Create a cozy space with:
- Soft pillows
- Visual breathing cards
- Pinwheels or feathers for blowing
Teach children they can go there when their bodies need calm.
When to Use Breathing Practices
Breathing can be woven naturally into the day:
Breathing can be woven naturally into the day:
- Morning circle
- Before transitions
- After outdoor play
- During emotional moments
- Anytime the classroom energy feels high
Even one mindful breath can make a difference.
Our Role as Teachers
Children learn calm from calm. When you pause to breathe, you are teaching without saying a word.
It’s okay if:
Children learn calm from calm. When you pause to breathe, you are teaching without saying a word.
It’s okay if:
- Children wiggle
- Children laugh
- Children don’t participate every time
Mindfulness is a practice, not a performance. By teaching children how to breathe, you are giving them a lifelong tool. You are helping them learn that they can slow down, check in with their bodies, and find calm—even in hard moments.
-Teacher Rachel, Director of Seattle Preschool