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Calming Cocoa Deep Breathing
Deep breathing is a super tool when it comes to calming the body. A long, slow, deep breath activates the relaxation response in the body which invites peace and calm.
It's important to remember a few things about deep breathing with kids.
- Make it interesting and add variety to keep your kids engaged, curious, and excited to participate.
- Deep breathe together a few times a day to keep peace and calm in your classroom.
- Practice regularly so it will feel natural for your kids to use deep breathing in a difficult moment.
- Practice deep breathing in a round of three breaths. During a difficult moment, do a round of three breaths and check in. If your child still has a lot of energy or uncomfortable feelings inside then do another round of three breaths and check in again. Continue until your child feels comfortable.
- Practice, practice, practice.
RELATED: Five, Fun Deep Breathing Exercises for Kids
Rainbow Meditation
The Calming Cocoa deep breathing exercise is the perfect way to add variety to your deep breathing practice this winter. You can stay cozy and warm using this fun, kid-friendly activity on cold, snowy winter days.
RELATED: Sled Ride Meditation
Grab your free password for immediate access to all of the mindfulness resources in the Mindfulness Library.
How to practice calming cocoa deep breathing
Here's how to do Calming Cocoa deep breathing:
- Sit up nice and tall.
- Place one hand out flat like a saucer.
- Curl the fingers of your other hand around to meet your thumb like a cup and place your cup hand on your saucer hand.
- Pretend the cup is full of steamy, creamy hot chocolate.
- Inhale deeply as you breathe in the sweet smell of the chocolatey goodness in the cup.
- Cool off the hot, steamy drink as you blow out slowly through your mouth.
- Do this three times to practice deep breathing.
Other ways to practice calming cocoa deep breathing
hot chocolate recipes
You can practice calming cocoa breathing with pretend hot chocolate like above or you can make it even more exciting with real hot chocolate. Here are some ideas for some fun hot chocolate creations you can make with your kids:
For your peace center
If you have a Peace Center, you can have a plastic mug available and three cotton ball "marshmallows". When your kids need a break, they can hold the mug and add a cotton ball marshmallow for each deep breath they take.
RELATED: 5 mindful breathing children's books
bubble party ideas
Let me know below how you're going to practice calming cocoa with your kids.
Dawn
