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deep breathing activities for st. patrick's day

If you've been around, you know how much I love deep breathing. I practice it myself throughout the day, and I love teaching the skill to kids. It can invite calm instantly during a difficult moment, and a deep breathing practice can make difficult moments less frequent and less intense.

 

I am always thinking about creating kid-friendly ways to practice deep breathing to keep it fun and engaging. And, I want it to be easy for you to practice deep breathing with your class every day.

 

So, enjoy these fun, kid-friendly, AND easy deep breathing activities that will fit perfectly into your St. Patrick's Day lesson plans.

 

RELATED:  three simple steps for deep breathing in preschool

Five fun deep breathing exercises for kids

 

St. patrick's day deep breathing printable pack

I created three deep breathing printables for you complete with instructions. You can grab all three for free in The Mindfulness Library. 

 

The printables include:

• Emerald Clover
• Golden Heart
• Lucky Horseshoe

 

 

 

Laminate them and keep some in your peace center and/or your writing center. They are also a great resource for parents, so send one home, too.

 

All three are in the St. Patrick's Day Deep Breathing Printable Pack in The Mindfulness Library. Grab your instant pdf download.

 

Pot of gold deep breathing activity

This pot of gold deep breathing activity is super simple, yet it will keep it interesting for your kids.

 

Grab some small plastic pots and some gold coins or get creative and make your own. One plastic pot and three gold coins would make one set.

 

Place the coins next to the pot, and ask your kids to relax and get comfortable. Invite them to take a deep breath and let it out slowly. When one breath, in and out, is complete, add one coin to the pot. Take your time and guide your kids through the breathing so that it is slow but always comfortable.

 

Repeat the breathing two more times for a total of three breaths. Now you can all start the next activity of the day feeling calm and focused.

 

The activity of placing the coins in the pot after each breath gives little hands something to do and their minds something to focus on. Not to mention, the pots and coins will work perfectly with your St. Patrick's Day themes, making it simple and easy for you.

 

Ways to use the pot of gold deep breathing activity:

• Keep some pots and coins available in your calm corner or peace center for when someone needs a break or is having a difficult moment.
• Use them to breathe together as a group for practice everyday.
• Keep a larger pot in the peace center for everyone to use and count all of the breaths/coins at the end of the day.

 

If you get some pots and coins for this activity, you'll definitely want to try this St. Patrick's Day version of "Pebble Meditation".

 

St. Patrick's Day Green feather deep breathing activity

I included this activity even though we are still dealing with COVID and mask restrictions for use at home. Don't do this activity in preschool if it isn't safe. Save it for next year or send your parents here to use this idea at home.

 

There is no one way or right way to use feathers. Just pop some in your Calm Corner and let your kids get creative.

 

You can grab this green feather boa and cut it up for some fun St. Patrick's Day deep breathing activities.

 

Here are some ways to use the feathers for deep breathing:

• Take a deep breath in and watch the fine feather barbs move softly with the exhale.
• Give each child a feather and have two kids (or parent and kid) pair up. Mark a start and finish line on a table or the floor using tape. Use a straw or simply blow the feather from the start line to the finish line. The trick here is that the last one to the finish line wins because deep breathing should be nice and slow.
• Give your child a feather and have them look up at the ceiling. Have them place the feather near their mouth and blow up as they try to keep the feather in the air.

You can try using golden feathers or even rainbow colored feathers, all perfect for St. Patrick's Day!

 

Shamrock trace deep breathing activity

Another simple deep breathing activity, yet another way to keep it interesting.

 

Giving little hands something to do while deep breathing can keep kids focused on breathing for longer periods of time. I found these glitter foam shamrocks that I thought would be perfect to use as a deep breathing traceable.

 

Let your kids hold the shamrock and start by placing their finger at the bottom of the first leaf where it meets the stem. Have them take a deep breath in as they trace the first leaf to its center. Then, exhale slowly as they trace around the second half of the first leaf. Then, inhale and exhale again for the second leaf, and repeat for the third.

 

So simple, yet engaging for the kids. Keep one of these in your peace center, too. I haven't tried this activity myself. I'd love to know how it goes, so let me know below if you try it.

 

related: Mindfulness activities for St. Patrick's Day

 

Don't forget to grab your Deep Breathing Board Printable Pack from The Mindfulness Library.