Belly Breathing for Kids
Learn belly breathing for kids with the balloon trick: slow, big breaths that fill up your belly and tell your brain it is safe to calm down, plus a calm scale and a practice log.
Your breath is a remote control
When you feel scared, mad, or worried, your breathing gets fast and small, way up high in your chest. Fast breathing tells your brain something is wrong, so your body stays upset. Belly breathing is the opposite. Slow, big breaths that fill up your belly tell your brain: we are safe now. It is like having a secret remote control for your own body, and it works anywhere.
How to do balloon breathing
1. Put one hand on your belly. Pretend there is a balloon inside, in your favorite color. 2. Breathe in slowly through your nose while you count 1, 2, 3. Feel the balloon fill up and gently push your hand out. 3. Breathe out slowly through your mouth, like you are blowing the biggest bubble in the world, while you count 1, 2, 3, 4. Feel the balloon go flat. 4. Do five balloon breaths in a row. Slow and gentle is the secret, especially the breathing out part. Bedtime tip: lie down and put a stuffed animal on your belly. Give it a slow, gentle ride up and down.
Before you practice: how do you feel?
Pick the number that matches how you feel right now.
After five balloon breaths: how do you feel now?
Pick your number again. Even moving one step means your breath is doing its job. The more you practice, the stronger it gets.
When can balloon breathing help?
Belly breathing works almost anywhere, and nobody even knows you are doing it. Check the times you want to try it.
Your practice spot
Pick one comfy spot and one time to practice every day, even on happy days. Practicing when you feel good makes belly breathing easy to use when you feel upset.
Your practice log
Each time you practice, write the day, your before number, and your after number. Watch your balloon breaths get stronger during the week.
What did you notice?
Where did you feel your breath the most, in your nose, your chest, or your belly? What was easy, and what was tricky? Tell a grown-up one thing you noticed.
Fewer clicks. More care.
One place for your team, your clients, and every clinical workflow, so nothing quietly slips through the cracks.
Free for practices with up to 20 clinicians.