If you can teach a child to be aware of their breath they will ultimately become more in control of their emotions and overall wellbeing. These are everyday tools for calming and energising the child to help develop a state of relaxed awareness, which is crucial for learning. Breathing plays a big part in Toddler yoga classes. Breathing in its simplest form using a prop such as a feather can be a key point to explaining breath and showing toddlers how to breathe deeper. Every system in the body relies on oxygen. From cognition to digestion, effective breathing can not only provide you with a greater sense of mental clarity, it can also help you sleep better, digest food more efficiently, improve your body’s immune response, and reduce stress levels.

Feathers
Feathers are a lovely way on introducing breathing to a crawling infant or toddler, watching the magic of movement as you blow and encourage them to blow too. Placing the feather onto the palm of your hand use exaggerated blowing movements to show your toddler the action. Sitting the toddler in front of the parent is a perfect place to help them stay focused.

Pompom balls
These are small craft balls. We place one into the palm of your hand and use exaggerated blowing actions to show the toddler how to blow. You need to give lots of encouragement, and take it in turns helping them when needed. Encourage parents to take a bigger breath blowing the ball off the palm of their hand so the toddler can pick it up.

Scarves
Scarves are a great way to demonstrate breathing. Using a scarf fold it so you are using only half of it, holding each end with your hands hold it in between your head and the toddlers then gently blow onto the material. The toddler can see it fluttering and moving. Encourage the toddler to follow the actions. You can also place the scarf over the parents head and get the parents to blow it off.

Volcano Breath
Ask the toddlers to pretend their hands and arms are like lava flowing from a volcano. Start with your hands in front of your heart, with palms touching. Keeping your hands together, reach straight up and breathe in. Separate your hands and move your arms down to your side and breathe out. Great breath to regulate emotions and encourage controlled breathing.

Alternative Nostril Breathing
Alternate nostril breathing is done by placing the index and middle fingers of one hand between your eyebrows and resting your thumb and ring finger on either side of your nose. Close your eyes and breathe deeply in and out through your nose. Now use your thumb or index finger to press on and close your right nostril and inhale slowly and deeply through the left nostril. Hold that breath in for a brief pause, then change your pressure to the left nostril and exhale through the right side. With your next breath, inhale through the right nostril, pause and exhale through the left. Repeat that alternating cycle five to 10 times. The exercise balances the right and left sides of the brain and body, and can be used to calm and bring a sense of clarity to an overstimulated mind.

Humming breath
Similar to the bumble bee breath. Breathe in and out through your nose with your mouth closed. As you exhale, keep your mouth closed and make a long “hhhhmmm” sound, pretending to hum. Then inhale through your nose, keeping your mouth closed, repeat the round. Close the eyes. Producing a sound while closing the eyes and blocking the ears makes it easier for young children to bring their focus inward.

Ujjayi Breath
This is also known as the Darth Vader breath or breath of the ocean. Instruct the toddlers to breathe in with their mouth open and relaxed, gently and slowly breathe in to fill their tummy. Then breathe out by slowly letting the air fall out of you in a whispered sigh, as though you’re fogging up a mirror. Ujjayi breathing not only encourages mindful breathing and an awareness of the breath; it also tones and stimulates the vagus nerve, which in turn activates the parasympathetic nervous system. It is perhaps a one for older toddlers.

Bunny Breath
Sit on your shins with your back straight and shoulders back and chest lifted. Keeping your chin down, take three big sniffs straight after each other. Then exhale in a long release as though you are sighing out through the nostrils. Repeat 5 to 7 times. This is a cleansing breath to keep you awake and alert like a bunny! You can also use it when kids are very upset and can’t find their breath, because it will help them connect to their exhale so that they breathe instead of spin out.

Snake Breath

Sit up tall. Take a deep breath in, filling up your whole body. Pause and breathe out slowly and smoothly, making a hissing sound for as long as you can. Repeat 3 to 5 times feeling yourself becoming calmer each time. This is a very calming and relaxing breath. It’s wonderful to connect children to their exhale to help them learn to slow themselves down, mentally and physically.

Elephant Breath
Standing with your feet wide apart. Link your hands and dangle your arms in front of you like an elephant trunk. Inhale through your nose as you raise your arms high above your head and lean back. Exhale through your mouth as you swing your arms down through your legs. Repeat for three rounds. On the next round, stay up, arch your back and open your arms to the side bringing them down to ‘shower yourself’. Its a great breath to energise and wake up any sleepy yogis!

Bear Breath
Sitting up tall, close your eyes. Through your nose, breathe in for a count of five and hold for a count of three. Breathe out for a count of five and hold for a count of three. Repeat 5 to 7 times. Open your eyes and you should feel peaceful. This will help ground and settle kids. Wonderful for restful, reflective time. Imagine a bear hibernating. Helpful before nap time, story time or any creative activity.

Volcano Breath
Sitting tall, place the hands in prayer position in front of you. Breathing in through the nose fully whilst raising your hands above your head. Breathe out through the mouth quickly making an explosion noise, whilst opening the arms out to the side and lowering them.

Bumblebee Breath
Breathe in as fully as you can, filling the lungs completely. Breathe out again, emptying the lungs completely whilst buzzing like a bee. Encourage the parents to think of things that make them happy. This breath involves an extended exhale which is especially effective at calming the parasympathetic nervous system. Producing a sound while closing the eyes and blocking the ears makes it easier for young children to bring their focus inward.