A small, lightweight soft toy. If you do not have one nearby, your child can place a hand on their tummy instead.
What to Say
“Would you like to help Teddy rest on your tummy?”
“Let us notice what Teddy does while you breathe normally.”
“Can you see Teddy gently moving up and down?”
“There is no special way you need to breathe. We are simply noticing.”
What to Do
STEP 1 Invite your child to lie comfortably on their back. Sitting is also fine if that feels better.
STEP 2 Let your child choose a small soft toy and place it gently on their tummy.
STEP 3 Ask them to notice how the toy moves as they breathe naturally.
STEP 4 Observe the movement together for three or four breaths.
STEP 5 Finish by helping Teddy “wake up” or by saying goodnight to it.
JOIN YOUR CHILD Place your hand on your own tummy and notice your breathing too. You can say: “My hand is moving a little too. Our breathing may not look the same, and that is completely fine.”
One-Minute Version
Ask your child to place a hand or soft toy on their tummy and notice three natural breaths. Say: “Let us see if Teddy moves three times.” Then gently finish.
If Your Child Does Not Want to Participate
Do not insist. Demonstrate the activity yourself, let your child place the toy on your tummy, or offer another choice. Your child may prefer to sit, hold the toy, watch you or try another day.
Make It Your Own
For younger children, turn it into a very short story about helping Teddy rest.
For older children, notice whether the movement is small, large, quick or slow without trying to change it.
If lying down is uncomfortable, practise while sitting with both feet supported.
At bedtime, finish by placing the toy beside the child and saying: “Teddy is ready to rest. Are you ready to get comfortable too?”
Your child may become interested in the toy’s movement, stay still briefly or begin breathing more gently. They may also giggle, move or lose interest quickly. This does not mean the activity has failed; familiarity can develop gradually.
Use only a small, lightweight soft toy and supervise the activity. Never use a heavy object or ask the child to hold their breath, breathe very deeply or continue if they feel uncomfortable, dizzy or distressed. The activity should not be used to demand immediate calmness.
Teddy Breathing, LITTLE MINDS, BIG FOCUS Teacher Training Materials and Activity Collection.
