Superhero Training in Breath Awareness
Did you know that every emotion has a corresponding breathing pattern?
This learning guide shows you how to introduce the concept of breath awareness to a child and explain the connection between our breath and our emotions.
What is breath awareness?
Breath awareness is when you observe how your breath is naturally happening on its own. You aren’t controlling the breathing; your breath is breathing you. You are simply the observer.
Being aware of how your breath feels and sounds when you are sad, mad, or scared is an important skill to develop when establishing a mindful breathing practice.
How does My Friend Breath teach breath awareness?
Ash, the main character, introduces children to breath awareness through sharing how each emotion has a corresponding breathing pattern. Ash describes how their breath changes when they feel different emotions. Learning to notice their friend Breath can help a child to identify how they are feeling. ‘Because when your friend Breath is sad you feel sad too.’
Through the story children learn that by changing the way they breathe; they have the power to change the emotion they are experiencing.
By using the read-along script alongside the book, you are given clear instructions on what to say, what to ask and what to do to help a child to explore how their breathing pattern reflects their emotional state. Helping a child to notice changes in their breathing pattern is an important step in developing the skill of self-regulation.
How to use this learning guide
First, you’ll introduce breath awareness using the read- along script and the companion book My Friend Breath.
Next, you’ll use the online flip-cards and listening activity to check the child’s understanding of the learning focus, breath awareness, and identify any points that would benefit from being revisited.
Then, it’s time to play! Use the QR Codes or clickable links for quick and easy access to each of the online activities and games to further consolidate learning.
Finally, you can print the four drawing activities for engaging offline fun.
