by Josette Aggarwal
Belly breathing helps decrease anxiety which can prevent meltdowns and is a natural tool for relieving stress. It utilizes deep breathing and straw breath.
Steps
1. Sit in a comfortable position or lie on your back.
2. Put one hand on your belly just below your ribs and the other hand on your chest.
3. Take a deep breath in through your nose, and let your belly push your hand out. Your chest should not move.
4. Breathe out through pursed lips as if you were whistling. Feel the hand on your belly go in, and use it to push all the air out.
5. Take 3 to 10 slow long breaths. Take your time with each breath.
6. Notice how you feel at the end of the exercise.
7. For young children, add a ‘breathing buddy’ to the mix for extra fun. Have your child lie on their back and place a stuffed animal or rubber ducky on their belly. As they breathe, they can notice how their breathing buddy moves up and down.
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