Breathing mats won’t solve ALL of your classroom concerns, but they sure do help. These simple resources provide structure, support, and a non-threatening way to introduce an evidence based coping skill to children.
The science
Breathing is a real gift. For some of us, slowing and controlling our breath can give us a mental relief. For some of us, we may need more than that. That’s the same for our students, too!! The science tells us (and there’s mountains of it!) something really clear cut. Breathing exercises help all of us. Some of us need to pair breathing exercises with other coping skills to maintain that brain-body connection. That doesn’t mean breathing exercises haven’t brought down cortisol levels or helped lower blood pressure. Breathing exercises matter!
Be proactive
For some students, breathing exercises are really frustrating in the moment. To engage in meaningful, controlled breaths while in crisis can be triggering. This is one of the many reasons why I like using breathing exercises as a proactive strategy! How? I like building breathing exercises into the daily routine. I add breathing int0 morning meeting and transition times, and even read alouds! Using breathing exercises in a non-threatening way helps make this a coping skill that sticks.
Grab these shape breathing mats in my teachers pay teachers shop!
Perfect for a calm corner
These breathing mats are also perfect for your classroom calm corner. Structured activities and positive distractions in calm corners can be so beneficial for kids. What’s the best way to introduce breathing mats in your calm corner? Use them proactively! When students are already familiar and comfortable with breathing exercises, they will be so much more likely to use them in tough moments.
Looking for free breathing mats to try out? Grab ’em in the free resource library!
