2 Calming Techniques Kids Can Use from Sesame Street: Belly Breathing & Meditation
Being able to calm yourself is an incredibly important life skill that we don’t often talk about…especially with kids. These belly breathing Elmo and monster meditation techniques work for kids of all ages, even the younger kids.
Calming Exercises & Activities Kids Can Do
Kids have all sorts of big feelings. They may feel sad, nervous, or frustrated, just to name a few feelings. And they may have trouble calming down. Sesame Street to the rescue, once again!
Through videos with some our favorite Sesame Street characters, the Muppets are here to offer some pretty fabulous kid-appropriate calming techniques.
Calming Techniques for Kids
Rosita knows what kids are going through right now — because she also gets frustrated when she can’t go to the park with Elmo! To help her calm down, she practices ‘belly breathing.’
1. Belly Breathing Technique for Kids with Rosita
In the Sesame Street video she teaches kids how to calm down by focusing on their breathing through belly breathing. She encourages kids to put a hand on their belly, breathe in through their nose, and breathe out through their mouth.
Steps for Belly Breathing for Kids
- Put your hands on your belly.
- Take a deep breath through your nose.
- Slowly breath out through mouth…and it is good to have a little sound!
- Repeat
Watch Video to See Rosita Demonstrate Belly Breathing
When I showed my kids the video, they copied her every move of the belly breathing technique.
They loved watching one of their favorite Sesame Street characters teach them how to catch their breath and calm down.
And I know we’ll be using this ‘belly breathing’ technique in the future! (This calming technique with Rosita originally aired during the CNN and Sesame Street Town Hall).
Sesame Street also launched a series of ‘Monster Meditations’ in partnership with Headspace helping people with mindfulness and meditation.
By featuring our favorite furry monsters from Sesame Street, they’re able to teach little ones how to meditate in a way that’s kid friendly and accessible. This meditation is a good one when you are waiting on something to keep the anxious feelings in check.
2. Monster Meditations with Cookie Monster
The first video was with Cookie Monster, who, let’s be honest, can get super excited when he knows he’s about to get some cookies!
To help him calm down, he does a Monster Meditation focused on using his senses.
But what happens when he uses his senses to smell cookies in the oven? He gets super excited again!
To help him relax, he does what Rosita does: belly breathing.
Steps for ‘I Sense’ Monster Meditation
This is a game of I Spy but with our 5 senses.
-Andy
- Start with a belly breath — see instructions above — to begin game with FOCUS.
- Can you spy something with sense of smell?
- With that smell in your nose, can you spy something with your sense of touch?
- With that {softness/other} in your mind, can you spy something with your eyes?
- While focusing on {what you saw}, can you spy something with your sense of hearing?
- While focusing on {what you heard}, can you spy something with your sense of taste?
- Repeat or play once!
Watch Video to See Cookie Monster Demonstrate Meditation for Kids Game
Belly breathing truly is an amazing technique that helps kids slow down and calm down. And as you can see in the two examples above it can be done anywhere for a multitude of reasons!
In addition to these fabulous calming techniques for kids, Sesame Street recently created a wealth of new resources that kids are loving. There’s virtual play dates with Elmo, snack chats with Cookie Monster, and phone calls with their favorite Sesame Street muppets.
Bonus: you can even read 100 Sesame Street books for free!
SOME MORE CALMING IDEAS FROM KIDS ACTIVITIES BLOG
- Help your kids learn how to make bubbles at home – did you know that blowing bubbles requires deep breathing to accomplish? So cool!
- My kids are obsessed with these active indoor games because exercise helps calm kids (& adults)!
- Spread joy with these fun facts to share for a giggle.
- Make galaxy slime – this sensory experience can help calm a child.
- Everybody has time for a 5 minutes craft – and being creative can help “change the subject” in a child’s mind.
- Color a calming zentangle pattern – this one is a seahorse.
- Here is a calming phrase you can use to help your kids.
- Check out this calming bedtime routine.
- Calming activities for kids – perfect for before nap time or bedtime.
- Don’t miss these DIY fidget toys which are both fun and relaxing.
- Check out all these sensory bins — they are perfect for calming younger kids.
Will you be trying Rosita’s belly breathing or monster meditation techniques with your kids?
