3:5 Breathing

For many children learning how to breathe out slowly does not always come naturally, but I've recently discovered that using Pom-poms can help : )

Here's what to do:

• ask your child to take a slow, steady breath in for a count of 3 seconds

• to encourage the longer out breath ask them to gently exhale on to a pom-pom for around 5 seconds, with the aim of keeping the pom-pom on their hand. Kids tend to love this challenge especially when you tell them that it's much harder keeping the pom-pom on your hand than simply blowing if off with one strong breath!

• Once they get the hang of it, repeat 5 times or until calm.

The benefits of 3:5 breathing (breathing in for 3 seconds and out for 5) are endless:

• decreases adrenaline production

• lowers heart rate

• allows you to re-focus and de-stress

• the concentration part of this breathing technique takes our mind away from what's troubling us and on to our breathing.