Counting Sheep Breathing
Lying on their backs, kids imagine sheep jumping over a fence: with each soft tambourine tap a sheep jumps, they breathe in, breathe out slowly and raise one finger. It builds slow breathing, focus and counting.
How to play
- Each child lies on their back on a mat, hands on their tummy and eyes closed (30 sec).
- Whisper: "Let's count sheep jumping over a fence. Every time the tambourine taps, a sheep jumps."
- Tap the tambourine softly and say: "One sheep jumps... breathe in... and breathe out slowly." They raise one finger.
- Wait about five seconds between taps. Count together in whispers up to five sheep, one per finger (1 min).
- Keep going on the other hand up to ten, with softer taps and a quieter voice each time (1 min).
- Say: "The sheep are asleep, and so are we." They lower their hands to their tummies and stay still a few seconds before slowly sitting up (1 min).
Rules
- Breathe only when the tambourine taps.
- Keep your eyes closed.
- Count in whispers; no shouting.
- Stay still on your own mat.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, count just three sheep with eyes open, watching their fingers.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, count five sheep, one for each finger on one hand.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, count ten sheep using both hands and, at the end, each child says how many they counted without looking.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: do it seated in a chair with head support if needed, counting with nods if fingers are hard to move.
- Hearing loss: tap the tambourine close to the floor so the child feels the vibration, or gently tap their shoulder.
- Skill level: strong counters lead the count in a whisper; kids who lose track watch your fingers.
Learning goals
- Practice slow, steady breathing.
- Stay focused with eyes closed.
- Connect counting with finger movements.
Equipment for a class of 25
- mats: 20
- hand drum: 1
Teacher tip
Draw a sheep on the board or show a picture before they lie down so they can picture it. Don't rush between taps; the quiet is the point.
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