My Ribbon Rises When I Breathe In

Sitting down and moving very slowly, children lift the ribbon as they breathe in through the nose and lower it as they breathe out through the mouth, like a slow wave. It builds mindful breathing and calming down after exercise.

How to play

1. Sitting cross-legged in a circle, we put the ribbon on the floor and our hands on our tummies to feel the air (1 min).
2. We pick up the wand: breathing in through the nose, the ribbon rises slowly; breathing out through the mouth, it floats down to the floor (1 min).
3. We make the wave longer: rise while the teacher counts three on their fingers, lower for four (1 min).
4. We lie on our backs and the ribbon rises and falls over our tummy, slower each time (1 min).
5. We put the ribbon aside, close our eyes and breathe three times without it, just feeling our tummy (1 min).

Rules

• My ribbon moves slowly, like a sleepy wave.
• Air comes in through the nose and out through the mouth.
• We stay quiet to hear our breathing.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: do it in the wheelchair or lying down with support, moving only the forearm.
• Autism: allow eyes open and offer a ribbon in their favorite color.
• Visual impairment: a friend or adult places the child's hand on their tummy to feel the rhythm, and the ribbon lightly brushes their arm as it comes down.

Learning goals

• Match an arm movement to breathing.
• Breathe slowly and deeply.
• Calm down after activity.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cintas de tela con palito: 25

Teacher tip

Lower your voice, and the lights if you're indoors. The usual mistake is blowing hard to move the ribbon: show a long, quiet breath, like fogging up a window.

More activities like this

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