My Teddy Sails on My Tummy

Lying on their backs, each child puts a stuffed animal on their tummy: it's a sailor on a boat and the tummy is the sea, with big waves when they breathe deeply and calm water when they breathe softly. It's a cool-down with belly breathing and attention to the body.

How to play

1. Each child takes a stuffed animal and lies on their back with it on their tummy (1 min).
2. The teacher explains the teddy is going on a boat trip: breathe in through the nose and the wave rises, breathe out and it falls (1 min).
3. Big waves: they breathe deeply three or four times, watching the teddy go up and down without falling (1 min).
4. The sea calms down: they breathe softer and softer until the teddy barely moves and falls asleep (1 min).
5. The boat reaches the harbor: they hug the teddy, roll onto their side, and sit up slowly (1 min).

Rules

• My teddy stays on my tummy, no hands.
• I make the waves with my breathing.
• I stay quiet so my teddy can sleep.
• I get up slowly when the boat arrives.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: if lying down isn't possible, the child reclines while seated with the teddy on the tummy, held with one hand.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher makes waves with an arm, big then small, where everyone can see.
• Autism: the child can bring their own stuffed animal from home and choose where to lie down.

Learning goals

• Practice belly breathing.
• Wind down at the end of the lesson.
• Pay attention to body sensations.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Stuffed animals: 25
• Music

Teacher tip

Light, flat stuffed animals work best; big ones fall off. Dim the lights and speak softer and softer: your voice is part of the calm sea too.

More activities like this

More cool-downs for Elementary