The Breathing Drum

Lying down or sitting, children breathe to the slow beat of a drum: breathing in for a few soft beats and out for a few more, while the rhythm gets slower and slower. Children practice relaxing and controlling their breath.

How to play

1. Lie on our backs with a hand on our tummy and listen to the drum play very slowly (1 min).
2. For three beats breathe in and the tummy fills up like a balloon; for three beats breathe out and it goes down (2 min).
3. The drum gets even slower and so does our breathing; feel our hand rise and fall (1 min).
4. The drum stops and we keep breathing slowly in silence, as if it were still playing (1 min).
5. A soft tap wakes us up: stretch arms and legs and sit up slowly (1 min).

Rules

• Breathe with the drum, no rushing.
• Lie down quietly, no talking.
• Get up only when you hear the soft tap.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: do it sitting in the wheelchair with a hand on the tummy.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher shows the beats by raising and lowering a hand, and children lie on their side to see it.
• Autism: let the child lie in their own corner or with a cushion on their tummy to feel it better.

Learning goals

• Coordinate breathing with a slow rhythm.
• Relax the body after activity.
• Enjoy silence.

Equipment for a class of 25

• tambor: 1

Teacher tip

Play the drum with your palm, not a mallet: it sounds softer and more soothing. Dim the lights if you can.

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