The Chest That Opens with My Breath

After hunting for treasure, each child becomes a closed treasure chest that slowly opens with every breath until they're lying down and calm. Children practice slow breathing and relaxing the body to wind down.

How to play

1. Sitting on the floor, curl into a ball hugging your knees: you're a closed chest with treasure inside (1 min).
2. Breathe in through your nose and, as you breathe out slowly through your mouth, the lid opens a little as you lift your head (1 min).
3. With every breath it opens a bit more: let your arms go, stretch your legs and lie down on your back (2 min).
4. Lying down, put your hands on your tummy and feel the treasure rise and fall with your breath (1 min).
5. The teacher comes by and softly asks what treasure each chest holds, then everyone sits up slowly to head back to class (1 min).

Rules

• Air goes in through my nose and out slowly through my mouth.
• My chest opens little by little, no rushing.
• While the chests open, we talk softly.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child is a chest sitting in a wheelchair, closing with the arms and opening by leaning back.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher signals with a hand when to breathe in (hand rising) and out (hand lowering).
• Autism or sensory sensitivity: the child can stay seated hugging a cushion instead of lying down.

Learning goals

• Breathe slowly and mindfully.
• Move from tension to a relaxed body.
• Calm down after an active session.

Teacher tip

Dim the lights and talk slower and softer as you go. Kids tend to pop the chest open all at once, so count the breaths and name which part opens each time.

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