Buzzy Bee Breaths introduce children to mindful breathing and becoming aware of their senses in a really fun way. Buzzy Bee Breaths can teach children a skill that allows them to feel calm, self soothe and focus. This calming exercise can be like taking a mini holiday from their busy days and environments.
You can support this activity with the My Book of Breaths, there are also creative and playful Bee themed activity ideas including a free printable in my Free Resource Library.
{Related Page: A to Z List of Breathing Activities for Kids}
{Download your free Buzzy Bee Breaths Printable here}
In this free printable I have included a poster with a hand painted Buzzy Bee, which could be laminated and used as a prompt or hung up in a calm corner or zen den at home or in the classroom. I’ve also included a mindful colouring sheet and an instructions card.
Below you will also find a script on how to initially introduce Buzzy Bee breaths to children. I hope that this will be a useful activity for you to use with your own children or with in a preschool classroom. Please I ask that you only use for personal use, but do share with anyone who you may think might find the resource useful.
Related Post: 23 Playful Breathing Activities for Kids
How to introduce Buzzy Bee Breaths to Children.
1. Explain:
“We are going to try a fun activity called Buzzy Bee Breaths, we are going to use our sense of sound to listen to the buzzy bee sound.”
2. Suggest:
“Imagine that you are a very busy Buzzy Bee and you have been collecting pollen all day, its time for you to take a break on a nice big yellow flower.”
3. Model:
“Firstly you take a slow, deep breath in through your nose before exhaling out to “Hummmmmm,” as long as possible. If you feel comfortable you can close your eyes.
4. Guide:
“Now it is your turn. As you breathe out notice the vibration created in your lips. Try the same breath again with your ears blocked with your hands and focus on the humming Sound.
Some fun and playful ways to extend the Buzzy Bee Breaths breathing exercise.
- Read a bee themed book.
- Make a bee themed craft
- Practice some mindful colouring and colour in a bee hive or something bee related (I’ve included one in the free printable).
- Explore the life of a bee and its special role in nature
- Make a something yummy with honey.
Benefits of Mindful Breathing
- It can help to teach us how different types of breathing can change the way our body and mind feel.
- It can help shift our attention towards the present moment.
- It can help us to focus on our sensations and how we feel in the moment, rather than on our thoughts and whats upsetting us.
- It can be relaxing, helping us to feel calm and self soothe.
- It can increase the ‘rest and digest’ response in the automatic nervous system and lower our heart rates.
- It can help to strengthen the part of the brain that helps us to feel calm and regulate our emotions.
- It can help build self-confidence, self-esteem and self-awareness.
Its a good idea to try and practice a few different breathing exercises regularly, so when your little person needs to use one, they have practiced and found one that they like. Try out the Birthday Cake Breaths exercise here and our Balloon Breaths activity here.
I would love to hear from you if you enjoy this exercise or have any feedback, take care.
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