Wait… Just Breathe? Is That Really Enough?
We’ve all said it: “Take a deep breath!”
And let’s be honest… sometimes it works. But sometimes kids just glare at us like, “That’s it? That’s your big idea?”
In this super-relatable episode of the ESSDACK Resilience Quick Bites podcast, "Ok, so I have kids breathe, but really? Is that all there is to it?", hosts Ginger Lewman and Eric Nachtigal pull back the curtain on the classic classroom calm-down tool: breathing.
The Truth? Breathing Isn’t Magic—But It Can Be Powerful
The trick? Breathing needs practice—and not when the kid is already melting into a puddle of frustration. Just like we don’t teach multiplication during a fire drill, we shouldn’t expect deep breathing to work without some pre-teaching and muscle memory.
Integrating simple breathwork into daily classroom routines (like transitions or morning meetings) helps kids build their emotional “toolkit” before big feelings hit. When it’s part of the norm, not a punishment, kids are more likely to use it and trust it.
The Secret Sauce? You
Spoiler alert: if you’re a frazzled ball of stress barking, “Just BREATHE, Brayden!!” from across the room… it’s probably not gonna work.
Kids borrow our nervous systems. If we’re regulated, they’re more likely to regulate too. That means we don’t just tell them to breathe—we show them what calm breathing and co-regulation look like in real time.
Want to Bring This to Life? Grab This Book
📚 Book rec: Breathe Like a Bear by Kira Willey
This gem is packed with 30 short, kid-friendly breathing and mindfulness practices you can do in just a few minutes. Great for transitions, calming the class after recess, or kicking off the day. Bonus: It works for adults too.
👉 Get it on Bookshop
Bottom Line?
Breathing is just the beginning. It’s not a quick fix, but it is a powerful practice when done consistently, kindly, and with a little creativity. And when it’s paired with a calm adult, a bit of playfulness, and a culture of emotional safety? That’s where the magic happens.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here: Ok, so I have kids breathe, but really?
This blog post was written in collaboration with ChatGPT4o.
The image was generated in collaboration with Canva Magic Design.
