Introducing your child to deep breathing while they’re young gives them a healthy coping mechanism to handle what life throws at them, both during childhood and in the future.
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Deep breathing for kids can:
Calm your child for bedtime
Deep breathing slows down their heart rate and breathing so that their body is put into relaxation mode. If you don’t believe me, try it for yourself next time you can’t sleep; I bet you’ll start to feel more relaxed after just a few deep breaths.
Improve sleep
Deep breathing before bed prepares their body for a restful night’s sleep.
Decrease stress and anxiety
It does this by decreasing the effects of the stress hormone in their body.
Boost immune function
Stress negatively impacts our immune systems, so by decreasing stress you’re helping their immune system.
Help your child think clearly
Deep breathing helps children release fears and anxiety by focusing on their breath so they can think clearly.
Deep breathing has many benefits for people of any age; I started deep breathing in my 20’s as a way to manage my IBS. I’ve also used it most nights before bed to wind down and fall asleep faster. I do this especially when my mind is racing. In addition, deep breathing can also improve depression and anxiety, PTSD, and lower heart rate and blood pressure.
Now that I know all of the benefits of deep breathing (and how easy it is!), I wish I had been taught to use it as a healthy coping mechanism when I was a kid.
It was for this reason that I decided to write Goodnight, Elly. It is a book on deep breathing specifically for young children. This book utilizes questions to pull your child into the story, shows how deep breathing helps Elly fall asleep, and takes your child through fun breathing exercises with Elly.
Goodnight, Elly features:
- 26 pages featuring Elly the elephant
- Guided deep breathing with Elly for more calm and sleep in your house, and less stress and anxiety
- 8.5 x 8.5 inch matte paperback book
Buy your copy today for an easier bedtime tomorrow!
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