Calming the Body and Mind

Discover fun and easy breathing, mindfulness, and meditation activities for kids of all ages—whether you're practicing together or they're exploring on their own. Each section is organized by age to help you find the perfect fit.

Apps:

• Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame
  A research-based app from Sesame Street that helps young children learn to calm down and solve everyday challenges with belly breathing.
  Available on iOS and Android.
• Breathing Butterfly
  A calming app where kids follow a butterfly’s rhythm to practice breathing. Available in 28 languages.
• Mightier App
  Gamified app to help with emotional regulation using biofeedback for ages 6–14.
• Mindful Powers
  A Mindfulness app for ages 7–10.
• Moshi Kids
  A variety of activities for kids including meditations, soothing music, bedtime stories, and more.
• Smiling Mind
  Mental health app for all ages.
• Headspace
  Meditation app for all ages.
• Calm
  Meditation app for all ages.
• Calm Harm
  Helps regulate emotions and reduce self-harm urges; includes breathing and grounding tools.

Printables:

• Ultimate List of Free Printables
  Collection of worksheets, charts, and activities for mindfulness and emotion regulation.
• Free Meditation Scripts for Kids

Videos and Tools:

• Minion Belly Breathing (Password: 1lluc1a!)
  Join the Minions in a fun and easy belly breathing exercise to help kids (and parents!) practice mindful breathing and find calm during stressful times.
• GoNoodle: Breathing and Mindfulness Videos
  A collection of short, playful videos that teach breathing and self-regulation through movement and music—great for younger kids.
• Thought Bubbles! Mindfulness for Children
  A short video using visual metaphors to teach thought awareness and breathing.
• Just Breathe
  In this powerful short film, watch and hear from elementary school students learning to use mindfulness to navigate complex feelings.
• Fablefy – The Whole Child
  Animated YouTube channel with engaging mindfulness and breathing videos for children of all ages and parents.
• Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life
  Collection of videos from healthcare experts including breathing and mindfulness practices, inspiring stories, and lifestyle education.
• Progressive Muscle Relaxation
  A relaxation technique that reduces stress and anxiety in your body by having you slowly tense and then relax each muscle.
• The Butterfly Hug Technique
  A form of bilateral stimulation that can be used as a grounding technique.

Books

• Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing
  By Christopher Willard & Daniel Rechtschaffen: A fun, alphabet-themed book that teaches young children mindfulness and breathing through playful exercises tied to each letter.
• Breathing Makes It Better: A Book for Sad Days, Mad Days, Glad Days, and All the Feelings In-Between
  By Christopher Willard & Wendy O’Leary:  A beautifully illustrated book that helps young children understand and manage big emotions through breathing techniques.
• Mindfulness for Kids in 10 Minutes a Day: Simple Exercises to Feel Calm, Focused, and Happy
  By Maureen Healy: Offers quick, easy-to-follow mindfulness practices for children to use daily to reduce stress and increase happiness for ages 8-12.
• Meditation Journal for Teens: Guided Meditations to Help You Stay Cool, Calm, and Present
  By Jessie Frazier: A practical journal with guided meditations and reflection prompts designed specifically for teens to help them build mindfulness and emotional regulation skills.
• My Anxious Mind: A Teen’s Guide to Managing Anxiety and Panic
  By Michael A. Tompkins & Katherine A. Martinez: A compassionate, evidence-based workbook using CBT and mindfulness to help teens understand and cope with anxiety and panic.
• You Are Not a Rock: A Step-by-Step Guide to Better Mental Health (for Humans)
  By Mark Freeman: A candid and empowering guide for young adults and adults alike, focusing on mental resilience through mindfulness, emotional acceptance, and breathing strategies.