Breathing together

Breathing together. This one is for a grown-up and a child to do together. You can sit facing each other, or the child can lie down with a soft toy on their belly. If you are sitting, put your hands on each other's shoulders, lightly. If the child is lying down, put the toy on the belly.

Now watch each other breathe. If there is a toy, watch it go up and down. Like a small boat on the sea.

Let us breathe together. In for three. Out for four. I will count. In, one, two, three.

Out, one, two, three, four.

In, one, two, three.

Out, one, two, three, four.

Can you make the out-breath go even slower? Like blowing on hot milk.

In, one, two, three.

Out, slowly, one, two, three, four, five.

In, one, two, three.

Out, one, two, three, four, five.

Now, no counting. Breathe together, at the same speed, and see if you can match each other. The grown-up follows the child this time.

Feel the shoulders under your hands rise and fall. Or watch the toy go up and down.

Three more breaths together, slow ones, and then we stop.

How does the body feel now? Heavy? Sleepy? Floppy like a rag doll?

You can do this at bedtime, or after a hard day at school, or any time one of you needs a minute. Whoever notices first can start it.