Five-finger breathing (sometimes called hand breathing or starfish breathing) is the most portable calming skill there is: the hand comes everywhere. Trace up one finger while breathing in, down the other side while breathing out, and after five fingers the body has slowed down.
What is on it
A large open hand with "in" and "out" arrows on every finger, a step-by-step line for children and a tip for grown-ups. It is clear enough to trace directly on the paper the first few times.
Who it is for
Children from about four to ten. Younger children trace the poster; school-age children quickly move to their own hand, which makes this the best technique for school, the car, the doctor's waiting room and anywhere a poster cannot come. It is also a quiet option for children who feel self-conscious doing breathing exercises in front of classmates.
How to use it
- Print one for the wall and one small copy for a pencil case or desk.
- Trace the printed hand together first, then move to your child's own hand.
- Breathe in through the nose as the finger goes up, out through the mouth as it comes down.
- Once learned, it can be done under a desk with nobody noticing, which school-age children appreciate.
Tips
- Pair it with box breathing for older children who like a pattern.
- If your child rushes, slow down the tracing finger; the breath follows.
Keep going
See how five-finger breathing fits with other techniques in our age-by-age breathing guide and the box breathing guide for kids. More printables live on our free tools page.
US Letter, one page, full color (it also prints fine in black and white, and on A4 with "fit to page"). Free for home, classroom and therapy use; please share the link rather than re-uploading the file. More on our free tools and printables page.
