Star breathing turns a five-pointed star into a breathing path. A child traces up one side while breathing in, pauses at the point, and traces down the next side while breathing out. The pauses at each point slow the whole breath down, which makes it a little more calming than simple in-and-out breathing.
What is on it
A large star with color-coded sides (blue for breathing in, orange for breathing out), a dot at every point for the pause, simple instructions and a grown-up tip.
Who it is for
Children from about five to ten who are ready for a slightly longer pattern. The pauses at each point make it calmer than simple in-and-out breathing, so it works well before bed, before a test or after a big upset. Children who like shapes and patterns often prefer it to rainbow breathing.
How to use it
- Hang it in the calm corner or tape it to a desk.
- Start at the bottom left point. Trace up the blue side breathing in, pause, trace down the orange side breathing out.
- Go all the way around the star: five in-breaths, five out-breaths.
- Practice on calm days so it is familiar when it is needed.
Tips
- Some children like to trace with a toy car or a dry-erase marker on a laminated copy.
- For bedtime, make the out-breath sides extra slow.
Keep going
Star breathing sits alongside rainbow and five-finger breathing in our breathing techniques by age guide. To set up a corner where the poster lives, see 15 calm down corner ideas for the classroom.
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.
