Mindful Breathing Exercises - Mindfulness Cards, Activities & Posters for SEL

Use these mindful breathing exercises to build skills for mindfulness and self-regulation. Teach students to take a "mindful moment" and "just breathe" to help feel calm, focused, and in control. Activities also promote attention, emotional control, and coping strategies.

Mindful breathing can help kids regain focus, inner calm, happiness, and promote a positive classroom climate. They can be used as brain breaks for the whole class, or in calm-down areas for students who need extra support. These cards include 40 unique activities for individual, small group, or whole class practice to get started!

Practicing Mindfulness

Mindfulness means being present in the moment with your thoughts and feelings without making judgments. It is being aware of what is happening but not being overwhelmed. These cards are a great way to integrate social emotional learning and mindful practices, as they can help learners feel more calm, reduce stress, work through challenging emotions, and improve focus. Research tells us that learning to be mindful truly is a practice; it is something we can improve each time we try!

Mindful Breathing Exercises

These mindful breathing exercises specifically target breathing strategies in a fun and interactive way that all kids can love to practice time and time again.

Some of the mindful breathing activities include:

• Marching Band Breathing
• Figure 8 Breathing
• Shape Breathing
• Cool Off the Pizza
• Smell the Flowers
• And MANY More! Please see the preview for examples and photos.

Digital and Print Versions

I've added a digital version to open in Google Drive! Open the PDF with "digital directions" and click the link to access.

Note that some of these mindfulness exercises are the same activities in the Mindfulness Board Game, but can be practiced again and again.

Strategies to Use Mindful Breathing Cards

• Teach students about mindfulness first. Explain that mindfulness is a skill that improves over time with practice!
• Provide an individual copy to students who need extra support managing emotions. Teach them how to use it to calm down.
• Keep a set in the calm down area.
• Keep cards on a ring. Some cards can be easily practiced as a whole group. Practice mindful moments whenever needed, such as after recess, before a big test, or during downtime.
• Post posters as a bulletin board.

Here are just some examples of times you could use these cards and posters:

• Beginning of a morning meeting
• During an intervention for individual students in need
• After lunch or recess to help bring the class back together
• Before high-stakes testing to help focus and calm the mind
• In small groups to promote relaxation
• In between class transitions to provide a mental break
• At the beginning of a resource class to start with a positive focus
• Let partners or small groups practice before a test or quiz

Poster Sizes Included

This set includes full-size poster versions too! Use these as a bulletin board or in your calm-down area with the strategies you choose.

Black and White Versions

Note that black/white version is also included. You can have students use this version to color and create their own individualized set. Blank cards are also included if you have your own mindful exercises to add.

Save Over 20% with a Bundle!

{ Mindfulness Bundle }

This bundle includes over 100 pages focused on teaching and practicing mindfulness to kids and young adults. Materials include lessons, workbook pages, posters, and task cards.

{ Mindfulness and Coping Strategies MEGA Bundle }

This is a HUGE bundle with over 500 pages focused on teaching mindfulness and coping strategies to encourage self-control, happiness, positivity, and many more positive outcomes. It contains a variety of lessons, workbooks, posters, task cards, foldable crafts, and much more!

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© Pathway 2 Success. One license is for the classroom/personal use for one educator and their students. Materials may not be shared with other educators without the purchase of extra licenses. Materials may not be posted on the Internet where they can be publicly accessed. Personal and classroom use only. Please see full terms of use for more information.

Disclaimer: These resources are for supplementary support/education purposes and are not a replacement for education or other necessary supports. Educators, parents, and others who utilize these materials are encouraged to seek out additional support, as needed.