Breathing as Resistance
Make a ritual of lighting your chalice every week!
Here are some stories and videos to share:
Anh’s Anger By Gail Silver (Author), Christianne Kromer (Illustrator)
Suggested Introductory Words
How can you resist being mad, sad or anxious? Find a quiet spot, sit, and breathe. When you meditate every day, your mind stays happy, and even bad days are a little easier.
Book: HERE
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7fLfnmvfBM
Reflection Prompts
● What was your favorite part of this story?
● What surprised you about this story?
● What lesson do you think the story wants us to remember?
[Our suggested lesson: “We can resist anger by breathing and centering.”]
In April or May Buddhist celebrate Vesak.
What is the Vesak Festival & What Does it Mean to Buddhists? Watch the following video to learn about this holiday.
Video story told by some Buddhist children: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1pQwj-CNZ8
Reflection Prompts
● What was your favorite part of the video?
● What surprised you the most about this video?
● Do you have any cravings you’d like to control better?
● Have you or your parents tried meditation, keeping your mind on one thing? How?
● Do you know anyone who celebrates Vesak day?
Try a Guided Meditation
Guided Meditation for Children | Your Secret Treehouse
Invite the children to draw during the visualization.
Try some Breathing Games
For this game, each player sits at a table as though they are about to play tug of war. Place a straw in the center of the tables so it is running horizontally. Each player takes their own straw and on the count of go, tries to blow the table straw towards the other player. The person who is able to blow the straw across the table and into the other player wins.
Take a pair of scissors and cut the end of your straw into a point, or a V. Try blowing into the straw. A whistle sound should come out. Try cutting straws at different lengths and then complete them with a V tip. The various lengths should create different pitched sounds. This works especially well with paper straws.
Start by scattering several small scrap pieces of paper around an empty cup. Instruct your child to use the straw to suck the paper onto one end of the straw and blow it out into the cup. For a richer sensory experience, position the child prone (on their belly) over a therapy ball to optimize the sensory benefits. This position will provide proprioception input (helps with calming), vestibular input (help with body coordination/movements), weight bearing on hands (helps with calming and hand strength), and deep pressure (helps with calming).
Start with several small pieces of paper cut into squares and scatter them on a desk or table. Next place a small box several feet away from the table. Have the child use the straw to suck up the paper and walk it to the box and blow the paper out into the box. Walk back to the desk and repeat until all of the pieces are in the box.