Calm Breathing and Kindness for Kids: A Gentle Guide with Doge & Kobe
Little bodies get big feelings.
A spilled snack, a long wait, a toy that won't share itself. Sometimes the fastest way back to calm is the slowest thing we can do: one gentle breath.
This little guide is for parents, grandparents and teachers. It has one breathing exercise, a few kindness ideas, and short free videos where Doge and Kobe show the way.
What is a good breathing exercise for kids?
Our favourite is Smell the Flower, Blow the Candle.
- Hold up one hand like a flower. Breathe in slowly through your nose and smell it.
- Hold up one finger like a candle. Breathe out slowly through your mouth and blow the flame gently.
- Do it three times. Slow and soft.
That's it. No special room. No timer needed.
Watch Doge and Kobe do it together in under a minute: Breathing Exercise for Kids: Smell the Flower, Blow the Candle. It also lives on our Little ones page.
When should we use calm breathing?
Try it before a big feeling gets bigger. Before bed. In the car line. After a tumble.
Practise it when everyone is already calm, too. A breath that's been played with on a good day is easier to find on a hard one.
How do I help my child be kind?
Kindness for kids works best when it's small and real.
Hold the door. Share half. Wait your turn. Help someone find what they lost.
Our short stories each end with one kind idea to carry through the day:
- Waiting Your Turn | Cookie Story for Kids, a cookie story about waiting your turn, where waiting can be a gentle kind of care.
- Lost Chirp Home, where a little chirp is lost and Doge and Kobe stay close and help it find the way home.
- Sandbox Castle Fix, where a sandbox castle needs a little fixing and Doge and Kobe help fix it, gently.
Watch one together. Then ask, "What kind thing did Kobe do?" Let your child answer in their own words.
Can breathing and kindness go together?
Yes. A calm body makes room for a kind choice.
Try a kind breath. Breathe in slowly. As you breathe out, send a quiet wish to someone: "I hope you have a happy day."
Next breath, send one to yourself.
If you'd like the grown-up version, our guide on How to Do a Loving-Kindness Meditation walks through it step by step.
What if my child won't sit still?
That's okay. Kids don't need to sit still to breathe.
Breathe while walking. Breathe lying down with a stuffed animal on the tummy and watch it rise and fall. Make it a game, not a rule.
One breath counts. Silliness counts. Coming back to it tomorrow counts.
Can we use this at bedtime?
It's a lovely way to end the day. Do three flower-and-candle breaths with the lights low, then one kind wish for someone you love.
For a slower wind-down for the grown-ups, try A 5-Minute Bedtime Meditation to Wind Down Before Sleep.
And when you want a quiet minute for yourself, the one-minute meditation is always free.
Find more Doge & Kobe
All our kids videos are free on YouTube at @DogeDharma and on the Little ones page.
Teachers and parents may freely share and use them for non-commercial learning.
Try one breath today. Then go do one good thing, and if you like, share it on Good Deeds Today.
Doge and Kobe watch over the house. Come sit a while. 🙏🏾
Not medical advice. For wellness and kindness only.