3 Cozy Fall Breathing Exercises for Kids
Why Fall is the Perfect Time for Mindfulness 🍁
As the leaves change and the days get shorter, fall can be a busy and overwhelming season for kids. School routines, sports, and cooler weather often leave little time for slowing down. Mindful breathing is a simple, kid-friendly way to help children manage stress, feel calm, and connect with the cozy moments of the season.
These fall breathing exercises are fun, imaginative, and seasonal, making mindfulness something kids actually enjoy. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or kids yoga instructor, you can try these at home, in the classroom, or in after-school yoga clubs.
🎃 Pumpkin Belly Breathing
This classic mindful breathing activity gets a cozy fall twist.
How to Try It:
Have your child lie down on their back on a yoga mat.
Place a small pumpkin gently on their tummy.
As they breathe in and out, watch the pumpkin rise and fall with each breath.
Why It Works:
Pumpkin Belly Breathing helps kids see their breath, teaching them deep belly breathing in a playful way. It’s perfect for quieting down before bedtime, after school, or during a mindfulness break.
🍂 Leaf Blowing Breath
A fun way to practice slow, steady breathing while building focus.
How to Try It:
Place a colorful autumn leaf on the floor (a real leaf or paper cut-out).
Give your child a straw.
Encourage them to blow gently to move the leaf across the floor.
Why It Works:
Leaf Blowing turns mindful breathing into a game! It helps children slow down, regulate their breath, and develop concentration. Teachers love this one for transitions and focus-building in class.
🍵 Hot Cocoa Breath
Cozy and calming, this exercise feels like sipping cocoa on a chilly fall day.
How to Try It:
Have your child hold an (empty) fall-themed mug.
Inhale deeply as if smelling the hot cocoa steam.
Slowly exhale, blowing gently to cool the cocoa down.
Why It Works:
Hot Cocoa Breath is soothing, imaginative, and teaches kids the balance between a deep inhale and gentle exhale. It’s a great tool for calming nerves before school or winding down at night.
* Want a fun fall fidget to bring this practice to life? Here’s a link to one of my favorite fall props (https://amzn.to/4nxiMwQ)
How to Use These Fall Breathing Exercises 🍁
Parents: Try them during homework breaks or bedtime routines.
Teachers: Use them as quick mindfulness breaks to refocus your classroom.
Kids Yoga Instructors: Add them into your fall kids yoga classes or after-school clubs for extra engagement.
These exercises not only teach kids mindfulness and social-emotional learning (SEL) skills, but they also create cozy, calming rituals that make autumn extra special.
Want More Seasonal Mindfulness Ideas?
At The Mindfulness Movement™, we create playful yoga and mindfulness resources for kids, families, and schools. From after-school yoga clubs to themed workshops and digital downloads, you’ll find tools to bring calm and connection into your child’s day.
👉 Explore our Kids Yoga & Mindfulness Clubs
👉 Check out our Mindful Movement Camps
👉 Shop our Seasonal Yoga Resources
🍂 Sign up for our email list for more ways to bring mindfulness into your classroom or home this fall.
