5 Creative Thanksgiving Gratitude Breaths

Thanksgiving gratitude.

As we get closer to Thanksgiving, the busiest holiday of the year here in the United States, it’s no surprise that children—and even adults—find themselves a little extra anxious, dysregulated, and distracted.

The to-do lists are long, the sports schedules run late into the dark night, the curriculum is jam-packed, and the emotions are running high with thoughts of family gatherings. It’s a lot.

So what can we do for our children and ourselves during this time of frenzy to give us time and space to welcome in the Thanksgiving gratitude?

Let’s go back to the basics. Let’s keep it simple.

Let’s slow down and find moments to lengthen our breath throughout the day.

We can then pause to do some breathing techniques for holiday stress relief—and get ourselves back in balance so we can connect with our students.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we’re sharing five creative and playful Thanksgiving Breaths so that you can easily incorporate fun breathing exercises into your day.

These exercises are designed to help children (and maybe even you) find calm and focus and be ready to learn (and tackle your long to-do list).

Thanksgiving Breathing Exercises | Kids Yoga Stories

5 Thanksgiving Breaths to Slow Down, Ease Anxiety, and Help Focus

Here are five creative gratitude-inspired Thanksgiving Breaths to help you weave the magic of calm and focus into the holidays. Find these breathing exercises and many more in our popular Breathing Exercises for Kids Cards.

1. Gratitude Breath:

Practice Gratitude Breath (variation of Three Deep Breaths) by taking a few deep breaths and thinking of who or what you are grateful for. To get started, cross your palms on your chest. Take a moment to feel the rise and fall of your breath. Close your eyes, if that’s comfortable. Then inhale deeply for 3 counts through your nose and exhale audibly through your mouth for 3 counts (or longer). Bring to mind someone or something you are grateful for. Repeat these steps three times, each time bringing a new person or thing to mind. Then come back to breathing naturally.

3 deep breaths | Kids Yoga Stories — 3 Deep Breaths

2. Leaf Breath:

Practice Leaf Breath (variation of Take 5 Breath) by taking your right hand and spreading your fingers like a leaf. Place your left pointer finger at the base of your right pinky finger. As you inhale deeply, slide your pointer finger up your pinky finger. Pause briefly at the top of the finger. Then exhale fully while tracing the inside of your pinky finger. Repeat, inhaling up your ring finger and exhaling down your ring finger. Continue tracing your fingers and matching the motion to your breath until you come to the outside of your thumb after five deep breaths. You can also trace your left hand if that’s more comfortable. Or you could trace the edges of a large leaf if you have one.

Take 5 breath | Kids Yoga Stories — Take 5 Breath

3. Candle Breath:

Practice candle breath: clasp your fingers together and extend your pointer fingers (or all your fingers) up like a steeple. Pretending to hold a candle, bring your steepled hands in front of your mouth. Take a deep breath in through your nose then pretend to blow out your Thanksgiving table candle. Close your eyes, if that’s comfortable. Each time you blow your pretend candle, think of someone or something you are grateful for. Repeat a few times.

Candle Breath | Kids Yoga Stories — Candle Breath

4. Sunflower Breath:

Practice Flower Breath: imagine holding a sunflower (or use a real sunflower if possible). Imagine the yellow color and the smell of that flower. Then take in a deep breath through your nose, pretending to smell that flower. Then exhale through your mouth, pretending to blow the flower petals (just like Flower Breath). Repeat the cycle of a strong inhalation and gentle exhalation for a couple of minutes, if possible. Sunflowers symbolize abundance, so you could give thanks to all the wonderful people and things you have in your life. You could also imagine yourself sitting in a field of fresh sunflowers.

Flower Breath | Kids Yoga Stories — Flower Breath

5. Pumpkin Breath:

Practice Pumpkin Breath (variation of Figure Eight Breath), by taking your pointer finger out in front of you. As you trace a figure “8” in the air (the top circle will be small to symbolize the stem of the pumpkin, and the bottom circle will be large to symbolize the pumpkin), practice inhaling and exhaling deeply. Focus your eyes on your moving finger and feel your belly expand and contract with your deep belly breathing.

Figure of 8 breath | Kids Yoga Stories — Figure of 8 Breath

The beauty of these breathing exercises is that you can seamlessly incorporate them into your daily routine, without adding anything extra to your jam-packed schedule.

You can use these Thanksgiving Breaths as a “Breath of the Day/Week” in your classroom, to start with a breath at Morning Meeting, or as you begin your Thanksgiving book story time.

As this special holiday approaches, remember that a little creativity, mindfulness, and the magic of these Thanksgiving Breaths can make all the difference in keeping young minds focused, calm, and ready to learn.