Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Breathing Exercise Cards: Free Printable Card Set for Year 2
- ForYear 2
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Breathing Exercise Cards is a free printable card set for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7) in Key Stage 1. Children cut out the cards and try calm animal breaths, from a hissing snake to a sleepy bear. It takes about 10 minutes, needs no screen, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help for children who find it hard, and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Page 1 holds a set of animal breathing cards to cut out and use. Each card gives a short instruction and a picture to imagine. Children hiss like a snake, hum like a bee, sniff like a bunny or flap slowly like a butterfly. A grown up joins in and shows each breath first. Then children copy, try it alone, and notice how their body feels afterwards.
- Snake breath: breathe in, then hiss out slowly
- Bunny breath: three small sniffs in, one long breath out
- Bee breath: breathe in, then hum out
- Lion breath: breathe in, then roar out softly
- Turtle breath: breathe in, hide your head, breathe out
- Bear breath: slow breath in and slow breath out like a sleepy bear
- Butterfly breath: flap arms slowly as you breathe
- Dolphin breath: breathe in, then blow out like a spout
Try the animal breaths
Snake and bee
Both start with a breath in. Then the snake hisses out slowly and the bee hums out. A sound gives children something to listen to while the breath goes out.
Bunny
Three small sniffs in, then one long breath out. Children can count the sniffs on their fingers. Show the long breath out slowly so they can copy it.
Lion and dolphin
The lion breathes in, then roars out softly. The dolphin breathes in, then blows out like a spout. Both give children a picture to imagine as they breathe out. Keep the roar quiet.
Turtle, bear and butterfly
The turtle breathes in, hides its head, then breathes out. The bear takes a slow breath in and a slow breath out, like a sleepy bear. The butterfly flaps its arms slowly as it breathes.
Why practise breathing in Year 2?
Breathing is something children do all day without thinking. It is also something they can choose to slow down. Short, gentle practice helps children notice what their body is doing. Year 2 children enjoy pretending to be animals, so a picture to copy makes the idea easy to follow and fun to repeat.
PSHE at Key Stage 1 includes learning about health and wellbeing, and talking about feelings. Breathing cards give a simple, calm routine to practise when things are quiet. That means children know what to do before they need it. Little and often works better than one long session.
Keep every breath gentle and relaxed. Children should never hold their breath or breathe hard and fast. If a child feels dizzy or uncomfortable, stop and let them breathe normally. Ask an adult to help with cutting out if scissors are a worry.
Fun facts about breathing
- You breathe all day and all night, even when you are asleep.
- Air goes into your body through your nose or your mouth.
- Your lungs are inside your chest, and your ribs help protect them.
- Your chest and tummy move a little as you breathe.
- You usually breathe without thinking, but you can also choose to breathe slowly.
Skills and curriculum link
- Calm
- Breathing
- Imagining
- Copying a model
- Noticing the body
- Talking about feelings
What children will be able to do
- I can try a gentle breathing exercise.
- I can breathe slowly in and out.
- I can say how my body feels afterwards.
Helping children get the most from the cards
- Show firstDo each breath yourself before the child tries. Children copy what they see, so go slowly and keep your face relaxed.
- Keep it quiet and gentleSoft sounds work best. A quiet roar or a small hum keeps the mood calm and stops the breathing becoming fast.
- Make it a habitUse the cards at a regular time, such as after school or before bed. A familiar routine helps children feel settled.
- Let children chooseOffer two cards and let the child pick. Choice gives children a sense of control and keeps them interested.
Key words
- BreathThe air you take in and let out.
- InhaleTo breathe in.
- ExhaleTo breathe out.
- SlowlyTaking your time, not rushing.
- CalmFeeling quiet and relaxed inside.
- ImagineTo make a picture in your mind.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for yourself.
- Cut out the cards together. Spread them out and talk about the animals.
- Pick one card and read it aloud. Show the breath first, then let your child copy. Plan for about 10 minutes in all.
- Ask how their body feels. Talk about which breath they liked and why.
- Come back to the cards another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Do one card each day instead of trying several at once. Start with the bear or the snake, as both are slow and simple. Breathe together and let your child copy at their own pace. Stop whenever they want to.
To stretch confident children
Make up a new animal breath. Choose an animal, decide how it moves or sounds, and plan how to breathe in and out like it. Draw a card for it. Then teach the breath to a grown up or a friend.
Make it a game
Put the cards face down in a pile. Take one card before bed and do that breath together, slowly and quietly. Take turns picking. The child can be the leader and show the grown up how to do it.
Talk about it
- Which animal would you like to be today, and why?
- What do you notice in your tummy or chest when you breathe slowly?
- Can you teach me the breath you liked best?
- What sounds did your breath make?
- Where could you try a quiet breath at home or at school?
- Can you think of an animal that moves slowly and calmly?
Take it off the page
Draw your breathing animal
Draw the animal you liked best. Add arrows to show where the breath goes in and out. Use the drawing to teach someone else.
Soft toy breathing
Lie down and rest a soft toy on your tummy. Breathe slowly and watch the toy move. Talk about what it is doing.
Animal walk
Walk slowly around the room like a turtle or a bear. Stop, take a quiet breath in and out, then move on again.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child and try each breath yourself first. Keep it light and playful. About 10 minutes is plenty. If your child is not in the mood, leave it and try another day.
Teachers
Use the cards as a calm starter, a settling activity after break, or a plenary. The sheet needs only printing and cutting. It fits the health and wellbeing strand of PSHE and works for a whole class or a small group.
Home educators
Add the cards to a calm part of the day, such as the start of the morning or after outdoor play. They pair well with picture books about animals and feelings. Reuse the cards for brothers and sisters or a few weeks later.
Where this fits
Before this, younger children learn simple class routines and how to behave kindly together. A set of class rules gives children a clear, calm base to work from. Breathing cards add a gentle tool to use within that routine.
After this, children can look at a growth mindset and how to keep going when things feel hard. Calm breathing helps children settle so they can think clearly about a challenge. Both skills build on noticing how they feel.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- How does your body feel after the breathing?
- Which animal breathing did you like best, and why?
- When could you use slow breathing to feel calm?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Breathing Exercise Cards for?
It is written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7) in Key Stage 1. Younger children can join in with a grown up, and older children can lead the breaths for others.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 10 minutes. A grown up joins in and shows each breath first. You can do one card in a short moment, or try more on another day.
- What will children practise?
Children try gentle breathing exercises linked to animals to feel calm. They copy the breath on each card, imagine the animal, and then say how their body feels afterwards.
- What if it feels too hard?
Do one card each day. Pick a slow, simple breath and breathe together. Keep it short and relaxed. If a child feels dizzy or tired of it, stop and breathe normally.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another class, and it prints well in black and white.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, calm moment or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting out the cards.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and scissors, so it suits quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Children do the breaths with their bodies, with no device needed.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.