The Pause Button
Need to take a pause RIGHT NOW?
Try out our Wee Seeds Pause Button to bring some calm to your current situation.
Read the guidance and then follow the breathing to support a moment’s peace amid the storm.
Exercise guidance
- Ask your child to run about or jump up and down for a few minutes.
- Then get them to come and press the PAUSE button.
- Together, follow the balloon breaths on screen, in and out.
- Don’t try to change your breath, just follow it.
- Try to repeat the exercise three times.
Why do this?
We want to start to plant the seeds of mindfulness and meditation – so what better way to do this than to teach them to stop, pause and breathe.
We live in a busy world today and learning that it’s OK to take a break is a valuable tool for our self-care – for children and adults alike!
Deep breathing in the belly sends signals to the nervous system to relax – which is good for little minds and bodies.
What can I try if it’s not working?
If your child can’t or won’t sit – why not try one breath first. Get them to copy you – young children love copying! Hold their hands in yours, look in their eyes, and take a big deep breath in and out yourself.
Try to expand your tummy like a balloon, place your hands on your tummy if it helps. Make a game of it. Then come back to Wee Seeds’ Pause Button and try again.
What else can I do?
- Use the exercise to talk about how important it is to take a pause in their day.
- Ask your little one what did it feel like pausing? What did they feel like before? After?
- Then for fun why not decide where their own Pause button could be. On their tummy? Nose? Forehead?
- Come back to this exercise time and time again – repetition helps create habits.
- Use this practice before stressful situations escalate, in the supermarket, at home before dinner, or a meltdown, or simply to relax and unwind before bedtime.
10 Days to Calm: FREE CHALLENGE.
Take Five to Thrive - Transform Children's Lives with Our 10-Day Breathing Challenge!
Discover the power of mindful breathing with our 10-Day Breathing Challenge, designed to help young children experience the life-changing benefits of just five minutes of daily breathing practice.
Our platform and app provides grown ups with mental health resources to teach emotional, mental and social wellbeing skills through simple, easy to follow videos, audio and activities.
Parents can watch their little ones grow and develop mental health skills. Educators and professionals can bring mindfulness into their classrooms or with families they work with. Employers can improve wellbeing for their staff, creating positive spill over into work.
AT HOME
Mindfulness can help your child. Connect with your child every day. Bring calm into your home. Teach them positive mental health skills for life.
IN CLASS
Bring calm to your classroom or nursery, or families you work with. Support staff with meeting curriculum objectives. Teach health and wellbeing skills for life.
FOR EMPLOYERS
Home life doesn't get left at the door when employees start work, with home-working more normal than ever, it's even harder to separate life and work.
