Mindful Breathing

I don't know about you but taking a deep breath is the last thing I want to do when I am feel angry or anxious. This is because a deep breath simply isn't on the menu when I am in flght or flight mode. So the best thing I can do is practice breathing deeply during the calm times in life. This way, I am less likely to get into an agitated state to begin with and when I do it is shorter lived.
The same is true for our kids. Trying to talk a little one out of a melt down is useless. They simply aren't able to access the problem solving part of their brain. Better to practice deep breathing during quiet times. Bed time is optimal. You can have your little one use a cuddle toy as a tool for deep breathing. The stuffed animal goes for a ride on their tummy, up and down like a gentle wave. You can also have your little one put their head on your tummy so that they can feel your breath rising and falling beneath them as shown here. Give it a try and let me know how it went. Happy breathing