VINITA KHILNANI

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Stress and anxiety are connected to physical sensations in our bodies. The relaxation skill of paced belly breathing helps us turn down these unpleasant physical sensations, which helps us to feel calm and in control. For example, Molly the hedgehog was feeling nervous during her dance competition. She felt many unpleasant physical sensations in her body. Thanks to her friend Hanna the turtle, Molly used paced belly breathing to calm her body and turn down her nervousness so she could complete the competition. PACED BELLY BREATHING is one of the key relaxation skills in the video. • Belly breathing is breathing slowly and deeply at a steady pace. By slowing their inhales and extending their exhales, your child can use their breath to harness control of their emotions. • Belly breathing balances out the carbon dioxide and oxygen in kids’ bodies, cutting off their fight, flight, or freeze response. It returns their mind and body to a calmer state. --- The California Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids Project is series of free, evidence-based video and print resources that caregivers and educators can use to teach their kids critical mental health and coping skills. The project was born of an innovative partnership between the state of California and the Child Mind Institute. https://childmind.org/healthyminds