Elephant Party Breather
The Elephant Noise Maker is a fun and useful tool for teaching kids deep breathing techniques. Deep breathing is a key coping skill and one of the Soothing Coping Skills covered in Please Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff.
In the past we have drawn a picture of an elephant on a piece of heavy paper or cardboard to create our elephant noise makers. With this new template you can either use the picture to trace on something more durable or simply cut the elephant out and use the template itself.
Here’s are the instructions:
1.Cut out the elephant from the template. Either trace the elephant on to heavy duty paper or cardboard if desired or use the elephant from the template.
2.Cut a hole slightly smaller than needed for a noise maker where the X is on the elephant’s trunk. The elephants tend to be top heavy (pun intended), and making the hole slightly smaller than needed will help to keep the blower in place.
3.Push the blower end of party toy / noise maker through hole. We like the party favors with the paper that unrolls on the other end as these require the kids to practice deep breathing in order to make them work. However, you can use actual noise makers if you’re looking for a louder option.
4.Blow on the noise maker to practice deep breathing. Encourage the child to take deep breaths in through their nose then exhale through their mouth.
Click on the picture above for a full-sized printable version of the Elephant Noise Maker template.
For more awesome resources for learning about and dealing with emotions, please visit our Hope 4 Hurting Kids Emotions Help Center.
