Breathing Buddies
No Sew Felt Animals 

Copy+of+image_2016-05-26T01_55_28.897Z.jpg

Supplies

  • Glue (hot glue gun works best, but craft or tacky glue works too)

  • Black sharpie

  • scissors (kid friendly or regular)

  • Double sided tape (or regular)

  • Stuffing (we used this poly-fill, but get creative with what you have at home!)

  • Assorted felt sheets (colors and number different for each animal— see guide)

  • Red felt or fabric for the heart

  • Extra decorations, buttons, ribbons, large googly eyes etc.

  • Printed copies of templates

Copy+of+image_2016-05-26T01_55_28.818Z.jpg

Prep

  • For kids old enough to use scissors, have them tape a copy of the paper template for the animal of their choice on top of felt sheets and cut them out. 

  • For younger kids, adults can cut templates out and let kids trace them onto the felt and then cut them out, or adults can create a “kit” for each animal beforehand, cutting out all the felt pieces so each kid starts with everything they need to glue together and create their animals. 

  • Each animal needs two colored main body pieces, one white bottom (belly), and the appropriate number of feet/fins times two, two googly eyes, two eye lids

Directions

Copy+of+image_2016-05-26T01_55_28.821Z.jpg

  1. Completely glue together two of each foot or fin 

  2. Glue all the way around the very edges of the two body pieces except for a 4-5 inch gap along the base 

  3. Once the glue has dried, turn the body inside out, creating an “invisible” seam with the glue on the inside 

  4. Kids can draw, write, or whisper a calming mantra or phrase on the heart and put the heart inside the body (Something like, “I am calm” is just great!")

  5. Stuff the body with filling 

  6. Glue the white bottom along the base of the animal, creating a belly and closing the filling opening 

  7. Glue double-layered fins/feet, googly eyes, eye lids, to the outside of the animal 

Copy of image_2016-05-26T01_55_28.882Z.jpeg

Discussion

Once your Buddy is completely dry, try the following exercise.

  • Lay down on your back in a comfortable space- not in your bed, you don’t want to fall asleep, but maybe on the floor in a quiet corner.

  • Put your Breathing Buddy on your belly, and take some big, deep breaths, inhaling to fill your lungs all the way up with air, and then exhaling until they’re totally empty

  • Watch your Buddy rise and fall on your belly.

  • Now, try counting your breaths, In 1,2,3, out 1,2,3

    Set a timer and have kids try just counting their breaths for one whole minute. Increase as they’re able.

    More info on Breathing Buddies.