My two-and-a-half year old shrieked and stomped, tears welling like tiny rainclouds ready to burst. Her dad was trying to put on her snowsuit. ?Mommy do it,” she pleaded, so I grabbed the pants and put her on my lap. “Take a deep breath, in and out,” she whispered, closing her eyes, taking in a deep inhale and exhale. Her energy visibly shifted to a calmer state and minutes later we were all outside playing in the snow, the tantrum a mere blip in the day. I was shocked?usually her tantrums lasted at least five minutes (or what feels like an hour).
After recounting the incident to a caregiver at her daycare, she said they were encouraging the class to recognize their emotions and take a deep breath when they felt frustrated or upset. While I was surprised my daughter could remember to use this skill in the moment, it?s clear what they were teaching her was working.  I?ve since learned that mindful breathing is an accessible, easy to do and effective way to help your child manage their emotions. And it?s never too early to start encouraging it. 
What is mindful breathing 
Slow, easy breathing has positive effects on the mind and body, including training your brain to focus, decreasing anxiety and helping with emotional regulation. 
?When we have a long exhale it activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps us calm down,? explains Sara Marlowe, a Toronto-based registered social worker and writer of children?s books about mindfulness and self-...