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Practicing Peace Breath to help children cope with school tragedy

Practicing Peace Breath to help children cope with tragedy at school

Saturday, December 15, 2012 (Updated July 2021)

 

This may be a tough week for schools and students around the US. The news of the shooting tragedy in Sandy Hook School in Newtown, CT is horrifying to anyone, and although the feelings of sadness, empathy, and compassion are prevalent and natural responses, so are the feelings of anger, helplessness, and fear.

To help empower children (and ourselves) to ease feelings of helplessness, we would like to recommend starting each school day this week with PEACE BREATH: sending peace and love to the children and families of Newtown, CT, and to the world. This exercise could be done in the classroom or over announcements with your entire school.

Peace Breath activity is one of 67 from the Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck. The instructions on the card are simple and easy to follow – we hope you will use this wonderful tool and share it with anyone in need of a helpful guide to managing the myriad of emotions associated with such tragedies. Peace Breath inspires self-regulation while generating immense compassion, connectedness, and community with the power to help heal ourselves and the world.

Many blessings to the Sandy Hook and Newtown, CT community, to the beautiful children they have lost, and to the many heroes who tried to protect them. Our thoughts of peace and compassion are with you.

National Association of School Psychologists offers a variety of helpful resources on how to help children cope with frightening news, tragedies, or a crisis.