Fun activities for little learners
Simple, playful activities to help children aged 5–12 build calm, kindness, and gratitude — one smile at a time.
Try One Today — Let's Breathe!
Each activity takes 1–10 minutes and can be done anywhere.
Calm Breathing for Little Learners
Learn a simple breathing technique to help you feel calm and happy. We breathe in like we're smelling our favourite flowers, and breathe out like we're blowing bubbles!
How to do it:
- 1Sit comfortably and close your eyes softly 👀
- 2Breathe in through your nose for 4 counts — smell imaginary flowers 🌸
- 3Hold for 2 counts — keep those flowers close!
- 4Breathe out for 4 counts — blow gentle bubbles 🫧
- 5Do this 5 times and notice how calm you feel
👨👩👧 For Caregivers
Encourage your child to practise this technique anytime they feel overwhelmed — before school, after a difficult moment, or at bedtime.
The Kindness Star
Draw a star and on each point write one kind thing you did today. Being kind to others — and to yourself — makes your star shine brighter!
How to do it:
- 1Get a piece of paper and draw a big star ⭐
- 2On each of the 5 points, write one kind thing you did today
- 3It could be small: sharing, listening, smiling at someone
- 4Being kind to yourself counts too — write it down!
- 5Put your Kindness Star somewhere you can see it
👨👩👧 For Caregivers
Celebrate every entry — no act of kindness is too small. Ask your child to share their star at dinner. It creates a positive conversation ritual.
My Gratitude Jar
Every day, write one thing that made you smile and drop it in a jar. On hard days, pull out a note and remember all the good things in your world.
How to do it:
- 1Find a jar or box — decorate it however you like 🎨
- 2Every evening, write one good thing from your day on a slip of paper
- 3It could be something that made you laugh, something tasty, or someone kind
- 4Fold it up and drop it in your jar
- 5When you feel sad, open your jar and read your notes
👨👩👧 For Caregivers
Make this a family activity — everyone adds a slip. After one month, read them all together. It's a beautiful reminder of everyday joy.
Feelings Rainbow
Colour a rainbow and name one feeling for each colour. Learning to name your feelings helps them feel less scary — and it's really fun to make art!
How to do it:
- 1Draw a big rainbow with 6 arches 🖍️
- 2Colour each arch a different colour
- 3Write a feeling word next to each colour: Happy, Excited, Calm, Sad, Worried, Angry
- 4Point to the colour that shows how you feel right now
- 5Tell a grown-up about your colour — they want to know!
👨👩👧 For Caregivers
Revisit the Feelings Rainbow throughout the day. Helping children name emotions builds emotional intelligence and reduces behavioural outbursts.
Slow Down Like a Tortoise
When you feel upset or angry, be like a tortoise — slow down, pull into your shell, and take 3 deep breaths before you act. Tortoises are very wise!
How to do it:
- 1When you feel angry or overwhelmed, stop — like a tortoise! 🐢
- 2Wrap your arms around yourself — you're in your shell
- 3Take 3 slow deep breaths
- 4Think: "What do I need right now?"
- 5Come out of your shell when you feel ready
👨👩👧 For Caregivers
Practice the tortoise technique when your child is calm, not in the middle of a meltdown. Role-play it as a game. This builds muscle memory for emotional regulation.
Sweet Dreams Bedtime Ritual
End every day by thinking of 3 good things that happened. Then send a kind thought to someone you love. Good dreams start with good thoughts!
How to do it:
- 1Lie down comfortably and close your eyes 🌙
- 2Think of 3 things from today that made you feel good
- 3Say thank you in your heart for each one
- 4Think of someone you love and send them a kind thought — imagine them smiling
- 5Take 3 slow breaths and let yourself drift off to sleep 💤
👨👩👧 For Caregivers
This ritual reduces cortisol before sleep and builds a positive association with bedtime. Do it together for the first few nights to help your child learn the routine.
Wellbeing starts young.
The habits we build in childhood stay with us for life. Every moment you spend on these activities is an investment in a healthier, happier future for your child.