Calm Week #2 – Mindful Breathing

Life Skills & Wellbeing · Early Primary (Ages 5–7)

Mindful Breathing With Thumper

On the second day of CALM Week the focus was on breathing, a topic that seemed simple until the Bronto Brothers realised they had never taken the time to notice how they breathed. Thumper in particular had many questions. He wanted to know if he should breathe like a drummer or an ordinary dinosaur and whether breathing slowly meant he had to stop tapping his feet, which already seemed impossible.

The school counselor demonstrated to the band how they should sit comfortably, raise their chests slightly, and breathe in through their noses. Though Thumper made an effort, his first breath sounded as if a volcano were warming up. Rex snorted and Groovy covered her face; Tim remarked that at least it showed Thumper was trying.

They continued the exercise, this time counting as they inhaled and exhaled. Thumper eventually settled on a rhythm and realized breathing has its own beat. The steady rising and falling of their chests had a calming effect on The Brontos, which they did not expect. Rex noticed that Thumper’s tail had stopped bouncing and his drumsticks now stayed in his lap instead of rolling on the floor.

The entire band stayed together for a while and breathed in the quiet room. With each breath the room seemed to become softer and lighter, and even Thumper had to admit that he felt calmer than he had all day.

Axe claimed that it was the most peaceful thing he had ever seen, which made Thumper feel proud yet a bit embarrassed as well.

Thumper now knows breathing is not merely a thing to keep going, but a thing to helps you calm down when the world seems too much.

Originally Posted on brontobrothers.com on November 26, 2025

Recent Posts

• A United Community Stands Together
  The reading garden is almost ready, but one final decision asks the Brontos to think beyond what is easiest for them.
• Team Building: Working Together
  Building day becomes a noisy tangle of tools and plans until the Brontos discover that teamwork needs more than good intentions.
• Groovy Sees Another Side: Two Sides to Every Story
  Groovy’s musical garden path sounds perfect to her—but another dinosaur hears the plan very differently.
• Thumper Learns to Pause Before He “Stomps”
  Missing boards and a crooked book box push Thumper toward a giant stomp—until he tries a three-part pause.
• Luminara Accepts Being Nervous in Public
  Luminara is excited to announce Dino Cove’s new community reading garden. So why does she also feel nervous?
• 
  Dino Cove Balance Challenge: Solve for X!
  Balancing Challenge Can you keep both sides equal while uncovering… Read more: Dino Cove Balance Challenge: Solve for X!