Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Hill and Valley Breathing: Free Printable Game for Ages 2 to 4
- ForAges 2 to 4
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Hill and Valley Breathing is a free printable game for Ages 2 to 4 in Early Years. Children move a small toy along a path. They climb the hills and breathe in. They slide down and breathe out. It is screen free, it needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 gives the adult notes, help ideas and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, use page 1 with your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children play along a path with hills and valleys. An adult reads the rules aloud. The child rolls a dice marked with dots and moves a small toy counter along the path, counting the squares. Going up a hill means a slow breath in. Sliding down means a slow breath out. Adult and child breathe together and take turns.
What the game builds
Calm breathing
Children learn that they can notice their breath and slow it down. The hill gives each slow breath a shape they can see and follow.
Counting
Rolling the dice and counting squares gives early counting a real purpose. Children say each number aloud as the counter moves.
Taking turns
Waiting for a turn and watching someone else play are big skills at this age. A short game with a grown up is a gentle place to practise them.
Listening and copying
Children listen to the rules and copy the adult's slow breaths. This builds attention as well as language.
Why teach breathing through play?
Breathing is something children do without thinking. Between ages 2 and 4 they are starting to learn that they can notice it and slow it down. Slow breaths in and out are a simple way to help the body feel calmer. Young children learn this best through play, rhythm and copying an adult, rather than being told to calm down.
A hill and a valley give a breath a shape. Going up is the breath in. Sliding down is the breath out. A picture a child can see and trace with a finger makes an abstract idea easier to hold. Adding a dice and a counter brings in counting and taking turns, so the calm moment feels like a game and not a lesson.
Choose a counter that is too big to swallow, and stay with your child while they play. Small parts are not safe for children under three. Ask for gentle breaths, not big hard ones. If a child feels dizzy, stop and let them breathe normally.
Fun breathing facts for children
- You breathe all day and all night, even when you are asleep.
- When you breathe in, air fills your lungs. When you breathe out, the air goes back out.
- Your chest and tummy move a little when you breathe.
- Slow, gentle breaths can help your body feel calm.
- A yawn is one very big breath.
Skills and curriculum link
- Calm breathing
- Counting
- Taking turns
- Listening to rules
- Following a path
Ideas to help you guide the game
- Model it firstTake a slow breath in and a slow breath out yourself before you ask your child to. Children copy what they see.
- Keep the breaths gentleAsk for soft, easy breaths. Big, fast breaths are not the aim and can feel odd for small children.
- Count out loudSay the numbers as the counter moves. Hearing the count helps children link each number to one square.
- Follow your child's leadIf they want to trace the path again or skip a turn, that is fine. Stop while it is still fun.
Key words
- Breathe inTake air into your body through your nose or mouth.
- Breathe outLet the air go out of your body slowly.
- HillA high place that you climb up.
- ValleyA low place between two hills.
- TurnYour go in the game. Then it is someone else's go.
- CalmFeeling quiet and relaxed inside.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Keep page 2 for the adult.
- Read the rules aloud. Choose a small toy as a counter and find a dice marked with dots.
- Play the first go together. Let your child trace the path with a finger, then roll and move the counter.
- Take each breath slowly together. Breathe in on the hills and out on the slides. Check the notes on page 2.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Use a dice with 1 to 3 dots only. Count the squares aloud together and let your child trace the path with a finger before they move the counter. Breathe in and out with them, slowly, and let them copy you.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to count the squares they move on each turn. Then ask them to say how they feel after three slow breaths. Do they feel calmer, sleepy or the same? There is no wrong answer. Let them describe it in their own words.
Make it a game
Make hill hands. Raise your hands slowly while you breathe in, then lower them while you breathe out. Do it as a family or a class. Finish with a big sleepy yawn. Take turns to be the leader and choose how slow the hill is.
Talk about it
- How does your tummy feel when you breathe in?
- Can you make a very slow breath out, like a slide?
- Which part of the path did you like best, the hill or the valley?
- How do you feel after three slow breaths?
- When might a slow breath help you? Maybe when you feel cross or sleepy.
- Can you teach someone else how to play?
Take it off the page
Draw a hill
Draw a big hill with a finger on a tray of sand, flour or rice. Breathe in as you go up and out as you go down.
Bubble breaths
Blow bubbles outside with an adult. Slow, gentle breaths make the biggest bubbles. Talk about how it felt.
Teddy breathing
Lay a soft toy on your child's tummy as they lie down. Watch it rise on the breath in and fall on the breath out.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go, then let them lead. Keep it light and stop while it is still fun. It works well as a calm moment before a nap or bedtime.
Teachers
Use it as a calm starter, a transition between activities or a small group table game. It links to personal, social and emotional development in Early Years, especially managing feelings and taking turns. It needs only printing.
Home educators
Pair it with a story, a walk to a real hill or some outdoor play. Because it is free to print, you can use it again for younger or older brothers and sisters, or return to it when you want a calm routine.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children may have played simple turn taking games and joined in with songs and actions. They may have watched adults breathe slowly and tried to copy. This sheet gives that early practice a clear picture to follow.
After it, children can notice their feelings and name them, try other calming ideas such as stretching or quiet time, and play simple board games with longer paths and more players. The same habits of counting, listening and waiting for a turn carry forward into school.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Hill and Valley Breathing for?
It is written for Ages 2 to 4 in Early Years. Younger children will need an adult beside them. Older children may like to lead the game and count the squares themselves.
- What will children practise?
Children practise calm breathing, counting and taking turns while they move along a path. They breathe in on the hills and out on the slides, with an adult breathing alongside them.
- What do I need to play?
You need the printed sheet, a small toy as a counter and a dice marked with dots. Choose a counter that is too big to swallow. Stay with your child while they play.
- What if it feels too hard?
Use a dice with 1 to 3 dots only. Count the squares aloud together and let your child trace the path with a finger first. Keep the breaths gentle and copy your child's pace.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another group, and return to it whenever you like.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. It works as a calm starter, a transition activity or a table game for a small group. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has help and stretch ideas.
- How long should a session be?
Keep it short and stop while it is still fun. Two quick games are better than one long one. Young children learn best in small, happy bursts, so follow your child's interest.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.