Some feelings are big. Some moments move too fast. The TTS Breathing & Mindfulness Boards give children a tangible, tactile way to slow down - a small wooden board that travels with them into calm corners, therapy sessions, morning circles, or any moment when breathing needs to become deliberate. Available across North America through The Sensory Supply, this set of six engraved beech wood boards is equally at home in a family's bedtime kit and in an OT's treatment room.

How TTS Breathing Boards Work for Emotional Regulation

Each board is engraved with a unique pattern. To use one, a child places a finger on the outer line of the design and breathes in as they trace inward, then breathes out as the path curves back. The finger-tracing movement is the key: it gives the nervous system something concrete to follow, transforming an abstract instruction - "just breathe" - into a guided, multi-sensory experience. A small ball can also be rolled along the engraved paths as an alternative. Spending a few minutes with a board helps children settle into a slower breathing rhythm, which supports the calm, alert state where learning and emotional processing can happen.

Key Features of the TTS Breathing & Mindfulness Boards 6pk

• 6 unique engraved designs - Each board carries a different breathing pattern, giving children and educators a varied toolkit so the technique stays fresh and engaging across multiple sessions
• Durable beech wood construction - Crafted from high-quality beech wood for long-term use in busy educational and therapeutic settings, standing up to repeated daily handling without losing finish or legibility
• Visual cues integrated into each design - The engraved lines and pathways act as built-in visual guides that support correct breathing technique and help children maintain focus throughout the exercise
• Perfectly sized for small hands - The compact dimensions make each board easy for young children to hold and trace independently, and small enough to slip into a calm down kit, therapy bag, or classroom station
• Supports self-regulation, mindfulness, and focus - Through repeated use, children build the skill of consciously returning to their breath - a foundational self-regulation strategy that transfers into daily life, learning, and social situations

Skills Children Develop with Mindfulness Breathing Boards

• Self-Regulation & Emotional Management - Practising intentional breathing builds the cognitive and physical habit of reaching for calm before reacting, giving children a strategy they can use independently in moments of overwhelm or frustration
• Mindfulness & Present-Moment Focus - Tracing a pattern while synchronising breath to movement grounds attention in the immediate sensory experience, developing the early mindfulness skills that underpin emotional wellness throughout life
• Fine Motor Coordination - Following the engraved paths with a fingertip requires controlled, precise movement, providing gentle fine motor practice that supports pre-writing and hand coordination development
• Breath Awareness & Breathing Technique - Children learn to distinguish between inhale and exhale, to pace their breath consciously, and to use breathing as a self-calming tool - a skill that occupational therapists and educators consistently identify as foundational to regulation

Therapeutic Context: Why Guided Breathing Matters

Controlled breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system - the body's built-in brake on the stress response. When children learn to consciously slow and pace their breath, they gain access to a self-regulation tool that works anywhere, at any time, with no equipment beyond the board itself. Occupational therapists often incorporate guided breathing into sensory diets and regulation programmes alongside movement breaks and proprioceptive input. Teachers building calm corners or quiet corners find breathing boards one of the most approachable, independent-use tools available. Parents benefit from having something concrete to introduce at home - a physical object that makes the practice visible and accessible for young children who find verbal prompting alone insufficient.

Ideal For

Children of all ages and abilities benefit from guided breathing practice - neurotypical and neurodiverse alike. The TTS Breathing & Mindfulness Boards are particularly well-suited for:

• Classrooms, calm corners, and quiet corners in schools and daycares
• Occupational therapy clinics and allied health treatment rooms
• Children's hospitals, rehabilitation centres, and group homes
• Home sensory spaces, bedtime routines, and family calm-down kits
• Early years educators building social-emotional learning into daily practice
• Parents and caregivers supporting children through big emotions or transitions
• Therapists, counsellors, and school psychologists looking for a portable, child-led regulation tool

• Quantity: 6 boards per pack
• Material: Durable beech wood
• Designs: 6 unique engraved patterns
• Size: Compact - sized for small hands
• Use method: Finger tracing or small ball rolling
• Suitable for: Educational and therapeutic settings; home use