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Breathing game: 'The balloon'

Time: 5 min Checked: 10 August 2026 Childhood cancer

Goal

Help your child calm down and reduce anxiety before procedures or in hard moments.

What you need

Nothing — or a light object: a feather, cotton ball, soap bubbles

Important:If your child has a cough, shortness of breath or feels unwell, skip the game and tell the doctor about the symptoms.

How to do it

  1. Sit close by, calmly: 'Let's inflate an imaginary balloon.'
  2. Breathe in through the nose together — slowly, as if smelling a flower.
  3. Breathe out through the mouth — slowly, 'blowing up the balloon', spreading your arms.
  4. Repeat 5–7 times, at your own pace, without effort.
  5. You can blow on a feather or soap bubbles — same breathing, more fun.
How to know it worked:The child takes several calm exhales, shoulders relax, anxiety decreases.

Source: Breathing relaxation techniques for children in treatment; Children with Cancer UK family resources