Counting Breaths with the Count: A Book about Mindfulness
#3 of 10 in Sesame Street ® Character Guides Series
on Goodreads (10)
What’s inside...
Learn how to slow down and breathe with the Count and your Sesame Street friends. Young readers will discover how to practice mindfulness and use it in their everyday lives. Being mindful means noticing the world around you. Learn with the Count and his friends on how to be more mindful in your daily life.
Discussion points
How did the Count's breathing help him feel better?
What are some moments when you feel you could use a deep breath?
Can you show me how you can count your breaths like the Count?
Why is it important to pay attention to our breathing?
How did you feel after trying the breathing exercises in the book?
Tip: Role play these questions
Set a calm and comfortable environment before discussing the book to make the experience more enjoyable and focused.
Practice the breathing exercises together with your child to show them it’s a useful tool for everyone, not just children.
Relate the breathing techniques to specific personal situations where your child needed to calm down, making the discussion directly relevant to them.
Encourage your child to express how the breathing makes them feel, reinforcing the connection between mindfulness and emotional regulation.
Praise their efforts in trying the techniques, fostering a positive attitude towards learning and using new coping strategies.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of mindfulness
Explanation: The story illustrates mindfulness through the character of the Count, who teaches young readers how to be present by counting their breaths and focusing on the moment.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by using breathing techniques to calm themselves in stressful situations or to enhance focus during tasks.
Example Lesson: Emotional regulation
Explanation: Throughout the book, the Count encounters various scenarios that could lead to emotional responses. By using mindfulness, he demonstrates how to manage those emotions effectively.
Real-World Application: This helps children understand their emotions and equips them with strategies to deal with anger, sadness, or frustration in a productive manner.
Example Lesson: Patience
Explanation: The Count patiently counts and breathes, showing the value of taking one's time and not rushing through activities.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of patience which can help them at school when they need to wait their turn or concentrate on complex tasks.
Example Lesson: Concentration improvement
Explanation: The book uses simple counting exercises to help improve concentration, demonstrating how mindfulness can increase mental clarity and focus.
Real-World Application: This can assist children during schoolwork, helping them to maintain focus for longer periods and improve their academic performance.