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Lesson 2 - The Butterfly Pause
Lesson 2: The Butterfly Pause
💛 Introduction
This gentle lesson introduces children to the Butterfly Pause - a simple, calming practice that helps children stop, notice and feel safe.
Children learn that they can pause at any time during the day to reconnect with their body, breath and surroundings.
This is not about stopping feelings.
It is about creating a moment of awareness and reset during the day.
🎯 Learning Focus
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Children learn a simple calming technique
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Children begin to notice their body and breath
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Children experience stillness and calm
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Children understand they can pause at any time
🌿 What You’ll Need
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A calm, comfortable space
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Optional butterfly object or visual
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Optional colouring or follow-up activity
🧠 Lesson Overview
Begin by explaining that sometimes our day can feel busy, loud, or overwhelming.
Introduce the Butterfly Pause as a way to gently stop and notice what is happening inside and around us.
Explain that:
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We can pause at any time
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Pausing helps our body and mind feel calm
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We don’t need to change anything - just notice
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Let children know this is a quiet, safe moment just for them.
🦋 Activity - The Butterfly Pause
Gather children together and guide them through a short pause.
You can use simple language such as:
"Let’s pause and calm our body so the butterfly can visit…"
Invite children to:
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Sit or stand comfortably
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Gently place their hands in their lap or on their body
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Take a slow breath in… and out
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Notice how their body feels
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Notice any sounds around them
Keep this moment short and gentle (2-3 minutes is enough).
💬 Reflection
After the pause, ask gentle questions such as:
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What did you notice?
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How did your body feel?
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Did anything change?
Let children know there are no right or wrong answers.
🌈 Bringing It Into the Day
You can revisit the Butterfly Pause throughout the day by saying:
"Let’s take a butterfly pause"
"Let’s stop and notice for a moment"
This helps children build a simple habit of pausing when they need calm or space.
📎 Resources
🌿 Gentle Reminder
This is not about making children sit still or behave.
It is about giving them a moment to pause, notice and feel safe.
