The Magical Breathing Tree: The Buteyko Method for Children

Every day, your child takes 20,000–30,000 breaths. Over a childhood, those breaths add up, and how they're taken can shape energy, focus, sleep, growth, and mood. The signs aren't always obvious. A mouth hanging open at the dinner table. A nose that's always blocked. Catching every cold going round. Stopping sooner than friends when running. At night, loud breathing, snoring, restless sleep, or bedclothes thrashed about by morning.

If any of this sounds familiar, you may already be asking:

"Is my child breathing well?"

This book was written to help answer that question and, more importantly, to provide practical breathing instruction to support both child and family. First published by Patrick McKeown in 2003 under the title Always Breathe Correctly, it has since been revised and reprinted several times. With the knowledge and experience of teacher Kate Louise Daly, this new edition has been shaped to better connect with children and to support them in developing healthier breathing habits.

A story kids ask for again and again

Nine-year-old David can't keep up with his big sister Erin - because he breathes through his mouth, all day and night. Then he meets Argo, guardian of the Breathing Tree, and everything starts to change.

Real science, wrapped in a story kids love

Behind the fairy tale is the physician-developed Buteyko Method, adapted for children by breathing expert Patrick McKeown and instructor Katie-Louise Daly.

• Clearer breathing: Guided exercises like the Magic Nose Unblocking trick ease congestion and build the nose-breathing habit.
• Deeper sleep: Nasal breathing at night supports calmer, more restorative sleep — and brighter mornings.
• Sharper focus: Many parents notice steadier energy and easier concentration once nose breathing clicks.
• Healthy facial growth: A foreword from a biological dentist explains breathing's role in dental and facial development.
• A guide for grown-ups, too: A dedicated Parent & Caregiver Guide offers practical, gentle steps for encouraging change.
• Written by trusted experts: Patrick McKeown, founder of the Buteyko Clinic International, and Katie-Louise Daly, Certified Buteyko Breathing Instructor.