5 Laughter Yoga Exercises for Schools
Supporting Children’s Mental Health and Teacher Wellbeing in the UK

The mental health crisis in UK schools has reached alarming levels. Nearly eight out of ten school leaders (79%) reported an increase in self-harm or suicidal thoughts amongst students, whilst more than half (55%) said there had been a large increase in anxiety or stress, according to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL). NHS statistics suggest that 20.3% – one in five – children and young people aged from eight to 16 years in England had a probable mental disorder in 2023, a huge rise from 2017, when 12.5% had a probable mental health disorder.

Of the 1.4 million children estimated to have a probable mental health problem, less than half (49%) received at least one contact with children and young people’s mental health services during 2022-23. Schools report that the crisis in mental health now falls upon them due to excessive wait times at CAMHS and GP surgeries, yet they are not resourced or qualified for this level of clinical support.

With children spending more time in school than in any other formal institutional structure, educational settings provide the ideal opportunity to reach large numbers of children simultaneously. That’s where simple, accessible wellbeing activities like Laughter Yoga can make a real difference.

Laughter Yoga offers quick, effective mental health activities for primary and secondary schools, suitable for PSHE lessons, circle time, and whole-school assemblies. These exercises support children’s emotional well-being, provide teacher stress relief, and create positive classroom behaviour – all without requiring specialist training, expensive equipment, or lengthy time commitments.

The benefits of Laughter Yoga for children with scientific evidence are described more in-depth in this article

Try Laughter Yoga Exercises

Here are five Laughter Yoga exercises for school wellbeing that teachers, children, and parents can use together across the UK.

1. The Morning Wake-Up Laugh: A Positive Start to the School Day

Creating positive connections at the start of the school day helps children feel safe and supported – essential foundations for learning and emotional wellbeing. Starting the day with this simple breathing exercise helps create that connection whilst activating children’s energy and focus.

How to do it in the classroom:

Begin by opening your mouth as wide as possible and yawning deeply. As you exhale, let the yawn transform into laughter. Repeat this several times with your class, allowing bodies to wake up naturally.

After you’ve finished, take two deep breaths into your abdomen together. Then rub your hands together and clap with flat palms 10 times – this activates the energy points in your hands and prepares everyone for learning.

Benefits for children’s mental health:

This exercise combines deep breathing (which helps reduce anxiety and stress in children) with intentional laughter, creating a positive classroom atmosphere. School leaders have reported rising anxiety among children and young people, with anxiety and behavioural problems manifesting as attendance issues, friendship difficulties, eating disorders, and difficulty with curriculum engagement. This simple morning exercise helps address these challenges by creating a calm, positive start to the day.

It’s particularly effective as a morning registration activity or as a pre-SATs activity to help reduce exam stress.

Perfect for: Reception through Year 13, whole-class activities, morning routines, Mental Health Awareness Week

Time needed: 2-3 minutes

2. Shower Laughter: Building Daily Wellbeing Habits at Home

Mindfulness is popular in schools and a great way to improve mental well-being, and it’s something we can all benefit from, regardless of age or experience. This mindfulness exercise transforms the daily shower into a powerful stress management tool that children and parents can practise together.

How families can use this at home:

As you wash each part of your body, make different laughter sounds: “ho”, “ha”, or “he”. Rub that laughter into your skin as you wash. A five-minute shower is a great start to the day, boosting positivity and helping manage morning anxiety before school.

Why does it support children’s emotional well-being?

The shower provides a private space where children can be silly and release stress without social pressure. Laughter is only one of two forms of cathartic release of inner emotions (crying is the second form). For children dealing with school anxiety, friendship worries, or academic stress, this creates a safe daily practice for emotional regulation.

Parents can encourage this as part of the morning routine, particularly helpful for children who struggle with morning transitions or school attendance difficulties.

Perfect for: Ages 5+, family routines, children with anxiety, morning stress relief.

Time needed: 5 minutes

3. Silent Laughter: Classroom Behaviour Management and Self-Regulation for UK Schools

Silent laughter works as a portable calm space that children can access anywhere in school. It is estimated that around 75% of young people experiencing a mental health problem are forced to wait so long that their condition gets worse, or they are unable to access any treatment. This exercise gives children an immediate tool they can use while waiting for professional support.

How to teach this in UK schools:

Start by laughing silently for 10 seconds, then take two deep breaths into your abdomen. As children become more comfortable, work up to 20 seconds of silent laughter followed by three deep breaths.

Classroom applications for UK teachers:

This is an exceptional tool for managing classroom stress and supporting children with SEND, including those with ADHD, anxiety, or sensory processing challenges. Teachers can use it:

• Before SATs, GCSEs, or A-Levels, to reduce exam stress
• During transitions between lessons
• When a pupil needs to self-regulate without leaving the classroom
• As part of a wellbeing corner or nurture group
• During Children’s Mental Health Week activities

Benefits for pupil behaviour:

Children learn a discreet coping strategy they can use throughout the school day. It’s particularly valuable for secondary school students who may feel self-conscious about traditional wellbeing activities.

Perfect for: All ages, children with SEND, exam stress, classroom behaviour support, PSHE lessons

Time needed: 30 seconds to 2 minutes

4. The Ho Ho, Ha Ha Exercise: Physical Activity for Mental Health in UK Schools

School leaders report that doctors are requesting schools provide mental health support to children and families instead of referring to CAMHS, yet schools are expected to provide this with ever-diminishing budgets. This rhythmic exercise benefits both teachers and pupils by combining movement with stress relief, providing an accessible tool that doesn’t require additional resources.

How to lead this as a UK teacher:

Say “ho ho” whilst pushing both hands outwards twice, then “ha ha” whilst pushing your hands downwards twice. Repeat this sequence five times with your class, starting slowly and gradually getting quicker.

Managing difficult emotions in school:

Over 40% of school leaders reported a big increase in the problem of cyberbullying. For children (and teachers) feeling frustrated, angry, or overwhelmed – common when dealing with academic pressure, friendship conflicts, cyberbullying, or challenging behaviour – try the alternative version: punch the air with fists whilst saying “ho ho” and “ha ha”. This provides a healthy physical outlet for difficult emotions.

Teacher wellbeing benefits:

This quick exercise offers teachers their own stress relief whilst modelling healthy emotional regulation for pupils. It’s an excellent staff room activity or INSET day energiser for promoting teacher mental health in a profession under considerable strain.

Always take two deep breaths after completing the exercise to help regulate the nervous system.

Perfect for: PE lessons, brain breaks, PSHE activities, staff wellbeing, whole-school assemblies, World Mental Health Day

Time needed: 2-3 minutes

5. Musical Laughter: Engaging Lessons and Family Wellbeing Activities

Being active, creative, learning, and being part of a team are all beneficial for mental health. This exercise combines music with laughter for powerful mental health benefits that children genuinely enjoy.

How to use this in UK lessons:

Choose a song with a steady to fast rhythm – “Locomotion” by Kylie Minogue works well, or let children choose age-appropriate songs. Instead of singing the actual words, sing the entire song using “ho ho ha ha” or all “ha’s”.

If you complete three songs with two deep breaths between each one, you’ve achieved 10 minutes of laughter – the recommended daily amount for mental health benefits.

Cross-curricular applications for UK schools:

• Music lessons: Exploring rhythm and sound
• PSHE: Teaching about emotions and wellbeing
• Assembly: Whole-school participation
• After-school clubs: Wellbeing or choir groups
• Children’s Mental Health Week: School-wide activities

For parents at home:

The anxiety and behavioural problems manifesting in schools have taken many forms but include attendance issues, friendship difficulties, eating disorders, and difficulty with curriculum engagement. This exercise works wonderfully during car journeys to school, reducing morning stress and creating positive family time. It’s particularly helpful for children who experience school anxiety or separation difficulties.

Perfect for: All ages, music lessons, family time, children who love singing, and reducing school-run stress

Time needed: 10-15 minutes for full benefits

Supporting Children’s Mental Health in UK Schools: The Evidence for Laughter Yoga

We recommend at least 10 minutes of laughter each day. Schools that promote student mental health and wellbeing improve classroom behaviour, school engagement, and peer relationships – all connected to academic success.

Benefits for pupils’ mental health:

• Reduces classroom stress and exam anxiety
• Improves focus and concentration for children with ADHD
• Supports emotional regulation and positive behaviour
• Provides tools for managing friendship conflicts and cyberbullying
• Helps children cope with academic pressure
• Supports SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) needs
• Offers immediate coping strategies whilst waiting for CAMHS support

Benefits for teacher mental health in the UK:

• Quick stress relief during the school day
• Builds positive staff culture and collegiality
• Provides self-care tools teachers can use anywhere
• Healthy emotional regulation for pupils
• Reduces symptoms of teacher burnout and stress
• Helps teachers manage the additional burden of supporting pupils’ mental health

Benefits for parents:

• Simple activities to support children’s mental health at home
• Reduces morning stress and school-run anxiety
• Creates positive family connections
• Helps manage homework stress and bedtime worries
• Provides tools for supporting children with school attendance difficulties
• Accessible support when professional services have long waiting lists

Implementing Laughter Yoga in Your UK School: Practical Tips for Teachers

Only about a quarter of school and college leaders were aware of local mental health transformation plans in their area, underscoring the need for schools to have accessible, practical tools they can implement immediately, without waiting for external support.

Laughter Yoga is an accessible addition to any school mental health strategy in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.

Getting started in UK schools:

1. Introduce one exercise during registration or assembly
2. Use as brain breaks between lessons
3. Include in PSHE curriculum planning
4. Add to your school’s wellbeing policy
5. Train lunchtime supervisors to lead exercises
6. Share with parents for home practice
7. Include in staff meetings for teacher wellbeing
8. Plan activities for Children’s Mental Health Week or World Mental Health Day

Whole-school approach: Many UK schools achieve success by designating “Laughter Yoga Wednesdays” or incorporating exercises into daily routines. This creates consistency and helps children and staff build the habit of intentional wellbeing.

School leaders tell us that thresholds for CAMHS are too high and waiting lists are too long due to serious under-resourcing of local CAMHS services. Laughter Yoga’s simplicity makes it easy to sustain without ongoing costs or external providers, offering immediate support to pupils whilst they wait for specialist services.

Important Health and Safeguarding Information

Prolonged laughter is cardiovascular exercise, so it’s important to listen to your body before, during, and after these exercises. If any child or staff member has health concerns, please consult with parents and seek medical advice before participating in cardiovascular exercise. Stop if anyone feels uncomfortable or experiences pain.

These exercises are designed to support mental health, not replace professional mental health services. In 2022-2023, 949,200 children and young people had active referrals to children and young people’s mental health services. For pupils with intensive needs, schools should continue to work with Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) or CAMHS. If a child is experiencing severe anxiety, depression, or thoughts of self-harm, please follow your school’s safeguarding procedures and contact appropriate mental health services.

Getting Started: Supporting Pupil Wellbeing and Teacher Mental Health Across the UK

Whether you’re a primary school teacher looking for KS1 and KS2 wellbeing activities, a secondary school leader planning a mental health assembly, or a parent supporting your child’s emotional wellbeing at home, these five exercises offer accessible, evidence-based support for children, teachers and families.

Sadly, nearly 50% of lifetime mental health conditions are established by 14 years. We have a crucial window of opportunity to intervene to support children with mental health problems. You don’t need to wait for formal mental health training or external services to begin supporting your pupils. The act of laughing itself creates the positive feelings children are seeking.

The government’s latest state of the nation report found growing numbers of children and young people reporting unhappiness, elevated levels of the probable rate of mental health and eating disorders, and an increase in emotional difficulties, with particular concern around the 11 to 15-year-old age group.

Start with just one exercise tomorrow morning in your classroom or at home and notice the difference it makes to behaviour, focus, and overall wellbeing. Remember, laughter is everyone’s superpower for managing the challenges of school life.

---

Are you looking for school wellbeing workshops in Laughter Yoga? Serious Laughter delivers evidence-based Laughter Yoga sessions for children and teachers, school assemblies, and whole-school training throughout Manchester, Cheshire, North Wales, and across the UK.

We understand both the demands on teachers and the scepticism around wellbeing approaches – our founder, Sunny Turner, came to Laughter Yoga through her own experience with depression. Accredited by the FHT, we work with primary schools, secondary schools, mental health organisations, and parent groups to make wellbeing accessible, practical, and genuinely effective.

With 79% of school leaders reporting an increase in self-harm or suicidal thoughts amongst students and 55% reporting a large increase in anxiety or stress, the need for accessible, immediate support tools has never been greater.

Services for UK schools include:

• Pupil wellbeing workshops (KS1-KS5)
• Teacher mental health training and staff wellbeing sessions
• Whole-school INSET days
• Parent engagement sessions
• Lunchtime supervisor training
• Children’s Mental Health Week assemblies
• World Mental Health Day activities
• Laughter Yoga Leader Training courses

Contact Serious Laughter to discover how Laughter Yoga can support your school’s mental health strategy, reduce teacher stress, and improve pupil wellbeing across your whole school community in Manchester, Cheshire, North Wales, and throughout the UK.

Email: happy@seriouslaughter.co.uk