To do this, have your child lie on the floor and put a book flat on his belly, suggests Dr. Irons. Then show him how to tighten his lips and let the air out very slowly.'' Make breathing exercises fun. To build lung power and exercise the airways, your child can take up a musical instrument or help you blow up balloons, says Sander. For both, the child should be encouraged to do diaphragmatic breathing rather than ''chest breathing.'' Keep extra inhalers around. But don't store a metered-dose inhaler over a hot stove and don't keep it in the glove compartment of a car in the summer, because heat can break down the valves in the canister, allowing small amounts of medication to escape.
Extreme heat can also cause metered-dose inhalers to explode.
These medicines are generally good for about two years, so keep a check on the expiration date, says Sander. Sometimes the child may have to repeat whatever dose she used within an hour or so. The weather may also affect the amount needed. Keep calm during flare-ups. Talk your child through it.