The entire series will take less than two minutes so it’s super easy to plug into your daily schedule. They can be done before a test or before any important learning activity. The brain break exercises on this handout are simple and easy for kids. They recognized that ALL elementary students need something extra in order to help them focus. The teachers not only wanted to use them with their learning support students, but they wanted the entire regular education classes that they worked in to do them. They recognized how beneficial the info and strategies would be for ALL of their students before lessons and tests! I briefly explained activities including the easy exercises listed in the printable on this post. We didn’t have much time to meet but it didn’t take long to share simple brain break ideas. They were young and eager teachers, excited to get together to ask questions. The teachers wanted to talk to me about using more sensory strategies and physical movement with their students. The school where they taught had an EXCELLENT special education program. I’ll never forget meeting with two learning support teachers. With an overall decrease in physical activity in kids, movement brain breaks like the exercise series in this blog post are more important than ever. ( The Learning Station is full of dancing songs.)īrain breaks can also include mindfulness exercises such as deep breathing, calming background music, or arts and crafts.Īll of these different types of brain breaks help create a positive classroom environment. Movement breaks for kids can include quick movement exercises, follow the leader, core strength activities, Simon Says, or dancing. Simple fun brain breaks also temporarily shift focus and re-set the brain. When kids have fun, it impacts the part of the brain that supports memory. A classic game I remember from elementary school is Heads Down Thumbs Up 7-Up. With higher expectations for kids, a much-needed mental break should be built into the school day more now than ever before.įun brain breaks can include jokes, telling stories, a fun song or rhyme, and playing a fun game. And they need frequent breaks from learning.Īnd let’s be honest, the new learning standards tend to be too much for many younger kids. Their brains need a variety of input and learning modalities. It’s not how younger kids (and older kids) operate. A sensory break is a fun way to boost brain development.īrain breaks are short breaks that are taken at regular intervals throughout the school day.Įxpecting a student to sit still and pay attention all day to lessons will not yield good results! The Pyramid of Learning shows how the sensory systems are the foundation for academics. They help strengthen learning pathways and cognitive function. The movements wake up the brain and increase blood flow. Specific movements help different parts of the brain communicate better. Specific movements and exercises are a great way to increase energy levels and attention span.Ī child’s brain needs prepared for learning. Simple sensory activities can have such powerful effects on younger kids’ nervous systems.Īs a therapist working in the schools, I strongly encourage teachers to incorporate physical activity as part of the daily routine for kids. I’m fascinated by the nervous system and its impact on learning, attending and behaving! Over the decades of working as a pediatric occupational therapist, I’ve been so drawn to sensory integration. You deserve to know what’s effective and what has value from a reliable source. Real people with experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. Google is making great attempts to ensure that high quality content is available from real people. When you’re searching, you may find more options that you need to. There are several brain break activities, gross motor exercises and physical movement programs online. Moving a variety of body parts means stimulating more parts of the brain – creating stronger pathways and connections for cognitive function! This FREE handout of brain break exercises provides a great combination of physical activity to get your students ready for learning during the school day.
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