Parents may wonder why their student is taking time off from their academic work to do things like play Simon Says, dance, play games, etc. Many of my students require 60-120 minutes to in their day of Specialized Academic Support Services. Some students have lots of energy, while other students struggle to focus. Various research has supported that students lose their production output, their ability to focus, within 10 - 25 minutes, depending on age. Oh yea, have I mentioned Brain Breaks are great for teachers too!
Angela Hanscom, a Pediatric Occupational Therapist, writes in the Washington Post:
"Children naturally start fidgeting in order to get the movement their body so desperately needs and is not getting enough of to “turn their brain on.” What happens when the children start fidgeting? We ask them to sit still and pay attention; therefore, their brain goes back to “sleep.”
WHAT YOU CAN DO
If you’re a teacher, consider incorporating Brain Breaks into the day. If you’re a parent, talk to your child’s teacher about the idea. Here are some resources and videos that make Brain Breaks easy and fun to do. And they’re FREE!
Move to Learn Fitness Energizers: More than 30 fitness videos for students K-8 with routines kids can do alongside their desks.
Energizers for Grades K-2: Ideas for incorporating academic concepts into physical activity, such as games that mix jumping and running in place with learning letters and numbers.
Go Noodle Brain Breaks: Tons of free, short videos to get kids moving in the classroom, including short Zumba routines (my son’s teacher uses these when they have indoor recess and he loves it!).
Time for 10: Free 10-minute fitness videos featuring fitness experts and kids, with themes like kickboxing, core, and flexibility.
Adventure to Fitness: Videos that incorporate physical activity and common core-aligned learning, like jogging (in place) through Yellowstone National Park. Free registration gives teachers access to some videos; more are available with a paid subscription.
Click on the picture below to be linked to an article written by Amanda Morin, writer for Understood-Learning and Attention Issues, who does a great job at explaining the importance of including brain breaks into our academic lessons.
Angela Hanscom, a Pediatric Occupational Therapist, writes in the Washington Post:
"Children naturally start fidgeting in order to get the movement their body so desperately needs and is not getting enough of to “turn their brain on.” What happens when the children start fidgeting? We ask them to sit still and pay attention; therefore, their brain goes back to “sleep.”
WHAT YOU CAN DO
If you’re a teacher, consider incorporating Brain Breaks into the day. If you’re a parent, talk to your child’s teacher about the idea. Here are some resources and videos that make Brain Breaks easy and fun to do. And they’re FREE!
Move to Learn Fitness Energizers: More than 30 fitness videos for students K-8 with routines kids can do alongside their desks.
Energizers for Grades K-2: Ideas for incorporating academic concepts into physical activity, such as games that mix jumping and running in place with learning letters and numbers.
Go Noodle Brain Breaks: Tons of free, short videos to get kids moving in the classroom, including short Zumba routines (my son’s teacher uses these when they have indoor recess and he loves it!).
Time for 10: Free 10-minute fitness videos featuring fitness experts and kids, with themes like kickboxing, core, and flexibility.
Adventure to Fitness: Videos that incorporate physical activity and common core-aligned learning, like jogging (in place) through Yellowstone National Park. Free registration gives teachers access to some videos; more are available with a paid subscription.
Click on the picture below to be linked to an article written by Amanda Morin, writer for Understood-Learning and Attention Issues, who does a great job at explaining the importance of including brain breaks into our academic lessons.
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