We had our virtual open house today and, while I am optimistic about the year, there is still the nagging thought about how I'm going to keep my child engaged all day on a screen. I know I'm not alone - and it's OK to have these apprehensions. I mean, at "school" they would get up to transition between classes or to specials and lunch. They could stretch their legs and give their brains a break. This year - it falls to us.
Some of you may be taking advantage of various Remote Learning Centers, where kids may be able to take breaks throughout the day to do things like gymnastics or Taekwondo, coding or music. But if you are doing this at home - either alone, in a pod or with a tutor/nanny/facilitator, brain breaks are going to be your (or their) responsibility.
Here are a list of brain break activities, by age, that you might want to try. While we did include some screen-based activities, since this year's learning is mostly all online, our experts have suggested making sure that you try to give them a screen break and get outside when possible!
Elementary
- Create a game of The Floor is Lava
- Chalk Drawings
- Blow Bubbles
- Races - scooter, running, bikes
- Bounce or toss a ball
- Wall push-ups or sprints
- Play with Kinetic Sand
- Play with stretchy putty or thinking putty
- Chalk drawing
- Color a picture
- Yoga poses - there are some for energy and some to calm
- Calming poses: wide leg forward fold, child's pose, cat/cow, balancing poses like tree and dancer
- Energizing poses: backbends, arm balances like crow pose, sun salutation
- Breathing exercises: alternate nostril breathing, lions breath and horse breath
- Cross body movements like crab walks, plank shoulder touches, toy soldier marching, cross jacks
- Dance along to some active songs: Jack Hartmann, Patty Shukla, Greg & Steve
- The Learning Station
- GoNoodle
Middle School
- Zentangle patterns
- Mini mandala coloring
- Kinetic sand
- Sodoku puzzles
- Cross body movements like crab walks, plank shoulder touches, toy soldier marching, cross jacks
- Races
- Make a collage
- Basketball / Soccer / Lacross
- Darts
- Yoga poses - there are some for energy and some to calm
- Calming poses: wide leg forward fold, child's pose, cat/cow, balancing poses like tree and dancer
- Energizing poses: backbends, arm balances like crow pose, sun salutation
- Breathing exercises: alternate nostril breathing, lions breath and horse breath
- Dance along to some active songs: Jack Hartmann, Patty Shukla, Greg & Steve
- The Learning Station
- GoNoodle
High School
- Play catch
- Basketball / Soccer / Lacrosse
- Go for a quick run
- Plyo or cross body exercises
- Color, paint or draw
- Take a quick walk
- Yoga - a few sun salutations will clear the mind and get you ready to work again!
