Super Simple Brain Break Tip

Super Simple Brain Break Tip

While many of us know that increased physical activity levels are associated with higher academic scores, it can be hard to implement more exercise time during the school day.

Here is a simple tip –  suggest to the teachers to squeeze in a super quick movement break every hour on the hour no matter what they are doing.

Just take two minutes to drop the pencils, stand up and move around.  It can be as simple as doing the same activity every hour ie. stretch and marching in place or as varied as changing the activity every hour or every day.  You could even provide suggestions to perform the movement breaks sitting down such as these free seated stretch breaks.  With kids in school for about 6 hours that would total up to an additional 12 minutes towards the 60 minutes of physical activity per day that is recommended.  Not to mention shake those wiggles out and get kids ready to work.  I know this can not work in every classroom but for some, it might be another idea to add into the school day.  When you make it part of the regular routine it will become more like a habit and students will understand the expectations of behavior following the quick break.  If you do not like the movement every hour suggestion, read how to establish a brain break routine for more ideas.

Need ideas?  Check out 10 Simple Activities to Encourage Physical Activity,    Mini Movement Breaks (print this out to give to teachers to change the activities up – super easy and the breaks require no equipment), go on a quick Imagination Action Journey, perform activities from Roll Some Fun (print and throw the dice to determine what activities to perform) or get an entire collection of brain breaks for all year long!

The post Super Simple Brain Break Tip appeared first on Your Therapy Source.

10 Classroom Jobs that Require Physical Activity

All children benefit from movement throughout the school day.  Whether it be brain breaks, multisensory lessons or recess, physical activity helps students get the brain ready for optimal learning.  Another option to squeeze in physical activity time during the school day is to assign classroom jobs or chores that require physical activity and proprioceptive input (heavy work).  Here is a list of 10 classroom jobs that require physical activity.

1. Classroom messenger – student can walk throughout the school to deliver messages from the teacher to the office, other teachers, etc.
2. Board Eraser – student is responsible to wash the whiteboards or chalkboards at the end of the day.
3. Sweeper – sweep the dust up off of the classroom floor.
4. Picker Upper – Bend over, squat or crawl to pick up all the larger items that the broom can not get.
5. Recycle Duty – check all recycle bins and bring to proper location to empty bins.
6. Paper Duty – pass out and/or collect papers for the teacher.
7. Book Duty – pass out and/or collect books for the teacher.
8. Chair Stacker – stacks all the chairs at the end of the day.
9. Mail Duty – picks up mail from the teacher’s mailbox in the office.
10. Desk Washer – wipes down the desks.

Do you have any additional suggestions for creative school chores that include physical activity?

Mini Movement Breaks: This download is a collection of 60+ quick sensory motor activity cards. The mini movement breaks are quick and require no equipment. The movement breaks can be done indoors. Most of the movement breaks can be done with one child or a group of children. It does not get any easier than this to encourage sensory motor activities in the classroom or home. FIND OUT MORE.

The post 10 Classroom Jobs that Require Physical Activity appeared first on Your Therapy Source.

Improved Executive Functioning with 5 Minutes of Physical Activity

The Journal of Attention Disorders published research on two studies to investigate the role of physical activity on the affect and executive functioning of children with symptoms of ADHD. One study explored the association between physical activity and affect in the daily lives of children with varying degrees of hyperactivity.  The second study randomly assigned children with ADHD a physical activity or a sedentary task before working on a executive function task.

The results indicated the following:

1.  Lack of physical activity was shown to relate to depressed affect, more strongly in participants with severe hyperactivity symptoms.
2. The physically active participants showed improved executive functioning after only 5 min of vigorous activity; the sedentary control participants showed no improvement.

The researchers concluded that increasing the level of physical activity in children with and without ADHD might improve affect and executive functioning.

Title: Mini Movement Breaks
By: Your Therapy Source

Summary: Download of 60+ quick sensory motor activity cards for school,
home or therapy clinic.  FIND OUT MORE AT http://www.yourtherapysource.com/minimove.html

Reference:  Caterina Gawrilow, Gertraud Stadler, Nadine Langguth, Alexander Naumann, and Antje Boeck.  Physical Activity, Affect, and Cognition in Children With Symptoms of ADHD.
Journal of Attention Disorders. February 2016 20: 151-162, first published on July 26, 2013 doi:10.1177/1087054713493318

Black Friday through Cyber Monday Sale - Dollar Deals!

Check out these $0.99 specials until 11/30/15:

1.  Scavenger Hunts - Encourage physical activity and visual perceptual skills while going on fun scavenger hunts.

2.  Tangrams for Kids - cut and paste puzzle projects for kids.

3.  December Handwriting Activities - over 40 pages of December holiday handwriting templates, visual motor and visual perceptual worksheets.

Physical Activity and Adolescents with Autism

Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly published research on a questionnaire completed by 35 adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 60 typically developing (TD) adolescents comparing physical activity enjoyment, perceived barriers, beliefs, and self-efficacy.   The results indicated the following:

1. fewer adolescents with ASD enjoyed team sports – 65% vs. 95% of TD adolescents.
2. fewer adolescents with ASD enjoyed physical education – 84% vs. 98% of TD adolescents
3. more adolescents with ASD perceived that physical activities were too hard to learn – 16% vs. 0% of TD adolescents
4. fewer adolescents with ASD believed that physical activity was a way to make friends – 68% vs. 97% of TD adolescents
5. fewer adolescents with ASD preferred to do physical activity in their free time – 25% vs. 58%, of TD adolescents
6. fewer adolescents with ASD felt that physical activity is fun – 84% vs. 98% of TD adolescents

This research can help to guide physical activity programming for adolescents with ASD.

Reference:  Heidi Stanish, Carol Curtin, Aviva Must, Sarah Phillips, Melissa Maslin, Linda Bandini. Enjoyment, Barriers, and Beliefs About Physical Activity in Adolescents With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly. 2015, 32, 302 – 317.

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Classroom Activity Posters is a collection of 16 exercise activities, 4 large posters and a brief, simple video demonstration of each exercise.  The posters are divided into four groups: posture, alerting, ready to work and focus/balance. All of the exercises are performed in standing. Try these activities prior to starting fine motor activities, for posture breaks, to refocus students attention and for vestibular/ proprioceptive input in the classroom.

FIND OUT MORE AT http://yourtherapysource.com/cap.html

Physical Activity, Self-Regulation, and Preschoolers

Early Education and Development recently published research on whether active play during recess was associated with self-regulation and academic achievement in preschoolers.  Fifty one children were assessed on self-regulation, active play, and early academic achievement.

The results indicated the following:

1.  higher active play was associated with better self-regulation, which in turn was associated with higher scores on early reading and math assessments.

2.   higher levels of moderate to vigorous active play were not directly related to emergent literacy or math achievement.

3.   children who performed better on the self regulation task demonstrated higher literacy and math achievement.

You can access the full text article for free at http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10409289.2013.780505

Reference:   Derek R. Becker , Megan M. McClelland , Paul Loprinzi & Stewart G. Trost (2014)
Physical Activity, Self-Regulation, and Early Academic Achievement in Preschool Children, Early
Education and Development, 25:1, 56-70, DOI: 10.1080/10409289.2013.780505

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Title: Adventure Skill – Self-Regulation Flash Cards
By: Move with Me

Summary: This 16 Flash Card Set in printable PDF format –
includes health lessons and self-regulation techniques that
combine creative movement, yoga and Brain Gym(R).

Find out more at http://www.yourtherapysource.com/movewithmeselfregulation.html

Extra Physical Activity and Academic Achievement

Research on the impact of physical activity intervention program on academic achievement was published in the Journal of School Health. The study provided 408 twelve year olds with an additional two hours per week of extra play and motion activities. The control groups were three different schools (matched for male/female ratio, average level of income, education and unemployment of parents) who did not receive the extra two hours of physical activity per week.

Academic achievement was tested four years prior to the study and five years later. The results indicated the following:

1. Higher proportions of students in the intervention school achieved the national goals in all 3 subjects compared with the reference schools after initiation of the intervention program.

2. The odds for achieving the national learning goals in the intervention school doubled.

3. The odds for achieving the national learning goals did not change or decreased in the control schools.

The researchers concluded that promoting physical activity in school by means of a curriculum-based intervention program may improve children's educational outcome.

Reference: Lina B. Käll PhD, Michael Nilsson MD, PhD, andThomas Lindén MD, PhD. The Impact of a Physical Activity Intervention Program on Academic Achievement in a Swedish Elementary School Setting. Journal of School Health Volume 84, Issue 8, pages 473–480, August 2014. DOI: 10.1111/josh.12179



Need some easy ideas to squeeze in physical activity and play time?  Check out Roll Some Fun at http://yourtherapysource.com/rollsomefun.html

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Exercise Rocks!

Make some exercise rocks!  Here the kids thought of some exercises and we wrote them on smooth rocks with metallic pens.  Try these activities:

1.  Scavenger Hunt:  hide the rocks outdoors.  When you find a rock perform 10 of the exercises on the rock and then return it to start.  The person or team with the most rocks/exercises completed is the winner.

2.  Brain Breaks:  After you make the exercise rocks, give them to the teacher to keep in a bowl on the desk.  Need a quick break, grab a rock and get moving.

3.  Make as a Gift:  Do you know someone who is an exercise fanatic?  This would make a cute gift to give them.

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Fine Motor Bean Matching Boards

Print out the matching bean boards and read the directions to create this fine motor, visual perceptual and graded muscle control challenge.  Modifications included to add in physical activity to the task.  You can read about it and download the matching boards for free at http://www.yourtherapysource.com/freebeans.html

Physical Activity and Academic Attainment in Adolescents

The British Journal of Sports Medicine published research on physical activity using accelerometers on 4755 participants (45% male) who were 11 years old.  The data was then linked with nationally administered school tests in the United Kingdom in English, Math and Science at ages 11, 13 and 16.
The results indicated the following:

• percentage of time in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) predicted increased performance in English assessments for both males and females
• at age 16, percentage of time in MVPA predicted increased performance on math scores for males and females
• the percentage of time in MVPA predicted increased performance on science assessments for females at ages 11 and 16.

The researchers concluded that their findings suggest a long-term positive impact of MVPA on academic attainment in adolescence.

Reference: Associations between objectively measured physical activity and academic attainment in adolescents from a UK cohort J N Booth, S D Leary, C Joinson, A R Ness, P D Tomporowski, J M Boyle, J J Reilly Br J Sports Med bjsports-2013-092334Published Online First: 22 October 2013 doi:10.1136/bjsports-2013-092334 

Tabata Timer App to Get Moving

If you follow this blog at all you know I am always on the look out for apps that get kids and adults moving.  I have been use this free Tabata Timer app for quite some time now and really like it.  Tabata is an exercise protocol based on the work of a Japanese scientist named Izumi Tabat and his colleagues on high intensity interval training.  Basically you exercise for 4 minutes going as hard as you can for 20 seconds followed by a 10 second break repeating this 8 times.  I have had great success with children combining the Tabata 4 minute exercise routine with physical activity cards.

Start out by selecting at least 4 exercises to complete (you can repeat each one twice) or pick 8 different exercises.  I use exercise cards for the children to choose the activities from.  I usually pick through the cards for what each specific child needs to work on and then allow the child to choose from that pile.  Once the exercises are chosen, if they are new I teach the child the exercise first.  If not, we get started.  Place the cards on the table and start the Tabata Timer app.  It will count down to start with three beeps.  Begin the first exercise.  As the 20 seconds counts down the timer also provides a visual image of the time elapsing along with the number count down.  For the last 3 seconds it beeps.  You then rest for 10 seconds.  Turn the first card over.  Get ready for the 2nd exercise for 20 seconds.  Repeat the process until all 8 exercises are completed in 4 minutes.

Here is what is so great about this app:
1.  Kids are much more motivated to complete the exercises.  There is a start and stop time.
2.  The visual timer of the time elapsing let's the child see that the exercise is almost completed.
3.  The rest period is just short enough for the child to be ready for the next exercise.
4.  Kids who are very hesitant to complete aerobic exercise are completing this 4 minute work out without complaint.  If I asked them to run for 4 minutes or jump rope for 4 minutes some children just would not participate. 
5.  Great little app to build endurance.  Start a session out with the 4 minute workout and finish up with a 4 minute work out. 

If you need physical activity cards, check out Physical Activity Cards and Games , Move Cards and Games and Action Alphabet. 

Sworkit App - Physical Activity App

If you are looking for a work out app to provide to older children who receive occupational or physical therapy check out Sworkit.  This is a FREE app on your iOs device, android device or computer.  I have been checking this app and I am very impressed for older children through adults.

Basically you choose what type of a work out you are looking for - strength training, yoga and stretching.  You choose your workout length and the area of the body you would like to exercise.  Then it is all set to go.  The timer starts and you being the exercise for the time allotted.  If you are not sure how to perform the exercise just click on the video icon and you can view a video of the exercise.

This is a wonderful to add to your collection of apps that promote physical activity.

What a simple quick brain break for the classroom as well. 

If you have a child using it, they can email you their results of how many minutes they worked out.

Want to read more?  Check out 10 Apps that Get You Moving.

Super Simple Brain Break Tip

While many of us know that increased physical activity levels are associated with higher academic scores, it can be hard to implement more exercise time during the school day.

Here is a simple tip -  suggest to the teachers to squeeze in a super quick movement break every hour on the hour no matter what they are doing.

Just take two minutes to drop the pencils, stand up and move around.  It can be as simple as doing the same activity every hour ie. stretch and marching in place or as varied as changing the activity every hour or every day.  You could even provide suggestions to perform the movement breaks sitting down.  With kids in school for about 6 hours that would total up to an additional 12 minutes towards the 60 minutes of physical activity per day that is recommended.  Not to mention shake those wiggles out and get kids ready to work.  I know this can not work in every class room but for some it might be another idea to add into the school day.

Need ideas?  Check out 10 Simple Activities to Encourage Physical Activity,    Mini Movement Breaks (print this out to give to teachers to change the activities up - super easy and the breaks require no equipment), go on a quick Imagination Action Journey,  or perform activities from Roll Some Fun (print and throw the dice to determine what activities to perform). 

Activity Levels and Quality of Life in Adolescents

Pediatrics published research on a survey completed by 1691 children on physical activity levels and quality of life from the average age of 12.7 years and again five years later.  The results indicated that adolescents who participated in regular physical activity had a higher perceived quality of life.  The children who participated in high levels of screen activity (tv, computers and video games) had a lower perceived quality of life.


Reference: Bamini Gopinath, Louise L. Hardy, Louise A. Baur, George Burlutsky, and Paul Mitchell. Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors and Health-Related Quality of Life in Adolescents. Pediatrics peds.2011-3637; published ahead of print June 11, 2012, doi:10.1542/peds.2011-3637

Including Preschoolers

Head Start Body Start presented a webinar on including preschoolers with special needs in active play today. This webinar had lots of great ideas - some therapists would be familiar with and perhaps some are new information. Here are a few tips that I found helpful:

• "teach children how to stop before you teach them how to go" - Diane Craft PhD
• cover balloons in panty hose to prevent any broken pieces if it pops and to prevent children from biting the balloons
• put eye bolts on each side of the room, clip a clothes line onto the eye bolts when you need a quick room divider for games or to hang objects from
• several tips on modifying lessons

You can download the handouts from the webinar here.

Free Personalized Physical Activity and Nutrition Program

Found about this free opportunity on Twitter.  The National Center of Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD) is providing individuals with mobility limitations, chronic health conditions and physical disabilities a free, web based, personalized physical activity and nutrition program. According to the website, each individual registers for the program and answers several questions about themselves. Then they will provide you with exercises and resources matched to your needs over a 14 week period. Each week builds upon the previous week. You even get access to coaches throughout the 14 weeks. All for free!

I have not tried this out but seems like it may be a great option for teenagers and up to try to stay active. Would love to hear if anyone has tried this program out...

You can get all the information and register at NCPAD.

Youth Soccer - Higher Injury Rates

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a report on injuries in youth soccer. Soccer has a higher injury rate than many other contact sports such as basketball, rugby and even football in some studies. Players that are less than 15 years of age had a higher injury rate. Indoor and outdoor soccer has similar injury risks although there is a greater risk for knee injuries in outdoor soccer. Girls are at higher risk for knee injuries and boys are a greater risk for ankle injuries. Most injuries are minor resulting in a one week absence from soccer. The concussion rate for soccer players is similar to American football players and ice hockey players. This is most often due to collisions and not heading the ball. The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued some guidelines to help practitioners:

1. Make sure rules are being properly enforced.

2. Knee injury prevention programs may be helpful i.e. neuromuscular and proprioceptive exercise programs.

3. Make sure field does not have holes or excessive uneven terrain.

4. Goalposts must be properly secured.

5. Teach heading of the ball only when the child has proper head, neck and trunk muscles to head the ball with the forehead.

6. Be aware of the signs of concussion.

7. Wear protective eye wear (mandatory for past history of eye injury or if only one functional eye).

The guidelines also stress that soccer should be encouraged for it can provide important physical activity time for children, young adults and adolescents.

Download the full report.

Reference: Koutures, Chris G., Gregory, Andrew J. M., THE COUNCIL ON SPORTS MEDICINE AND FITNESS, Injuries in Youth SoccerPediatrics 2010 125: 410-414

Superbowl = Movement

It is almost Superbowl time. Get kids involved by getting them to move not just watch the games. The NFL has a campaign entitled Play 60. The American Heart Association has free resources available for teachers to get kids moving for 60 minutes each day during the NFL Play60 six week challenge. Don't want to sign up for the challenge? Here are some simple physical activity ideas with a Superbowl theme.

1. Football Training: Set up an obstacle course at home or in the classroom. Set up hoops to walk through, throw the football through a hoop or into a basket, crawl low on the floor, any type of training exercise you can create.

2. Cheerleaders: Create and practice different cheers for your favorite team.

3. Football Target: Hang up a hoop from a doorway or tree. Throw a soft football or any ball through the target. Who can get the most through the hoop?

4. Flag Twirling: Create a team flag to wave during the game. Cut out a flag and tape to a small stick. Create a dance routine with the flag to perform during half time.

5. Flag Football Group Game for Outdoors: Gently tuck a streamer from the back of every child's pants except one. One person is it and has to collect as many streamers as possible by grabbing the streamers.

6. Football Scavenger Hunt: Write the letters F, O, O, T, B, A, L, L down the page. The children have to walk around the house, school or outdoors and find objects that start with each letter. The children write down the name of the object next to the letter. For example, if you see a flag write it down next to the F. If you find an oval picture write it down next to the O. Continue until the children have found objects for each letter.

7. Superbowl Quiz: Put 10 lines of tape on the floor each about 1 foot apart. If playing with a group create long lines for 2 children to be able to stand side by side. The child starts at one end. Ask the child a question. It could be a review question from school, something about football, etc. If the child gets it right, he/she jumps forward to the next line. Continue on until the child gets to the end of the lines to score a touchdown. To increase the difficulty, see if the child can score a touchdown in under 2 minutes.

More Research on Why You Should Turn Off TV

Two recent studies once again recommend that television and screen time should be limited for all children. Pediatrics recently published research on Vitamin D deficiencies in children. Over 6,000 children were studied with 9% being Vitamin D deficient and 61% being Vitamin D insufficient. Low levels of vitamin D are associated with a higher risk of bone and heart disease. Children should consume foods/drinks high in vitamin D such as milk and fish. In addition, some children should take vitamin D supplements. The researchers recommend that children turn off the TV and go outside at least 15-20 minutes a day.

Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine published research indicating that certain sedentary activities in children (ages 3-8) resulted in an increased risk of high blood pressure. Television viewing and screen time, but not computer use, was associated with elevated blood pressure regardless of body composition.

Here are some fun ideas for outside play - Rock Smash or how about Put Out the Fire.

References:
Albert Einstein College of Medicine (2009, August 3). Millions Of U.S. Children Low In Vitamin D. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 7, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2009/08/090803083633.htm

JAMA and Archives Journals (2009, August 4). TV And Computer Screen Time May Be Associated With High Blood Pressure In Young Children. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 7, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2009/08/090803173127.htm

Evidence Based Tips on Childhood Obesity and Physical Activity

The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) published a fact sheet on childhood obesity and physical activity. Here are several of the suggested recommendations based on research:

1. 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day for children ages 5-18 years old.
2. Preschoolers should participate in 60 minutes of unstructured physical activity per day.
3. To increase physical activity in adolescents involve the school, community and family.
4. To encourage physical activity in preschoolers have outside play areas and supportive staff.
5. Preschoolers will engage in more physical activity if their parents are active, they have a large yard and there are restrictions on television.
6. Encourage and assist children with disabilities to find appropriate physical activities.

For the fact sheet in its entirety visit http://www.pediatricapta.org/pdfs/WPTDay-C1-Child_obesity.pdf

Reference: World Confederation for Physical Therapy. Childhood Obesity and Physical Activity. Retrieved from the web on 8/5/09 from http://www.pediatricapta.org/pdfs/WPTDay-C1-Child_obesity.pdf.