Brain Breaks
Tips to pause and refresh for virtual and hybrid learning
By Jonathan Caflun
Photos: Camp Wakeela
Last spring, when schools closed due to COVID-19, teachers and school boards, with resilience and speed, adjusted to provide online programs. Although these enabled the continuation of school and learning (and possibly an end to snow days in the future), the health effects of staring at a screen for hours on end is not beneficial. With many camps hosting learning pods, here is a list of “brain breaks” to help kiddos pause from their screens.
First, what are brain breaks? Brain breaks are mental rests designed to help kids stay focused and attentive. Brain breaks get kids moving, which helps carry blood and oxygen to the brain in order for them to energize, reset, and relax. These breaks can be physical activity like stretching or exercising, breathing and meditation, or simple tasks like drawing or playing a quick game on a piece of paper. According to Understood.org, “To make a brain break effective for your child, there are a few things to consider. First, you’ll want to make sure it’s an actual break. Moving from homework to an activity that feels like more work won’t help your child stay focused.”
Breaks can be timed (i.e., intervals, which are better for younger children) or by behavior (i.e., ratio, which is better for older children). Whatever and however a child takes a break, make sure he or she gets away from the screen and refreshes. Here, ideas are divided into five categories:
Physical
Outdoor
Indoor
Creative
Sensory
Physical
Getting the blood flowing and working up a sweat is a good way to refresh the body. Here is a quick list that kids can do alone or with a sibling or friend.
1. Play fun games:
Tag
Red Light, Green Light
Mother May I?
Hide and Seek
Simon Says
2. Jump rope or jump on a trampoline
3. Roller skate, ride scooters, or bikes
4. Blow bubbles and then run around and pop them
5. Use sidewalk chalk to make a hopscotch court or a maze to wander through
6. Play sports: soccer, catch, basketball, etc.
7. Practice yoga and stretching.
Outdoor
Simple actions like running, walking, or taking a hike outside are beneficial. Don’t let the weather stop the kids. Make the exercise an adventure, no matter what.
Indoor
The simple act of moving around indoors also can be a great break from the screen. On a normal school day, children usually have an hour, maybe two depending on weather, to stand and move around. Take a lunch break and have an indoor picnic, a dance party, a yoga class, an indoor exercise class, or create an indoor obstacle course.
Creative
Sometimes, children and teenagers don’t need to burn energy as much as they just need to daydream, imagine, and be creative. This is still considered a mental break. Allowing a child to explore the more creative side of the brain—without making it a task or an assignment—is beneficial to get going after a long day of the screen and virtual learning. More guided creative activities, like coloring books and puzzles, are great. Sometimes, just the freedom to explore by doodling, building Legos, or playing an instrument can be useful. Tip: Try not to make this break “practice” for after-school activities, but more of an opportunity to explore and let the mind flow freely.
Sensory
Sensory breaks can allow a child to be calm and relax. This approach is great when a child is frustrated, cranky, or fed up with the screen. These breaks allow kids to stimulate their senses in a safe way. Toys like kinetic sand, slime, balance boards, spinning tops, or weighted stuffed animals can be utilized for a few minutes to help a child refocus. For a long list of sensory-stimulating toys, visit https://yourkidstable.com/sensory-toys/.
One last piece of advice: Invest in a pair of blue-light glasses for family members. They are inexpensive and help prevent dangerous blue light that is emitted from the screen from hurting a child’s eyes and causing fatigue and headaches.
Jonathan Caflun is the Assistant Director for Camp Wekeela for Everyone in Hartford, Mass. He lives in Somerville, Mass. Reach him at (617) 616-5163, or jonathan@campwekeela.com.