Brain Gym used by "Buzzi Brains"

Brain Gym (used by Buzzi Brains):

Brain gym is a quick and effective way of changing the physical and mental state of the children in your class.

·         It involves physical and mental activity.

·         It connects left and right brain and helps improve motor co-ordination.

·         It can be used at the beginning or ends of lessons or topics.

·         It is safe, enjoyable and non-threatening.

There is a great deal of research into kinesiology which suggests that regular use of the brain-gym activities can alleviate stress, improve hand-eye co-ordination, improve the concentration on focused activities and quicken the response times to visual stimuli.

Also…..it is fun!

MIDLINE MOVEMENTS:

These focus on the skills needed for easy left / right movement across the midline of the body.

Development of bi-lateral movement skills is a prerequisite for whole-body coordination and ease of learning in the near-visual area.

Midline Movements help to integrate binocular vision, binaural hearing, and the left and right sides of the brain and body.

Midline Movements facilitate completion of developmental skills, and to build on concrete operations already established.

They help children increase upper-lower body coordination, for both large-motor activities (for play and sports), & fine-motor skills (near-point work). 

 1.      CROSS CRAWL

·         This accesses both brain hemispheres simultaneously and is an ideal warm-up for all skills which require crossing the body’s lateral midline.

·         To activate kinesthetic sense, alternately touch each hand to the opposite knee.

·         Can be done sitting, moving opposite arm and leg together.

·         Try the cross crawl while lying on the floor – on your back, on your tummy.

·         Reach with opposite arm and leg in varied directions.

·         Reach behind the body to touch the opposite foot.

·         Do a slow-motion cross crawl, reaching the opposite arm and leg to their full extension.

·         Skip or bounce between each cross crawl.

·         To improve balance do it with eyes closed, or pretend to swim.

·         Use colour-coded stickers or ribbons on opposite hands and feet for children who may need a clue.

·         Do cross crawl to a variety of music or rhythms.

·         Cross Crawl activates the brain for: crossing the visual / auditory / kinesthetic / tactile midline; left-to-right eye movements; improved binocular vision.

·         Academic skills: spelling; writing; listening; reading and comprehension.

·         Improved behaviour and posture: Cross crawl helps with improved left-right coordination; enhanced breathing and stamina; greater coordination and spatial awareness; enhanced hearing and vision.

·         When both hemispheres work together like this, children feel open to learning and new things!

2.      BELLY BREATHING

·         This reminds us to breathe instead of holding our breath during focused mental activity or physical exertion.

·         Inhale through your nose and initially cleanse your lungs with one long exhalation, released in short puffs through pursed lips.

·         Now (one hand on belly), breathe in and out through the nose, counting to three on the in breath, hold for three and out for three.

·         Do this standing, walking, sitting or lying on your back. (When lying, put a toy or book on your belly and watch it move up and down.)

·         Activates the brain for: ability to cross the midline; centering and grounding; relaxation of the central nervous system; cranial rhythms.

·         Academic skills: Reading (encoding and decoding); speech and oral reading.

·         Improved behaviour and posture: improved inflection and expression; a heightened energy level; diaphragmatic breathing; an improved attention span.

3.      CROSS CRAWL SIT-UPS

·         These strengthen the abdominal muscles, relax the lower back, and activate the integration of the left and right brain hemispheres.

·         Students develop coordination of the core, postural muscles and a sense of organization around the body’s midline.

·         Do cross crawl sit-ups on a padded surface to protect the tailbone!

·         Position yourself on your back, clasp your hands behind your head, knees up,

·         Touch one elbow to the opposite knee, and then alternate the movement as though riding a bicycle.

·         Imagine an X connecting your hips and shoulders.

·         Alternatively, lie flat with arms and legs extended. Lift one knee and touch it with the opposite hand. (This strengthens the abdominal muscles for those uncomfortable with lifting the head.)

·         Activates the brain for: left-right integration; centering and grounding; awareness of core, postural muscles.

·         Academic skills: reading (decoding and encoding); listening skills; maths (computations); the mechanics of spelling and writing.

·         Improved behaviour and posture: strengthened abdominal muscles; a relaxed, strong lumbar spine (lower back); diaphragm moves separately from stomach muscles.