Brain breaks can help by switching up what they're doing for a few minutes. Brain breaks are quick, structured breaks using physical movement, mindfulness exercises, or sensory activities. Movement breaks like stretching give students a chance to get up and move around.
Kids can incorporate mental and physical gear shifts too! Physical Brain Breaks- include physical and sometimes vigorous movement activity. These activities might include Yoga, jumping jacks, running in place, dancing, or other motor tasks.
Jumping rope or bouncing a ball provides a great energy release for children with hyperactive tendencies. Exercise is great for children with ADHD. Get a rocking chair — the rhythm can be calming. Place it in a quiet spot where your hyperactive child can sit to read.
Allow for Breaks and Movement
I've found that taking breaks results in more focus for all of my students, but especially those with ADHD. Use brain breaks: Students will take breaks anyway, so making breaks a reward is an easy way to keep them on task.
5-4-3-2-1.
For example the teacher would say: "Do five jumping jacks, spin around four times, hop on one foot three times, walk all the way around the classroom two times, give your neighbor one high-five (pausing in between each task for students to do it).
Start the brain break.
Set a timer and begin the break. Remember, the break should only be one to five minutes long. Try using a visual timer so students can see the time remaining.
A “brain break” is an activity that takes you away from hard mental work and allows your brain and body to reset. Examples include: Movement breaks, which are physical activities like stretches, yoga poses, jumping jacks, push-ups, or a quick dance party.
So, what is the 10-3 rule for ADHD? In a nutshell, it's a time management strategy designed to help kids with ADHD focus and complete tasks more efficiently. The concept is simple: for every 10 minutes of focused work, your child takes a 3-minute break.
Designate a quiet work space in the classroom. Set up preferential seating close to the teacher and/or away from high-traffic areas. Post a written schedule for daily routines and rules. When possible, let the student know ahead of time about schedule changes.
Some examples include: deep breathing exercises, yoga, tai chi or meditation. These can all help a child learn to slow down their thoughts and their bodies. Daily exercise – Adding at least 20 minutes of exercise each day to your child's routine can help reduce depression, anxiety and other ADHD symptoms.
Sitting still for long periods of time can be hard for students with ADHD. Brain breaks can help by switching up what they're doing for a few minutes. Brain breaks are quick, structured breaks using physical movement, mindfulness exercises, or sensory activities.
Children with ADHD often have energy to burn. Organized sports and other physical activities can help them get their energy out in healthy ways and focus their attention on specific movements and skills.
Jesse explained that the ADHD brain gets productive once it has found momentum, so he tries to hack his brain to get to that state by fueling his tasks with the 4 Cs of motivation (Captivate, Create, Compete, Complete). He starts with the one that seems the most fun.
This framework focuses on building essential skills for parents and children to navigate the complexities of ADHD together. In this post, we'll explore the five C's—self-control, compassion, collaboration, consistency, and celebration—and discover how they can foster a nurturing environment for your child's success.
Labs and Tests
The gold-standard diagnostic procedure for ADHD is an interview and physical exam to identify ADHD symptoms and other potential mental and physical health conditions.
Brain breaks are mental breaks designed to help students stay focused and attend. The brain breaks get students moving to carry blood and oxygen to the brain. The breaks energize or relax. The breaks provide processing time for students to solidify their learning (Jensen) (adapted from Alison Newman)
Sensory play can also be broken down into smaller segments throughout the day for brain breaks. A brain break is just a fancy way of saying take a break from seated, and usually passive, learning activities. Research shows the brain needs movement, motion, and hands-on experience to learn.
Short brain breaks during work time have been shown to have real benefits. They reduce stress, anxiety, and frustration. And they can help kids focus and be more productive. Brain breaks can also help kids learn to self-regulate and be more aware of when they're getting fed up or losing track of what they're doing.
Brain Break Best Practices
Younger children have a shorter attention span than older children, so researchers encourage brain breaks about every five to 10 minutes for young children, and 20-30 minutes for older students. Brain breaks are teacher-driven in the classroom.
When you don't give your mind a chance to pause and refresh, it doesn't work as efficiently. You might also be more likely to experience burnout and the health problems that go hand-in-hand with chronic stress.