A movement break, often called a brain break, is a short burst of movement between stretches of sitting. For many children it works better than being told to sit still, because the body gets the movement it is asking for and can then settle again.
I’m Michele, a Primitive Reflex Integration Practitioner in Perth and a qualified primary school teacher. I suggest movement breaks during homework, rather than asking for long stretches of sitting still. Here are 12 simple ones to try at home.
Why brain breaks help
For some children, sitting still takes real effort. Their body is working hard just to stay upright and steady, and that effort has to come from somewhere. A few minutes of movement gives the body a reset, so there is more left over for listening, reading and writing.
12 brain breaks to try
Whole body
- Animal walks such as bear walks and crab walks
- Crawling through a tunnel, or under a row of chairs
- “Snow angels” on the carpet
- Rolling across the room and back
Both sides together
- Touching a hand to the opposite knee, ten times each side
- Marching on the spot to music
- Rolling or throwing a ball so your child has to reach across their body to get it
Balance
- Stepping stones made from cushions
- One-leg games: who can balance the longest?
- Heel walking across the room
Strong and steady
- Rocking gently forwards and backwards on hands and knees
- Lying on the tummy to read or draw for a few minutes
How to make movement breaks work
- Keep them short, and offer one before your child gets restless rather than after
- Let your child pick from two or three choices
- Keep it light. Nagging tends to make sitting a battle
- Finish with something calm, like a drink of water, before going back to the task
When a child still cannot settle
If your child finds it hard to sit still even with regular movement, and you are also noticing things like W sitting, slumped posture or messy handwriting, it can be worth looking at whether retained primitive reflexes are part of the picture. The STNR in particular is often linked with slumped posture and difficulty sitting still at a desk.
If sitting still is getting in the way at school, talk to your child’s teacher as well. You can read how I work on my services page, or get in touch for a free phone chat.