Brain Breaks
Various games and activities can help relax the brain and boost its power for selective attention and memory. Some examples will surprise you, as they are very traditional games you probably played as a child.
If your school delivers the Brain Train program, many games and tasks will be versions of the games below, so you can help by playing these at home, too.
Head-toes-knees-shoulder: Play it at different speeds, reversing body parts (e.g., when you say touch head, the children need to touch their toes, when you say touch your shoulders, they must touch their knees instead, and viceversa) or just play it verbally (to include those with physical disabilities, that is, when you say touch your head, they say back touch you toes). Researchers use the head-toes-knees-shoulders test to assess the level of behavioural self-regulation in children. Before a session of reading, writing, or numeracy work, it can really prepare the brain to deliver best learning.
Simon Says: Same as above, deliver at different speeds and allow for variations to challenge children's brains.
Rhythmic dance: dancing with rhythm, using stomping, marching, star jumps, and counting, moving right and left, front and back, with patterns, have strong effects on executive functions (attention, working memory, and inhibition). Make it more and more challenging, reversing left and right movement (e.g., left hand on right shoulder and switch).
Snap & Memory Games: Both Snap and Memory games can be beneficial for developing executive functions, particularly working memory, attention, and impulse control. Snap, with its fast-paced nature, requires quick responses and attention to detail, while Memory games enhance working memory through spatial and visual memory tasks, check the The Education Hub.
Mindfullness and meditation: These practices can significantly enhance self-regulation by improving self-awareness, attention control, and emotional regulation. These practices cultivate the ability to observe thoughts and feelings without judgment, allowing individuals to respond more intentionally and reduce reactivity to difficult emotions or situations. 'Brain Gym' movement: every movement whereby you switch sides (e.g., touch your left knee with your right elbow) switches on your brain. There are many ways and schools of thought. Check our Brain Gym resources (official site: https://braingym.org.au/)
Bingo: Use various ways to play bingo and use the images or numbers to increase literacy and numeracy skills. In Brain Train, Bingo is played with emotions to support socio-emotional vocabulary while playing and training, waiting their turn, inhibiting responses, working memory, and communication skills.