My son’s kindergarten class is a pretty restless bunch. So, as part of their classroom’s daily routine, the teacher lets them work to earn a “brain break” at the end of the day or week. A brain break is an evidence-based strategy in which a child (or an adult) moves away from whatever it is they’re working on to refocus their brain and their body. Essentially, it’s a way for little ones to get out their energy with some physical activity or a sensory activity, which can help them refocus and return to the task or activity at hand when they’re more settled.

A brain break can be a quick physical exercise, such as jumping jacks, stretches, or a dance party (KidzBop is always a hit!), or a meditation or mindfulness session. A lot of the time it incorporates an interactive video with which the kids can follow along. The idea is not to rely on screen time all the time either at home or in the classroom, but rather to use it as a tool for 10-15 minutes a day to help your child regulate when needed. 

Brain breaks can benefit kids of all ages, especially if yours is prone to struggling with transitions. They work well for attention-seeking toddlers (over the age of 18 months, since screen time isn’t recommended for younger babies), fidgety elementary-school aged kids, or even middle- or high-schoolers who have a hard time focusing on an assignment. In fact, studies have shown that short breaks like these can improve learning as well as help our brains absorb new skills.

So, where to start? You can make up your own quick routine for your kid to follow (that’s where the jumping jacks, stretches, or dancing comes in), or check out online resources like YouTube to find an age-appropriate video respite for your kiddo. A few channels my Kindergartener son and his classmates seem to love (and that get them up and out of their seats) are:

•  Coach Corey Martin, whose themed videos include interactive challenges such as “catching” a ball or “chasing” a villain on screen

• Go Noodle, which has a combination of dance parties, meditation sessions, and even interactive STEAM lessons

• Be Well Played, with freeze dance options and challenges that involve running, chopping, dodging, and puzzle-solving

Friendly reminder that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents always monitor what their kids are watching online. You may also want to read up on Common Sense Media’s recommendations for how to establish screen time boundaries at your home, and/or consider the AAP’s suggestion to create a Family Media Plan that would outline explicit screen time rules for your family to follow.

Thoughts on brain breaks? Could your son or daughter benefit from these? We wanna know! Tell us below.

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