We all have heard the saying, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. Concentrating on one particular thing for too long can be exhausting and even lead to frustration. This is especially true for little kids. When kids are forced to learn for long periods, they get distracted, frustrated and exhausted. A distracted and frustrated child cannot concentrate on learning, and it just becomes a useless waste of time. It can also lead to stress and anxiety, detrimental to a child’s growth and development.
So, the next time your child is tired of learning or wants a break, give them a brain break. A brain break is a short mental break to energize and revive our minds and bodies. These short breaks help de-stress and relax the children and motivate them to learn more. This break also allows children to look at things from a different, fresher perspective when they get stuck solving a problem. These activities switch neural activity to physical and sensory activities that stimulate and energize the brain.
So, what kind of activities can you do with kids during these brain breaks? You can do all sorts of activities that can be physically or mentally stimulating. The only thing that parents and teachers need to ensure is that these activities are fun and do not go beyond 5-10 minutes. Here are some fun ideas for a quick brain break for kids.
7 Fun Brain Break Ideas for Kids
1. Dancing: Little kids love to dance, so the next time they’re bored, put on some music and let them groove for about 5 minutes. This activity will reset their mood and raise their energy levels.
2. How it’s made videos: A short video break is one of the kids’ best brain break ideas. If your little one is restless and looking for a holiday, then make them watch short videos like “How it’s Made” videos. These videos are not only enjoyable, but they’re educational too. And when your child gets back to learning after the video, they’ll be refreshed and relaxed.
3. Brain-teaser questions: Looking for ideas to give your little one a quick break from learning? Then look no further, brain teasers for kids are the perfect break from learning. This fun and often humorous questions give the child a break from their books and de-stress them. This activity also boosts their thinking and problem-solving skills.
4. Simon says: This age-old game is one of the best brain breaks for kids. It gives their tired minds and bodies a break from learning. It gets them moving about and having fun, which helps reduce any anxiety and stress they’re feeling.
5. Skip counting jumping: Jumping is another great activity to help kids recharge their brains. Little kids love to hop or jump around. If your child wants a break from learning, ask them to jump around, but with a twist. They’ll have to skip count by two while jumping. This activity gets the kids moving about and refreshes them before hitting the books again.
6. Puns: Puns are a great way to reset a bored or depressed child’s mood. Besides giving them a mental break, puns for kids also help them learn new words. Puns are funny, which can help diffuse the tension and refresh the child’s mind when learning becomes too intense.
7. Doodling: Most kids love to draw and colour, so doodling is one of the best ways to give kids a break from learning. Give kids sheets of paper and crayons and ask them to doodle or draw for 5-7 minutes. This helps relax their minds and de-stress, which allows them to learn better when they get back to their books.
Brain breaks positively affect the child’s learning and physical and mental well-being. It removes stress, anxiety, frustration and refreshes their mind and body. This helps them learn better without any distractions.
