Try “Brain Gym” to Enhance Learning

We can all benefit from a stronger mind/body connection. This is particularly true for young learners.

A few years ago I learned a simple program from the occupational therapists in our school. It is called "Brain Gym" and consists of four simple exercises and movements that improve coordination, concentration and focus.

Every morning, in my first grade class, we start our day with "Brain Gym." The series of exercises takes only about five minutes to complete, and over the years I’ve found that it is very effective in helping young children get ready to learn.

The four steps we do each morning are:

• Get a drink of water
• "Brain Buttons"
• "Cross Crawl"
• "Hook-Ups"

I follow this with three Yoga breaths and ten jumping jacks. It’s a great way to get ready to learn!

About.com gives a great overview of these steps, and how you could implement "Brain Gym" at home. Or, you can Google "brain gym" and see instructional YouTube videos.

"Brain Gym" is a registered trademark of "Brain Gym International" and the copyrighted work of Paul E. Dennison, Ph.D., and Gail E. Dennison