Health
By Kim Norton
O
ften referred to as brain breaks or movement breaks, sensory breaks are movements that incorporate sensory activities to help our children calm down, focus, learn and self-regulate.
These movements unite the brain, body, and the senses, improving overall brain function in areas such as concentration, memory recall, reading and writing, organisation skills, physical coordination, and more. When you can access more areas of the brain, and use those areas more effectively, learning challenges and the stress and anxiety associated with them can disappear altogether, increasing confidence and self-esteem. The type of sensory breaks that would best suit your child can be determined by an Occupational Therapist who will design a sensory diet to suit. This diet may include a variety of movement and sensory breaks that can be performed in each of the child’s environments. eg: school, at home and grandma’s etc. The type and frequency of breaks will depend on the individual’s sensory preferences.
Breaks and tools for the classroom to help with general learning can include: 1. Fidget chair bands (Bouncy Bands) 2. Sit on a wobble stool or cushion 3. Use fidget toys 4. Sit with a weighted lap pad 5. Play games like “Duck Duck Go” 6. Wear noise cancelling headphones 7. Practise brain gym movements 8. Do regular simple stretching exercises incorporating breath work
Examples of general sensory breaks can include: 9. Use a battery-operated toothbrush 10. Practise breath work 11. Play with playdough/theraputty 12. Make a calm-down bottle 13. Suck on a lollipop 14. Jump on a trampoline 15. Blow on a party blower 16. Meditate 17. Throw a ball
56 Peninsula Kids – Autumn 2022
18. Climb a tree
28. Play “Simon Says”
19. Go for a bike ride
29. Do push ups
20. Blow bubbles
30. Go barefoot in the grass/dirt
21. Go for a walk/run
31. Punch a punching bag or pillow
22. Yoga moves
32. Crawl through homemade tunnels
23. Chew gum
33. Jump into a body sock
26. Listen to music
34. Swing on a sensory swing
24. Blow up a balloon
35. Bear hugs with Mum or Dad
25. Lift light weights
36. Wheelbarrow walking
26. Use a straw
37. Squeeze a stress ball
27. Go swimming
38. Use a skipping rope