![]() Brain gym movements also provide opportunities to teach young children the names of more unusual body parts such as the thorax or pelvis, muscles and bones while also developing motor coordination and skills to follow directions. Therefore, these exercises may be perfect to do as a group during a lesson break. Movements that take more space such as the “calf pump” where one leg is extended as the child grasps the back of a chair may require arranging classroom furniture to make space. Children can be taught to engage in them when they feel their attention drifting or when they are feeling fatigued. Many exercises can be performed while sitting quietly at a desk. Holding two fingers under the lower lip while breathing deeply to perform “Earth buttons” demonstrates a centering exercise that can be performed anywhere, anytime. The “Owl” exercise is an example of a focusing exercise because the child concentrates on breathing deeply while turning his head to the side and grasping the shoulder his head is facing. Other letters are formed at the center of the eight working left to right. Some letters are formed beginning at the center of the eight working from right to left. The large horizontal eight is used again as children write inside the edges. “Alphabet eights” help children focus on forming letters and fitting them correctly in their spaces. It is recommended that they trace the shape three times with each hand and then three times with both hands together. Tracing repeatedly around a very large horizontal eight (or infinity sign) forces the child to reach across midline. This can be done as the child bends the knee to reach the foot in front of him or reaches behind to touch the extended foot. ![]() Children can hop in lines, a circle or randomly as they touch the right hand to the left foot and the left hand to the right foot. These are simple free brain gym exercises that require no materials. Cross Lateral ExercisesĬross lateral exercises are ideal for active children to perform at the beginning of the school day either in the gym or outdoors. I coordinate the movement so that when an arm moves, the leg on the opposite side of the body moves at the same time. Brain Gym Bilateral Coordination activities Toss bean bags -Encourage upper body movement Bend through the legs, turn sideways, reach back behind you, rotate side to sideencourage vestibular input by bending and rotating. Centering exercises such as “Brain buttons” are performed before reading or other visual tasks to relax the body and alert the mind. These movements are designed to improve attention and abilities to learn new information. Exercises to promote focus involve stretching into positions while taking deep breaths. Movements that involve crossing the middle of the body-such as when the right hand touches the left foot promote the laterality dimension. Dennison based on the theory that the human brain functions in three dimensions–laterality, focus and centering. ![]() Clients, teachers, and students have been reporting for over 20 years on the effectiveness of these simple activities.The brain gym exercises were created in the early 1970’s by educator Paul E. Dennison who say that the interdependence of movement, cognition, and applied learning is the basis of their work. Dennison and his wife and colleague, Gail E. The twenty-six activities, along with a program for “learning through movement” were developed by educator and reading specialist Paul E. These activities recall the movements naturally done during the first years of life when learning to coordinate the eyes, ears, hands, and whole body. The Brain Gym® work is being used in over 87 countries and has been translated into more than 40 languages.īrain Gym® movements, exercises, or activities refer to the original 26 Brain Gym movements, sometimes abbreviated as the 26. The organization was founded in 1987 under the name of the Educational Kinesiology Foundation and in 2000 began doing business as Brain Gym® International. Studies suggest that motor engrams memorized movement patterns stored in the motor area of the brain may develop after performing unilateral movements. It is a registered trademark of the Educational Kinesiology Foundation (Brain Gym® International) in Ventura, California, USA.īrain Gym® International is committed to the principle that moving with intention leads to optimal learning. One of the most prevalent formal programs used for cross-lateral movement is Brain Gym.īRAIN GYM is a specific set of movements, processes, programs, materials, and educational philosophy.
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