Movement Breaks
What are movement breaks?
Movement breaks are brief breaks from seated activities that allow children to move their bodies.
Why are movement breaks important?
Research has shown that movement breaks:
- Help children focus in school.
- Help children manage and control their emotions (self-regulation).
- Contribute to overall health and well-being.
Here are some activities for movement breaks:
Movement Songs
- Head, shoulders, knees, and toes
- If you’re happy and you know it
- Hokey pokey
- Resources like YouTube and GoNoodle have many options for movement songs
Movement Games
- Simon says
- Freeze dance
- Red light, green light
- Duck, duck, goose
- Hopscotch
- Obstacle courses
- Popping bubbles
- Parachute games
Heavy Work Activities
- Wall or chair push-ups
- Pushing, pulling, or carrying heavy objects around the room (medicine ball, laundry basket, books, heavy backpack, etc.)
- Jumping on a trampoline
- Jumping jacks
- Wheelbarrow walks
- Tug of war
- Yoga poses (apps like Super Stretch and games like Yogarilla are helpful yoga resources)
- Animal walks (walking on hands and feet like a bear or crab, galloping like a horse, frog jumps, etc.)
