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:

1. Help children focus in school.
2. Help children manage and control their emotions (self-regulation).
3. 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.)