Parent Involvement: Encouraging Movement at Home

In the current rapidly changing educational landscape, the spotlight is increasingly turning to the holistic student's development. While academic rigorousness and the scores on tests remain important, a growing body research highlights an element that is often ignored: breaks for movement in schools. With sedentary classrooms and more screen time are becoming the norm, the need for structured, purposeful physical activity throughout the school day is never more important. This guide will discuss the reason why break time is an essential part of any school day, what benefits they offer and give practical suggestions for teachers and administrators.

What are the definitions of movement breaks at schools?

Movement Breaks Also known as Brain breaks, Activity breaks or physical activity breaks, are short breaks during the school day where students are encouraged to participate with physical activity. These breaks may include stretching, dancing, more structured games or exercises, or mindfulness exercises. Contrary to physical education (PE) classes that adhere to a prescribed program, the movement breaks are short, frequent interruptions of sedentary class time intended to boost students' energy and help them refocus their minds.

Examples of movement breaks

• Jumping around or running in place over jacks
• Stretching or Yoga Poses
• Quick dance routines
• Brain gym activities
• Games that require group participation.
• Guided breathing combined with light movement

Why movement breaks matter: The Science

1. Physical Health Benefits

The positive effect of regular movement breaks on the health of a person is among the most compelling reasons for including them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that kids and teens get 60 minutes of regular exercise. A majority of students fail to adhere to this advice because they spend so many hours in class.

School-based movement breaks provide a number of health benefits

• Improve your cardiovascular fitness
• Improve flexibility and strength of muscles
• Support healthy weight management
• Help combat childhood obesity

Regular exercise improves your immune system, and helps you maintain lifestyle changes that are healthy for your future.

2. Benefits for the Brain and Education

Contrary to the common belief that more time spent in school leads to better grades, research has shown that taking a break in class can boost the academic level of students . Exercise increases blood flow to your brain. This provides oxygen and nutrients essential for cognitive function.

The main academic benefits are:

• Increased focus and attention
• Memory retention is improved
• Better problem-solving skills
• Engagement and participation
• Focus on the task is increased.

The results of studies have shown that students who are given breaks for movement return to their work with greater focus and demonstrate higher achievement scores compared to those without such breaks.

3. Mental and Emotional Well-being

Mental health is a matter that affects a lot of students. Anxiety, stress and depression are a major concern for youngsters who are in school. The role of exercise in regulating emotions and promoting mental well-being is well-known.

Emotional Benefits include:

• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Self-esteem and mood improvement
• Endorphins are released to create a positive feeling
• Social interaction opportunities and collaboration

Physical activity throughout the day can help to release the tension anger, stress or anxiety. This can create positive atmosphere in the classroom.

The Movement Breaks Help All Learners

Supporting Diverse Learning Needs

The benefits of movement breaks are especially beneficial for students with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or problems with sensory processing or any other needs. Physical exercise can help students regulate their energy levels, boost their executive functioning, and enable them to better participate in academic tasks.

Creating Inclusive Classrooms

Because movement breaks can be easily adapted and customizable, they can be adapted to meet the requirements of various age groups physical capabilities, as well as learning styles. The types of breaks offered vary from simple stretches on the chair all the way to group-based interactive exercises. They ensure that each child can succeed.

How to incorporate breaks for exercise into your daily routine

For Teachers

• Create a calendar. Include movement breaks every 30-60 mins, especially in long instructional blocks.
• It's easy. Choose routines that are simple to complete and require little equipment or preparation.
• Enjoy it! Make use of stories, music or themes to entice students.
• Get students involved: Have students choose or lead their favorite exercise.

For Administrators

• Gain support: Inform staff and their families of the benefits of taking movement breaks.
• Establish guidelines: Encourage daily movement breaks in schools or mandate them.
• Professional development: Provide training and resources for teachers to be able to effectively lead activity breaks.
• Monitor the progress: Collect feedback and monitor results to improve practices.

For Remote or Hybrid Learning

Breaks for movement are equally essential during online learning. Teachers can conduct live sessions of activity on video calls or assign movement challenges for students to complete at home.

Addressing Common Concerns

Will movement breaks waste time in the class?

However research has shown that students who regularly move are more concentrated, less disruptive and more productive during lessons. Movement breaks can be an investment in learning, not a distraction.

How do we find the time to move if our schedules are jammed?

Breaks for movement can be brief--just 2-5 minutes. They can also be incorporated into transitions between subjects or after time of intense focus. Even a short amount of activity can have noticeable benefits.

What if the classroom space we have is limited?

Many movement activities require little space or are done by standing in front of desks. In smaller classrooms, seated stretching, chair-yoga or even simple hand and arm exercises can be beneficial.

The Broader Impact: School Culture and Movement Breaks

It's not just about personal benefits of having movement breaks, but also about creating a culture in schools that is centered around health, wellbeing and lifelong learning. Schools that are focused on movement tend to:

• Students with better health and less absences
• School spirit and community involvement are boosted
• Greater satisfaction of teachers and lower burnout rates
• Academic results that are more impressive

Other wellness-related initiatives, like bullying prevention, nutrition education and social-emotional learning, as well as social-emotional-learning could be linked to movement breaks.

Start by implementing these tips

1. Start slow: Start with just one or two breaks throughout the day.
2. Be constant: Make movement a routine part of your daily routine.
3. Be creative: Rotate the activities to keep students engaged.
4. Solicit feedback: Ask students and teachers for feedback and suggestions.
5. Celebrate your achievement: Recognize classrooms that have enthusiastically participated.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the recommended frequency for schools to introduce breaks for movement?

Most experts recommend a movement break every 30-60 minutes but the frequency can be altered to meet the needs of each school's particular situation.

Can movement breaks replace PE classes?

No. Absolutely not. Breaks in movement aren't as a substitute for regular physical education. They are meant to complement it.

Are movement breaks appropriate for everyone?

Yes! Yes!

Do movement breaks require special equipment?

Not at all. Many effective movement activities require no equipment or only basic items such as balls, scarves, or even music.

Incorporating the benefits of movement into each schoolday is an easy method that is based on research and has a wide range of benefits. The research suggests that physical activity is crucial for a myriad of reasons, including improving academic performance and physical health as well as classroom behavior. If you're a teacher administrator or parent, or even a the policymaker, advocating for and implementing movement breaks is a way to invest in the next generation's success.

Making movement a vital part of the school experience for every student. Students learn, grow and flourish when they move.