Brain Break Therapy

My mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in 2005.  This video is in dedication to her.  She is doing great in a memory care unit in Kansas City.  As a teacher she loved to have her students active.  This is for her and the many people who don't always get enough brain activity.  I love you mom.

Why are Brain Breaks considered Therapy.  First of all, it helps them to participate in something.  It is the norm now to just watch something like TV or a movie, or people watching, or listening to someone speak.  This activity will help everyone to be involved with whats happening.  Second of all, it helps to keep your mind engaged.  You need to challenge your brain a little bit every once in a while.  Once you challenge it, you feel good!   This is what happens when residents get done with a 30 minute session of Brain Breaks.  Try it out with someone you know who needs a little BRAIN BREAK.  Lastly, it will help your body to do something other than just sit there.  I've seen many residentas who have severe limitations participate with us during these brain breaks.

This video was made at a Nursing Home in Naperville IL.  It helps the residents to get their brain and body ACTIVE.  Yes, that is me David Sladkey leading the Brain Breaks.  I have been working with Nursing Home Residents since 1996.   I teach Math at Naperville Central High School and have a book about Brain Breaks called "Energizing Brain Breaks" which is available at Amazon or other book outlets.  The video is 32 minute with a lot of activities.  If you are a Activities Director at a Nursing home you could certainly use this to help your residents stay active.  If you are a teacher of very young students, you could use some of the ideas in this video in your class.  I hope you enjoy them.  Please let me know how it works for you and your audience.

Here is a list of the activities and times during the video
Ear and Nose (0:30)
Lap Clap (1:30)
Vowels ( 3:00)
Flamingo (5:00)
Numbers ( 6:50)
Dancing (11:15)
Fish and Snake (14:00)
Tap Your Head and Rub Your Tummy (16:50)
YMCA  (19:45)
5 Little Monkey's (22:50)
Let's Go Swimming  (25:00)
Let's Make a Pie  (28:20)

Are you restricted in any way because of physical limitations?  This is the video for you.  This will get you active for 30 minutes.  You will be crossing the mid line and using your brain!  You will have fun at the same time.

Thanks in advance for your feedback on this.
Best,
Dave

Hands Brain Break

Brain Breaks are simple 1-2 minute mind and body challenges.  They are excellent for regaining focus in a meeting or a class.  Your students or audience will love you for them.

This Brain Break seems simple.  However, you will find out soon that you will have a hard time mastering it.  

1.  Stand Up.

2.  Start by waving your right hand in front of you left to right.  Your palm should be facing away from you while keeping your hand with your fingers pointing up. 

3.  Now stop that hand and have your left hand in front of you waving it up and down.  

4.  Now practice moving them at the SAME TIME.  Do not move your hands going diagonally.  

5.  Now switch to have your right hand up and down and your left hand left and right.  Do this faster and switch often to make it more difficult.

6.  Lastly, to increase the difficulty, have your arms crossed while doing this. 

Snap-Wink from Energizing Brain Breaks 2 Book

Snap Wink is an awesome brain break.  You can use it as a teacher or a student.  If you are a student and need a quick pick me up in a class, all you have to do is go through these couple steps.  If you are a teacher, this is a sure bet Brain Break.  I've used it many times with great success.  It is from the ENERGIZING BRAIN BREAKS 2 BOOK.  See it at www.engagedteaching.com .  Scott Miller has 50 great ideas for Brain Breaks that you can use right away.  He also has them available in SMARTBoard or PowerPoint slides.

This brain break is directly from the book page 14.  

Remember it is so important to give your students a little break in the middle of class.  Get them up and moving with this easy Brain Break.  You might be saying I don't have enough in my schedule to take out 2 minutes each day.  I would say you can't afford not to have your student be active for at least 2 minutes each day.  Their efficiency will sharpen immediately. 

Two other awesome brain breaks  from Scott's book that I use all the time are "I'm OK" and "I'm OK, You're OK" page 9 and page 10

Follow Scott Miller on twitter @smiller229