Improve Kindergartners’ Focus with These 4 Fun Brain Breaks and Videos
For every teacher keeping a roomful of energetic kindergartners engaged is just like catching lightning in a bottle!
Little learners' attention span is decreasing day by day, and have plenty of energy which makes them restless and it’s ready to burst at any the seams. To engage your joyful and filled-with-energy kindergarteners in your classroom, you can use one of the best tools for them “Brain Break”
Brain Break is a tool designed to provide short and playful pauses in the learning process for your kindergartners” to take a much-needed break, reset, and recharge. Typically these breaks last up to 2 to 5 minutes which involves engaging physical activities, lighthearted fun, or a mix of both for your young learners which can help them to refocus in the classroom. Those teachers who have pursued courses like B.Ed. in Early Childhood Education, knows it really well.
If you also want to know about Brain Break which is a fun and engaging tool to help your learners engage and refocus, then we have got you covered.
Read our blog further to explore 4 interesting and fun Brian Breaks complete with videos that will energize, inspire, and engage kindergartners in delightful ways!
So, without any further delay, let’s get started.
Understanding Brain Breaks
Engaging kindergartners in a classroom is easier said than done because naturally, they have shorter attention spans. However, there is a powerful tool that every teacher can use to deal with this called Brain Breaks. These intentional pause tools, which typically last from 2 to 5 minutes, are designed to refresh them and re-energize them to deal with the learning process effectively.
Brain Breaks offers much-needed mental reset to kindergartners through basic movements, fun and interactive games, or basic calming exercises. By incorporating these basic but fun activities can help every teacher to create a fun-filled and dynamic learning environment.
Before you move to the topic, can we ask you a quick question? Do you follow us on Social Media? If not, then you’re missing out on a lot of informative content. We regularly share upgraded educational content, tips, feedback, and more. Check us out by clicking the profiles here - Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn / Pinterest / Instagram / YouTube
Benefits of Brain Breaks
Let’s get to explore some of the major benefits of using Brain Breaks in your classroom filled with full energy with a short attention span:
Improve Physical Engagement and Motor Skill Development
Since young children have a ton of energy, physical brain breaks are an excellent option to help channel that energy in a productive way. Activities like dancing or jumping not only provide an outlet for this energy but also support the development of critical motor skills. After engaging in this kind of activity, kindergartners usually come back from these breaks more focused and prepared to enter the learning zone.
Enhanced Cognitive Function
The brain requires periodic rest to function optimally, especially for young learners processing new information constantly. Brain breaks offer these essential intervals, aiding in the consolidation of newly acquired knowledge. This downtime enhances memory retention and prevents mental fatigue, allowing children to approach their lessons with enthusiasm and clarity.
Reduce Stress Level
There’s a perception that kindergartners lead a stress-free life but to the contrary, they also experience stress in their lives which stems from their educational journey. Brain Breaks can act as effective stress-busters. Activities like- deep breathing, mindfulness, dancing, or singing can help them lower their anxiety levels and make them feel more relaxed and positive in their educational journey.
Improve Blood Flow & Alertness
Brain breaks focusing on movement increase rather than blood flow to the brain. It boosts circulation, which leads to increased focus and alertness, ultimately allowing students to be more attentive and retain new concepts more easily.
Encouragement For Taking New Challenges
Brain breaks help kindergartners try something new without any pressure but in a more playful and cheerful way. Whether mastering new dance moves or solving a tricky puzzle, these activities can help your young learners to go out of their comfort zones with confidence and improve their problem-solving skills.
Improvement in Social Skills
Group activities during brain breaks encourage interaction, sharing, and teamwork, essential components in the development of healthy social skills. These interactions foster a sense of community and cooperation, helping kindergartners build friendships and feel more connected to their peers.
Fun and Positive Learning Experience
Brain breaks have the element of fun within them. If you integrate this into the regular school routine for your young learners, then it makes the school an enjoyable place where children eagerly wait to go every day. The joy of moving, playing, and having fun helps create a positive attitude toward education, fostering a lifelong love for learning.
Strategic Timing for Maximum Effectiveness
Strategically timing brain breaks ensures that they create maximum impact. Ideally, they should be scheduled after periods of intense focus or whenever students seem to be losing interest. This might include moments when the class has been sitting for long periods or tackling particularly challenging tasks. By introducing a brain break at these times, children can reset their energy and attention, returning to their work more focused and refreshed.
Transition Between Lessons
Brain breaks also serve as excellent tools for transitioning between different activities or lessons. They provide a mental buffer for students, clearing their minds before moving on to the next topic. This not only helps with continuity but also enhances the student's ability to absorb new information without feeling overwhelmed. Incorporating such breaks makes the flow of the school day smoother and more dynamic.
4 Engaging Videos For Your Kindergartners Brain breaks
Now you get the idea that there are plenty of benefits of brain breaks for your young learners. Let’s get to know some of the best engaging brain break videos that will make your kindergartners move, dance, and enjoy during their break time.
Minecraft
Who doesn’t love Minecraft? Even adults are fans of Minecraft. You can consider bringing the virtual world of Minecraft into the physical realm in your classroom with a “Minecraft” inspired brain breaks video. You can encourage your kindergartners to mimic their favorite characters by running, jumping, and digging by completely immersing themselves ito the imaginary world of blocks and adventure. It’s one of the best ways to make your young learners energized between their breaks.
Pokémon
Pokémon is one of the favourite animated series among young children and even adults. You can let your kindergartners embark on an imaginary journey with a “Pokémon” video brain breaks. They can pretend to be their favourite Pokémon character and perform energetic movements and activities. This activity channels their passion for Pokémon into dynamic play that’s equal parts entertaining and physically invigorating.
Dinosaurs
For the dino-loving youngster, the "Dinosaurs" video is a roaring good time! It guides children through prehistoric movement exercises, like stomping like a T-Rex or flapping like a pterodactyl. This playful engagement combines physical activity with imaginative play, essential for a refreshful brain break.
The Floor is Lava
If you are looking to convert your classroom into a thriller adventure for your kindergartners then “The Floor is Lava” is the best video out there. This activity will turn the floor into imaginary molten lava, and challenge your energetic young learners to jump from one spot to another without touching the floor. This not only encourages them to be physically active but also sparks creativity and quick thinking as they navigate around the classroom.
Final Thoughts
Nowadays, the attention span of young learners is getting shorter and shorter. With that, they also feel pressured due to their academic challenges and pressure. To help them you can use one of the powerful tools, which is “Brain Breaks” which has various mini-activities that not only match the energetic nature of young learners but also significantly improve their cognitive and social skills.
By integrating various imaginative videos or creative movement activities in the school routine, you can surely improve the overall classroom and learning experience for your kindergartners.
If you want to know more effective, fun and engaging teaching strategies. Then, consider pursuing courses like B.Ed. in Early Childhood Education, where you will get to learn from top expert trainers from the education industry.
We believe education should be accessible to everyone. That’s why we don’t charge for our blogs. Find the right course that will help you in your career with us, contact us at +66-21055721. You can mail us at act@asiancollegeofteachers.com