Movement Throughout the Homeschool Day

Over the past decade, years, even months, research continues to come out about the impact of movement on focus and attention. Finland seems to be at the forefront of this as a demonstration model. Their school system has implemented a 15 minute break every hour since the 1960’s. As homeschoolers, we can easily implement this into our schedules. Some of these breaks can be simply free time, more specifically geared therapeutic breaks, or even extra – curricular activities.

3 ways to build movement breaks into your day

Free Time

Charlotte Mason says,” Let them once get in touch with nature, and a habit is formed which will be a source of delight through life…” Playing cooperatively or alone will help them to know their surroundings, cooperate, as well as build leadership and conversational skills. Challenging themselves physically, helps them to know their bodies. Help them to know their bodies. These gross motor skills, specifically core strength and shoulder stability, impact the ability to type and write.

Therapeutic Breaks

Other breaks can be more therapeutically targeted. These movement breaks can help a child maintain the optimal level of alertness or to target specific motor skills ie crossing midline, visual scanning, or core stability needed to allow for fine motor skills later. Some ideas are:

1. having them build their own obstacle course using items you already have
2. invite them to use gross motor targeting toys: my favorites are (affiliate links)
   • Foam Blocks
   • balance boards
   • scooter boards
   • zoom ball
3. Use GoNoodle app or 10 minute exercise videos via youtube for a quick 10 minute break

Extra Curricular Activities

More structured movement breaks can also have a direct impact on focus and attention with added gross motor benefits. Research bringing together kinesiology, human anatomy, and neuroscience shows that physical activity has an effect on biological responses in both muscles and organs that, in turn, alter the structure and functions of the brain. Specific research on martial arts reported that children showed better speed times, explosive legs strength and coordination skills. As a result, they scored better on working memory, visual selective attention and executive functions.

Some benefits of martial arts are

• a child can work at their own pace.
• a child builds core strength impacting their stability and posture
• natural participation within a group setting

For more specific information on adding movement breaks into your own homeschool, please set up a direct consultation. Homeschool OT is here to serve you!

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References

• Alesi, M., Bianco, A., Padulo, J., Vella, F. P., Petrucci, M., Paoli, A., Palma, A., & Pepi, A. (2014). Motor and cognitive development: the role of karate. Muscles, ligaments and tendons journal, 4(2), 114–120.
• American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020). Occupational therapy practice framework (4th ed.). American Occupational Therapy. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S2001
•   Kalaja, S., Jaakkola, T., Watt, A., Liukkonen, J., & Ommundsen, Y. (2009). The associations between seventh grade Finnish students’ motivational climate, perceived competence, self-determined motivation, and fundamental movement skills. European Physical Education Review, 15(3), 315–335. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X09364714