Using Movement to Support Executive Function

In today's ever-changing education system The spotlight is now turning to the holistic development of students. While academic rigor and scores on tests remain crucial, an increasing amount of body research highlights an element that is often overlooked: breaks for movement in schools. Since sedentary classroom routines as well as increased screen time become the norm, the need for structured, purposeful physical activities during the school day is never greater. This guide will explore the reason why break time is an important part of every school day, what advantages they bring and provide practical tips for teachers and administrators.

What Are Movement Breaks in schools?

Movement breaks--also known as brain breaks, activity breaks or physical activity breaks -- are short breaks during the school day when students are motivated to engage in physical activity. These breaks can range from a few minutes of stretching or dancing to more formal games, exercises, or even mindfulness activities that involve moving. In contrast to physical education (PE) classes that adhere to a prescribed schedule, these breaks are brief, regular interruptions to the sedentary classroom intended to boost students' energy and refresh their minds.

Examples of movement breaks

• Jumping jacks or running in place
• Stretching or yoga poses
• Quick dance routines
• Brain gym activities
• Group games that require movement
• Guided breathing combined with light movement

Why movement breaks matter The Science

1. Physical Health Benefits

The positive impact of physical activity breaks for health is one of the strongest reasons for incorporating these breaks into your daily routine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children and adolescents must engage in at minimum 60 minutes of physical movement each day. A majority of students fail to adhere to this advice because they spend so many hours in class.

School breaks during movement can provide a variety of health advantages:

• Improve your cardiovascular fitness
• Strengthen your muscles and increase flexibility
• Support healthy weight management
• Help fight childhood obesity

Regular movement also boosts the immune system and helps in the growth of healthy routines.

2. Benefits for the Brain and Education

Contrary to the widely held belief that more time spent in school will result in higher scores, research has proven that taking a break during class can improve the academic level of students . Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, providing nutrients and oxygen that are essential for the functioning of the brain.

The main academic benefits include:

• Improved attention and focus
• Memory retention is increased
• Better problem-solving skills
• Participation and engagement
• Increased focus on task

According to research that have been conducted, students who exercise during breaks are more concentrated and achieve higher scores than students who don't.

3. Mental Well-being

Mental health is an issue that concerns many students. Stress, anxiety and depression impact a lot of students who are in school. The importance of movement breaks in regulating emotions and encouraging mental health is widely known.

Benefits for the emotional side include:

• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Self-esteem and mood improvement
• Endorphins release to create a positive feeling
• Opportunities for social interaction and collaboration

Physical activity during the school day provides an opportunity to release any excess tension, anger or anxiety, which can help to create a more comfortable and positive environment in the classroom.

Moving Breaks to Support All Learners

Supporting Diverse Learning Needs

Students who suffer from ADHD, sensory processing issues or other disabilities may benefit from a break in their movement. These students will benefit from exercise by regulating their energy levels, improving their executive functioning and completing academic activities.

Create inclusive classrooms

The movement breaks can be easily adapted to meet the requirements of different age groups, abilities and learning styles. Movement breaks can be anything from simple chair stretching all the way to group-based interactive exercises. They ensure that each student is able to thrive.

How to incorporate movement into your training Breaks

Teachers can profit from this toolkit

• Create a calendar. Include movement breaks every 30-60 mins, especially in long instructional blocks.
• Make it simple. Choose routines that are easy to do and require no equipment or preparation.
• Make it fun: Integrate music, storytelling, or other themes that keep students engaged.
• Engage students: Let students suggest or lead favorite movements.

For Administrators

• Support for building: Educate staff and families on the benefits of taking breaks to move.
• Create guidelines: Encourage or mandate daily movement breaks school-wide.
• Professional development: Provide training and materials for teachers on how to lead activities with confidence.
• Follow the progress: Collect feedback and monitor results to improve practices.

for Hybrid or Remote Learning

Breaks for movement are equally essential during online learning. Teachers can facilitate live activity sessions via video calls or provide movement challenges for students to complete at home.

Addressing Common Concerns

"Won't the movement breaks in between lessons waste time?"

However research has shown that students who exercise regularly are more focused, less disruptive and more productive during lessons. Breaks for movement can be an investment in learning, not a distraction.

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

The duration of movement breaks is usually 2-5 minutes--and can be built into interludes between subjects, or during times that require intense concentration. Even short activities have obvious advantages.

What if the classroom space that we have available is not enough?

Many movement activities require little space, or can be performed by standing in front of desks. Stretching in a chair, sitting or even basic hand and arm movements work well in small classrooms.

The Greater Impact: School Culture and Movement Breaks

The importance of integrating movement breaks isn't only about the individual benefit; it's about building an environment that promotes wellbeing, health and a lifelong pursuit of knowledge. Schools that prioritize exercise are likely to have:

• Students with better health and less absences
• School spirit and community involvement are boosted
• More satisfaction with the teacher and lower rates of burnout
• More academically successful

Movement breaks can also align with other wellness activities like social-emotional education, nutrition education, or anti-bullying programs.

Start with these Tips

1. Start slowly: Start with just two or three breaks per day.
2. Keep it constant. Include movement in your routine.
3. Get creative: Rotate activities to keep students engaged and interested.
4. Receive feedback from teachers and students: Request input and suggestions.
5. Celebrate success: Recognize classrooms and students who enthusiastically participate.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the best time to implement movement breaks?

Experts suggest that schools have a 30-minute break to move around. But, the frequency of breaks is adjustable in accordance with the needs of each school.

Can movement breaks replace PE classes?

No. Breaks for movement are a complement to--not a replacement for--structured physical education.

Is it appropriate for all children?

Yes! Yes!

Do movement breaks require special equipment?

Not at all. A lot of effective activities for movement require no equipment or only basic items such as scarves, balls, or music.

Integrating breaks to move into the daily school routine can provide a vast range of benefits. Research shows that movement is important for many reasons that include improving academic performance as well as physical health and classroom behaviour. No matter if you're a teacher administrator or parent, or even a an advocate for policy, promoting and implementing movement breaks is a way to invest in the future of our children's success.

Include movement as an integral part of the school experience for every student. Students learn, develop and flourish when they move.