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You may know that this year my kids have started to go to school (previously we only studied at home).
. My son’s teacher is someone we know already; she is the best at providing brain and movement breaks in her classroom. This has inspired me to share some classroom-friendly brain break ideas focusing on each sensory system. Here are some of the best vestibular brain breaks for school.
The Best Vestibular System Brain Breaks for Classrooms
Many of these activities don’t use any equipment at all, or use things that you will already have in your classroom. The key is to provide movement in many different ways. Since the vestibular system is located in the inner ear, activating it means moving the head in many different positions.
1 || Animal Walks
Younger children will especially love this activity. Have children pretend to be different animals such as crab walk, bear walk, frog jumps, or an inchworm crawl.
Check out my farm animal movement cards here.
2 || Spin & Stop
Spinning is an awesome way to activate the vestibular system. You do need to watch out for overstimulation with spinning. And always end with a grounding activity such as jumping to help with any potential dizziness.
For this activity have the children spin in one direction slowly, gradually getting faster and then suddenly stopping. Make sure they spin in both directions instead of all one way. You can also have them freeze randomly in a fun pose to make it more of a game.
3 || Balance Challenges
You don’t need a balance beam to do any of these activities. Use painter’s tape on the floor for a line, or simply have the children balance on one foot, and then the other for a certain amount of time.
4 || Rock & Roll
For this activity, have the children roll like a log or do a somersault on a carpeted area. You can also use floor mats if you are in a gym.
5 || Jumping Games
This could include jumping jacks, hopping on one foot, or “jump to the color” (the teacher calls out a color, and kids jump to something of that color).
6 || Chair Tilts
Whilst students are seated, ask them to use their chairs to rock gently backwards and forwards just as a rocking chair.
7 || Head Tilts & Rolls
Gradually students will drop their heads side to side and then roll their heads around in a circle.
8 || Seated Twists
Have students twist at the waist while seated and look behind them. Their arms can either be held up in front of them, or to the side like an airplane.
9 || Therapy Ball Bounce
If your PE instructor has an exercise ball or any of the therapists have a ball, ask to borrow it for some bouncing time. I always advocate for different seating options in a classroom, so if you have your own that is even better!
10 || Swivel on a Spin Disc
You may need to adapt this if you don’t have a spin disc (double-check with the PE instructor!). You can use a spot marker on the floor or use the spin disc to spin in space.
Audiovisual Inclusive and Sensory-Friendly Classroom Starter Kit (Instant Download)
There is one thing I would like to bring up before continuing on to my next point, our sensory-friendly classroom starter kit.
. When a classroom is sensory-friendly, children with sensory processing needs will do better and so will the rest of the children within the classroom. The Sensory Friendly Classroom Starter Kit will make your classroom more accommodating, relaxed and help your child with or without disabilities to enjoy their stay.
11 || Scooter Board Races
If space allows, let kids ride on a scooter board using their hands or feet. I always found a hallway to do this in with my therapy kiddos.
12 || Hula Hoop Spinning
Borrow some hula hoops from the PE instructor or do this during indoor recess time. You can have a timed race or include it in an obstacle course.
13 || Mirror Movements
Students will enjoy being in charge of this one. Each student takes turns leading the class in a movement. The rest of the students mirror what they do.
14 || Tug-of-War
Use a fabric rope so their hands don’t get rubbed raw. This activity would also be best in a hallway, indoor recess, or outside.
15 || Parachute Games
If your gym has a parachute, this is a great one to have the class do together. Holding and moving a parachute up and down engages balance.
16 || Indoor Snowball “Fight”
My son always tells me about this one when they do it. His teacher has a container of crumbled-up papers that they use to have a snowball fight in the classroom. She also used this when it was very cold outside and they had indoor recess.
17 || Mini Basket Ball Hoop
The second favorite thing in his classroom is a mini basketball hoop and ball. She has it hanging on the back of a door and they use it for break times or indoor recess.
18 || Desk Push-Ups
This is a great one to do as a quick reset for the whole classroom or right before or after transitions
Students will have to stand at their desks put their hands on top and push up and down the desk with their arms.
Beanbag Balance
A bean bag (ask the PE teacher to make sure you don’t have one) can be balanced on the head as the students walk in a circle, on a line, or through the classroom. Make it a replay race should you have a larger area, e.g. a hallway or, in the case of indoor recess, a gym.
Poses in jumping-up
I am guessing I could put yoga poses into just about any activity category and it would work. Inversion of the head by pose such as the downward dog pose, dolphin pose, bridge pose, and also wheel pose are some of the positions that are useful to the vestibular sense.
What are some of your favorite activities to do brain breaks to engage the vestibular system?
. Let me know in the comments below.
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