Brain health is as essential for children as physical health. Just as physical exercise keeps the body fit, brain exercises ensure the mind stays sharp. Here’s a compilation of the top 10 brain gym exercises for kids that not only boost cognitive skills but also teach them how to sharpen their minds.
- Cross Crawl
- Hook Ups
- Brain Buttons
- Infinity Walk
- Positive Points
- Lazy 8s
- Double Doodle
- Elephant Swings
- Energy Yawn
- Rock and Roll
How it helps: This brain gym exercise enhances coordination between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. How to do it: Stand upright. Touch your left knee with your right hand and then touch your right knee with your left hand. Continue alternating for a few minutes.
How it helps: A calming exercise that boosts concentration. How to do it: Sit down and cross your lеgs. Cross your arms at thе wrists in front of you, intеrlacе your fingеrs, and draw thеm towards your chеst. Brеаthе deeply and relax for a couple of minutes.
How it hеlps: This exercise stimulatеs blood flow to thе brain, hеightеning alеrtnеss and attеntion. How to do it: Placе onе hand on thе navеl. With thе thumb and forеfingеr of thе othеr hand, prеss thе slight hollows below the collarbonе on еithеr sidе of thе stеrnum. Gently rub these areas for about a minute.
How it helps: It’s excellent for improving visual tracking and enhancing reading skills. How to do it: Ask your child to draw the number 8 (lying horizontally, like an infinity symbol) on the ground and then walk along the lines. As they get used to it, they can progress to drawing the shape in the air with their fingers.
How it helps: This brain exercise is meant to alleviate stress and help in the process of positive thinking. How to do it: Gently tap or press the points above the middle of each eyebrow. This action helps the child recall positive memories and creates a mental state of calmness.
How it helps: This exercise is fantastic for eye coordination and writing skills. How to do it: Using a finger, draw sideways 8s (similar to the infinity symbol) in the air. Doing so enhances the coordination between the eyes and streamlines neural pathways.
How it helps: Boosts hand-eye coordination and fosters creativity. How to do it: On a paper, draw symmetrical images using both hands simultaneously. Kids can doodle anything they like, encouraging their creative side.
How it helps: Enhances the integration of different brain parts and is good for balance. How to do it: Stand straight, stretch out one arm, and use it as the elephant’s trunk. Bend at the waist and swing the arm, tracing the shape of a sideways 8 or infinity symbol.
How it helps: Believe it or not, intentional yawning can stimulate brain activity and help in relaxation. How to do it: Encourage your child to yawn intentionally while slowly stretching and flexing various parts of their body.
How it helps: It boosts spinal fluid movement, thereby invigorating the brain. How to do it: Sit down, hugging the knees. Roll backward and then forward. The rolling action promotes a sense of calmness and refreshes the mind.
Why Brain Exercises Matter
It’s essential to understand the value of these brain exercises. Not only do they promote better learning and memory skills, but they also show kids how to sharpen their minds, ensuring better focus and concentration. Regular practice of these brain gym exercises can enhance neural connections, laying a b foundation for cognitive growth.
Brain Gym Activities For Kids
While the aforementioned brain gym exercises provide a structured method of boosting cognitive abilities, it’s also worth noting that many everyday activities can serve as potent brain exercises. The key is to engage children in tasks that challenge their thinking, problem-solving, and memory skills.
1. Puzzles and Board Games
Traditional board games and puzzles are excellent brain exercises. Games such as chess, Scrabble, and memory card games compel kids to think critically and plan their next moves. Puzzles, on the other hand, improve spatial reasoning and patience. These games not only serve as tools to sharpen the mind but also as bonding activities among family members.
2. Music and Dance
You might not consider them as typical brain exercises, but music and dance can indeed work wonders for the brain. Learning a musical instrument enhances memory and improves hand-eye coordination. Dancing, especially routines that require memorisation of steps, stimulates the brain’s memory functions and instills discipline.
3. Reading Out Loud
While reading silently helps with comprehension and vocabulary, reading out loud can improve cognitive abilities. It aids in better focus, understanding, and retention. Encourage your child to read their favorite stories aloud, and perhaps even put on mini plays or recitals.
4. Nature Walks
Stepping outside the confines of the home or classroom can do wonders for the brain. Nature walks or outdoor exploration activities stimulate all the senses. Asking children to observe their surroundings, spot certain birds or plants, or collect different types of leaves can be an exciting and educational brain exercise.
Incorporating Brain Exercises into Daily Life
The beauty of brain exercises is that they can be seamlessly woven into daily routines. Whether it’s a dedicated session of brain gym exercises or a family game night, the aim remains consistent: to help children learn how to sharpen their minds and boost their cognitive functions.
Brain exercises, especially brain gym exercises, are indispensable tools in a child’s development. By teaching children how to sharpen their minds and routinely practicing brain exercises to improve memory, parents and educators can ensure that kids are getting the holistic development they need to succeed in life.
Lastly, speaking of holistic development, EuroKids Preschool offers a dynamic curriculum that infuses both physical and cognitive activities. Their commitment to nurturing young minds aligns perfectly with the benefits of the brain gym exercises discussed above. Every child deserves a robust start, and institutions like EuroKids Preschool pave the way forward.
