Supporting Mental Health through Movement

The overall development of the student is becoming increasingly important in the current rapidly evolving educational environment. Test scores and academic rigor are important, but a growing body of research highlights a crucial aspect that is often ignored: movement breaks in schools. The need for structured, purposeful physical activity in the classroom is more crucial than ever. Sedentary classrooms and increasing screen time are now the commonplace. In this guide, we'll explore why movement breaks should be a key element of every school's day-to-day schedule and uncover the science that explains their advantages, and offer practical strategies for teachers and administrators.

What Are Movement Breaks in schools?

Motion breaks--also known as brain breaks break, activity breaks, or physical activity breaks--are short breaks during the school day where students are motivated to engage in physical activity. These breaks may include stretching, dancing, more organized games, exercises or mindfulness exercises. In contrast to the physical education (PE) classes, which follow a set curriculum, movement breaks are quick, often frequent interruptions of sedentary class time designed to re-energize students and refresh their minds.

Examples of Movement Breaks

• Running in the same
• Stretching or yoga poses
• Quick dance routines
• Brain gym activities
• Group games that involve movement
• Light movement

Why it is important to break the movement of a person: The science

1. Physical Health Benefits

One of the most compelling reasons to incorporate breaks into your routine is their positive impact on physical well-being. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that kids and teens get 60 minutes of exercise. A lot of students don't comply with this requirement due to the fact that they spend long hours in school.

Breaks in school for movement offer several health advantages:

• Increase your cardiovascular fitness
• Improve flexibility and muscle strength
• Healthy weight loss: Encourage healthy weight loss
• Obesity in children is a problem

Regular exercise also improves the immune system and helps in the growth of healthy lifestyles.

2. Benefits for the Brain and Education

In contrast to the popular belief that more time spent in school will result in higher scores, research has proven that taking a break during class can improve academic performance . Exercise increases the flow of blood to the brain, delivering nutrients and oxygen that are essential for cognitive functioning.

Its primary academic benefits include:

• Increased focus and attention
• Memory retention is improved
• Better problem-solving skills
• Participation and engagement
• A greater focus on the task

The results of studies have shown that students who are given breaks to move return to work more focused and have higher achievement scores compared to students who do not have such breaks.

3. Mental and Emotional Well-being

The mental health of students is becoming a major concern with stress, anxiety and depression plaguing many school-age youngsters. The movement breaks play an important role in supporting emotional regulation and mental well-being.

Benefits for the emotional side include:

• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Improved mood and self-esteem
• Endorphins are released to create a positive feeling
• Opportunity for social interaction and teamwork

Exercise during the school day provides a healthy outlet for pent-up anger, frustration, or worry, helping to create a more comfortable and positive environment in the classroom.

The Movement Breaks Help All Learners

Supporting Diverse Learning Needs

Students suffering from ADHD, sensory processing issues or any other specific needs may benefit from breaks in movement. Physical exercise can help students regulate their energy levels, improve executive function, and help them better participate in academic tasks.

Create Inclusive Classrooms

Breaks in the movement are easily modified to meet the requirements of various age groups, abilities and learning styles. From simple chair stretches to interactive group activities, break breaks are designed to ensure every student is able to excel.

How to incorporate movement breaks into your daily routine

For Teachers

• Create a calendar. Include movement breaks every 30-60 minutes, particularly in lengthy instructional blocks.
• Make it simple. Choose routines that are simple to perform and require little equipment or preparation.
• Enjoy it! Make use of stories, music, or themes to entice students.
• Involve students: Let students suggest or lead their favorite movement exercises.

For Administrators

• Support for building: Educate staff and family members about the benefits of taking breaks to move.
• Create guidelines: Encourage or mandate daily movement breaks school-wide.
• Professional development: Provide training and resources for teachers to lead activities with confidence.
• Monitor the progress of the practice: Collect feedback and monitor results to improve practices.

For Remote or Hybrid Learning

Virtual learning isn't any different. The breaks for movement are equally important. Teachers may facilitate video-based activity sessions or give students movement tasks to finish at home.

Addressing Common Concerns

Are movement breaks time-wasters in the classroom?

Research shows that students who exercise regularly are more productive and focused in classes. Movement breaks can be an investment in learning, not a distraction.

"How can we create enough time to move in an already packed schedule?"

You can include brief breaks (between 2-5 minutes) into your routine, either to transition between topics or after intense concentration. Even short activities have obvious benefits.

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

Some exercises can be completed sitting next to desks or in a small space. Chair yoga, seated stretches or even basic hand and arm exercises can be effective in classrooms with small spaces.

The Greater Impact: The Broader Impact:

Incorporating breaks for movement isn't just about the individual benefit; it's about building the school's culture of health, well-being and a lifelong pursuit of knowledge. Schools that prioritize the importance of movement are more likely to experience:

• Students with better health and more absences
• Improved school spirit and community
• Greater teacher satisfaction and lower burnout rates
• Academic results that are stronger

The timing of your breaks for exercise can be synchronized with other wellness activities, such as social-emotional learning, nutrition education, and anti-bullying programs.

Start by implementing these tips

1. Start small: Begin with one or two movement breaks a day and build from there.
2. Keep it consistent. Include movement in your daily 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 your success: Recognize classrooms that have enthusiastically participated.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How often should schools implement movement breaks?

Most experts suggest a move break every 30-60 minutes, but the timing can be adjusted to fit each school's unique needs.

Can movement breaks replace PE classes?

No. Absolutely not. Movement breaks are not an alternative to regular exercise. They are designed to supplement it.

Are movement breaks appropriate for everyone?

Yes! Yes!

Do movement breaks require special equipment?

Not at all. Many effective movement activities require no equipment or only simple objects like scarves, balls, or even music.

Incorporating breaks for movement into each school day can provide a vast variety of benefits. Research shows that exercise is essential for a myriad of reasons that include improving academic performance as well as physical health and classroom behaviour. Whether you're a teacher, administrator, parent, or an advocate for policy, promoting and implementing regular breaks in your routine is a way to invest in the success of the next generation.

Include movement as an integral part of the school experience for all students. Students learn, develop and prosper by moving.