Resilience Now
Tips to help parents build
wellbeing & resilience for the family
At home or school
we are here to help.
At home or school
we are here to help.
What We Offer You:
What We Offer You:
Weekly access to simple, actionable tips to increase your resilience and help you facilitate your children’s continued learning journey. Scroll down for this week's tip.
Weekly access to simple, actionable tips to increase your resilience and help you facilitate your children’s continued learning journey. Scroll down for this week's tip.
Who We Are:
Who We Are:
A group of Education Wellbeing Experts that includes teachers, psychologists, coaches, researchers and parents with over 300 years of experience.
A group of Education Wellbeing Experts that includes teachers, psychologists, coaches, researchers and parents with over 300 years of experience.
Our Shared Background:
Our Shared Background:
We use Wellbeing sciences like Positive Psychology, Neuroscience, and Appreciative Inquiry to help our clients be happier and more resilient.
We use Wellbeing sciences like Positive Psychology, Neuroscience, and Appreciative Inquiry to help our clients be happier and more resilient.
TAKE A BRAIN BREAK
TAKE A BRAIN BREAK
Tip:
Tip:
Put the brakes on and take a brain break!
Put the brakes on and take a brain break!
Try This:
Try This:
Act NOW and give your brain a break!
Act NOW and give your brain a break!
Why This Works:
Why This Works:
Brain Breaks help us re-energize and re-focus
Brain Breaks help us re-energize and re-focus
Tip
Tip
It seems life is busier and more hectic than ever. Many of us are trying to do more, in less time, and under stress. Kids are sitting in front of screens or not allowed to move away from their desks in classrooms for hours on end. Many students are feeling pressured to learn in new ways or under new restrictions. Sadly, many children are also experiencing more worry, anxiety and disappointment than ever and many are simply worn out.
It seems life is busier and more hectic than ever. Many of us are trying to do more, in less time, and under stress. Kids are sitting in front of screens or not allowed to move away from their desks in classrooms for hours on end. Many students are feeling pressured to learn in new ways or under new restrictions. Sadly, many children are also experiencing more worry, anxiety and disappointment than ever and many are simply worn out.
So, if you or your kids are forgetting things more often, losing track of time, taking longer to learn new information and/or just feeling generally exhausted, it’s likely your brain needs a break! The good news is, even a very brief Brain Break can bring about lasting positive results for your minds and bodies.
So, if you or your kids are forgetting things more often, losing track of time, taking longer to learn new information and/or just feeling generally exhausted, it’s likely your brain needs a break! The good news is, even a very brief Brain Break can bring about lasting positive results for your minds and bodies.
Try This
Try This
1) Make two lists: one list of things that help you relax and one list that energizes you
1) Make two lists: one list of things that help you relax and one list that energizes you
Focus on what you know and what you can do.
Focus on what you know and what you can do.
Examples of relaxing activities could be:
Examples of relaxing activities could be:
- Taking 3 deep breaths
- Smelling a flower
- Softening your gaze
- Looking up at the stars
- Listening to a calming song
- Walking your dog
- Daydreaming
Examples of energizing activities could be:
Examples of energizing activities could be:
- Doing 10 jumping jacks / start jumps
- Dancing to your favorite song
- Climbing your stairs 5 times or running in place
- Doing a 5 minute yoga sequence
- Stretching
- Laughing!
2) List your items in order of the amount of time they take - placing items that could be done in just a few minutes at the top
2) List your items in order of the amount of time they take - placing items that could be done in just a few minutes at the top
3) Keep your lists handy - for example in a notes app on your phone
3) Keep your lists handy - for example in a notes app on your phone
4) Next time you feel you need to relax or energize, choose one item from your list and take a brain break!
4) Next time you feel you need to relax or energize, choose one item from your list and take a brain break!
You will be pleasantly surprised how much better you feel after even just a few minutes.
You will be pleasantly surprised how much better you feel after even just a few minutes.
Why This Works
Why This Works
Brain breaks allow our brains to consolidate and integrate our experiences and the concepts we are learning, so that they transfer into our long-term memory. When we stop concentrating so hard and either do something to relax or get up and move, we become more creative and are able to focus more efficiently when we get back to the task.
Brain breaks allow our brains to consolidate and integrate our experiences and the concepts we are learning, so that they transfer into our long-term memory. When we stop concentrating so hard and either do something to relax or get up and move, we become more creative and are able to focus more efficiently when we get back to the task.
The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) notes that, “Brain breaks provide vital opportunities for anchoring learning, regaining focus, and enhancing creativity. Offering opportunities to be up and moving helps keep brains refreshed and open to learning.”
The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) notes that, “Brain breaks provide vital opportunities for anchoring learning, regaining focus, and enhancing creativity. Offering opportunities to be up and moving helps keep brains refreshed and open to learning.”
Research has shown that our brains can only concentrate for up to 20 minutes at a time, and for children it’s even less time -- more like 7-10 minutes. Our brains need time to incorporate and assimilate whatever we are learning. These breaks help us consolidate lessons we have just learned, as well as getting our blood flowing and delivering more oxygen to our brains!
Research has shown that our brains can only concentrate for up to 20 minutes at a time, and for children it’s even less time -- more like 7-10 minutes. Our brains need time to incorporate and assimilate whatever we are learning. These breaks help us consolidate lessons we have just learned, as well as getting our blood flowing and delivering more oxygen to our brains!
Resources
Resources
Popular children’s brain breaks, action and dance songs for kids! Brain Breaks Playlist for Children: 30+ minutes of your children’s favorite brain breaks, action songs and dance songs for kids. Move and Freeze is a popular brain break, action song for children.
Popular children’s brain breaks, action and dance songs for kids! Brain Breaks Playlist for Children: 30+ minutes of your children’s favorite brain breaks, action songs and dance songs for kids. Move and Freeze is a popular brain break, action song for children.
Downloadable free pdf. Practical ways to introduce and broaden the use of Social Emotional Learning Practices in classrooms, schools, and workplaces.
Downloadable free pdf. Practical ways to introduce and broaden the use of Social Emotional Learning Practices in classrooms, schools, and workplaces.
Additional Reading
Additional Reading
Additional Reading
Additional Reading