3 Ways to Supercharge the Body and Brain for Back to School

As summer winds down and school is about to start, it’s time to prepare for a new routine! Transitioning back to school can be challenging for kids, parents, and teachers alike. However, with a few wellness strategies, you can help clear the mental and physical cobwebs that summer may have brought.

The body and brain have a reciprocal relationship: the brain instructs the body, and the body provides feedback to the brain. When both work together, they enhance each other’s development. Research shows that increased physical activity not only improves motor skills but also boosts cognitive performance. Let’s explore three effective ways to enhance physical and mental energy this back-to-school season, along with some fun activities to implement at home or in the classroom.

1. Increase the Heart Rate

The brain thrives on oxygen and glucose, delivered through proper blood circulation. The easiest way to enhance circulation? Get moving! Aerobic activities are particularly beneficial as they can stimulate the growth of the hippocampus, a brain region critical for memory and learning. Additionally, aerobic exercise increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that supports the health of brain cells.

Activity: ABC Adventures

Instructions:

1. Get Ready: Have children stand in a circle or in a designated space.
2. Start the Story: Begin telling a simple story. When kids hear a word that starts with the letter G, they run in place as fast as they can.
3. Freeze: When they hear a word that starts with the letter S, they must freeze on one leg until they hear the next G word.
4. Penalty: If they lose balance, they do five jumping jacks before rejoining the game.
5. Variations: Continue for two to three minutes, adding other movements (e.g., sit, hop in place, or turn in a circle).

2. Cross the Midline

The brain consists of two hemispheres, connected by the corpus callosum, which facilitates communication between them. Activities that require crossing the midline (the imaginary line that divides the body into left and right halves) enhance coordination and cognition.

Activity: Crazy Callouts

Instructions:

1. Get Moving: Have children stand up.
2. Crossing Commands: Instruct them to touch a limb from one side to a limb on the opposite side (e.g., “touch your right thumb to your left kneecap”).
3. Increase Difficulty: As they become more adept, increase the speed and complexity of the commands. For an extra challenge, have them close their eyes or balance on one leg.
4. Duration: Continue for one to two minutes, or as long as they remain engaged.

3. Embrace Rhythm

Rhythm and synchrony are integral to both movement and learning. Activities that involve rhythm can improve neural communication in the brain, leading to better coordination and enhanced learning capabilities.

Activity: Movin’ to the Beat

Instructions:

1. Start Standing: Have children stand in a circle.
2. Set the Tempo: Choose one child to establish a rhythm by clapping, stomping, or making another rhythmic sound.
3. Follow the Beat: The rest of the group performs a simple calisthenic exercise (like jumping jacks) to this beat.
4. Change It Up: Every five seconds, point to a different child to take over the rhythm, allowing them to choose their tempo.
5. Engagement: Continue this for one to two minutes, or as long as the children are engaged.

These three strategies—boosting heart rate, crossing the midline, and embracing rhythm—are just a few ways to enhance both physical and mental energy for a successful school year. Incorporate these activities to support your child’s development and foster a love for movement and learning.

Here’s to an energized and productive school year ahead!