Post #4 Visual schedules continued - brain breaks
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Ben said: "I like my schedule because it is like a rhythm flowing."
What a lovely way to explain why he likes his schedule :)I am aware that for some of you visual schedules are helping your child with the order of the home learning day. An important element on the daily schedule should include time for 'brain breaks'. We know that many children and young people with autism have what I call 'busy brains'. This may be due to the way their brains process information, this may be because their brain does not always filter out the information which is not relevant or not important. They may be processing small details which would usually be filed in the brain as 'ignore' or 'not relevant'. As a result their brain is very busy all the time and can become overloaded, like a computer that crashes if overloaded. Imagine all the information is arriving in their brain through a magnifying glass. Brain breaks can be built in to the schedule to reduce the pressure of detailed processing.
Build brain breaks into the schedule, add as many as your child needs. Chose activities which help your child to rest their brain shift focus, these will be unique to your child but here are some suggestions:
Short bursts of physical activity can be very good for resting your child's brain. I know lots of children are doing PE every morning at 9.00am with Jo Wicks the body coach PE Jo Wicks body coach. These are 30 minute lessons and a good start to the morning or afternoon. However, for brain breaks you will need shorter bursts of activity, try some of these and find one which your child enjoys.
Short bursts of physical activity can be very good for resting your child's brain. I know lots of children are doing PE every morning at 9.00am with Jo Wicks the body coach PE Jo Wicks body coach. These are 30 minute lessons and a good start to the morning or afternoon. However, for brain breaks you will need shorter bursts of activity, try some of these and find one which your child enjoys.
Here is a 5 minute workout which could be a useful brain break. Twinkl has free Jo Wicks 5 minute exercise cards which may be useful.
Other brain break physical bursts of activity
Learning station Move and freeze
Children's yoga brain break song
The Sid shuffle - Ice Age
Floss dance
Cosmic Yoga
There are lots of cosmic yoga stories and adventures - if your child needs a longer break they may like some of these, for example Cosmic yoga pokemon or Yoga for kids
Some children need more relaxing brain breaks. Here are some examples of things you could try. There are lots to chose from on YouTube, your child will let you know which they like and which they don't!
Relaxation breaks
Guided meditation for kids
Guided imagery
2 minute relax music
short mediation music
Drawing
Mindful colouring:
Mindful colouring
Sensory breaks
Some children and young people will need 'sensory breaks' which provide breaks from sitting or sedentary activities. 'Sensory diets' will be covered in more depth in a future post but, for now, some activities which may be helpful include: jumping & bouncing (particularly if you have a trampette or trampoline) bouncing on a gym ball, rolled up tightly in a blanket, 'heavy work' such as hoovering or mopping, rolling back and forth, walking on all fours. Watch this film to see how exercises can be used for a sensory break.
Every day chores
Don't forget that your children may also like to do every day activities around the house to give their brain a break. Carrying out chores can be satisfying and enjoyable for some children. For example, loading the washing machine, hoovering, polishing. These everyday chores may be tiresome for us, but for your child they may like the structure of these types of everyday routine activities. Short chores, such as putting away cutlery, can be used as brain breaks. Chores which take a little longer can be added to free choice (more to come on free choice). Some children will love to help make lunch, again this is a brain break and also a rewarding activity.
Once you have decided which activities work as 'brain breaks' for your child, add them to your child's schedule, for example following an activity which may have been challenging or required a lot of concentration. You can use 'brain break' as a generic term and your child might then chose which brain break activity they would like.
OR you could add the specific activity to the schedule if your child does not cope with making choices.
Twinkl has some free resources with outdoor activity ideas and visual cards which you could use on the schedule for an activity break.
A final word - just as your children need brain breaks, so YOU need breaks. The next post on building in choose times shows how this can free up some of your own time to get on with chores or to have a quiet mental break yourself!
Sensory breaks
Some children and young people will need 'sensory breaks' which provide breaks from sitting or sedentary activities. 'Sensory diets' will be covered in more depth in a future post but, for now, some activities which may be helpful include: jumping & bouncing (particularly if you have a trampette or trampoline) bouncing on a gym ball, rolled up tightly in a blanket, 'heavy work' such as hoovering or mopping, rolling back and forth, walking on all fours. Watch this film to see how exercises can be used for a sensory break.
Every day chores
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Once you have decided which activities work as 'brain breaks' for your child, add them to your child's schedule, for example following an activity which may have been challenging or required a lot of concentration. You can use 'brain break' as a generic term and your child might then chose which brain break activity they would like.
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| clipart-library.com |
OR you could add the specific activity to the schedule if your child does not cope with making choices.
 |
| clipart-library.com |
Twinkl has some free resources with outdoor activity ideas and visual cards which you could use on the schedule for an activity break.
A final word - just as your children need brain breaks, so YOU need breaks. The next post on building in choose times shows how this can free up some of your own time to get on with chores or to have a quiet mental break yourself!
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