BRAIN TOYS

Today you’ll find are some simple props your students can use for brain breaks. I’d make one each week and use it every day for a different movement.

Streamers - Staple strips of tissue paper (18” x 1”) to a straw and invite children to follow along as you make cross lateral movements to music.
*Make rainbows across your head with your right hand and then your left hand.
*Make big circles in front of your body with your right hand and then your left hand.
*Make “lazy” eights (8 on it’s side) with your right hand and then your left hand.
*Clasp hands and make rainbows, circles, and lazy eights.

Hint! Children can also use surveying tape of 3’ sections of toilet paper as streatmers.

Paper Ball Juggling - Begin by having children wad up a piece of scrap paper.
*Can they toss it and catch it?

*Can they play catch with a friend?
*Can they toss it, clap, and then catch it?
*How many times can they toss it without dropping it?
*Can they toss it from the right hand to the left and vice versa.
*Add a second paper ball and let the fun begin!
Hint! You can make inexpensive juggling scarves by cutting net fabric into 12” squares.


Paper Plates – Give each child two paper plates.
*Can they clap them to the beat, make rainbows, use them like cymbals, or make other movements?
*Place the plates on the floor and put a foot on each plate. Now you’re ready to skate by sliding your feet.


Drum Sticks - Who doesn’t want to be a drummer? Children can use cardboard rollers from paper towel rolls, popsicle sticks, or pencils like drumsticks to tap the beat of the music.

               

*Make pattern cards for children to follow along. Vertical lines mean tap the sticks on the table or floor. “X” means to cross sticks and tap. __ means to hold sticks up and pause.

SELF REGULATION TOOLS

A "sitter spot" and "brain toys" are tangible tools to help children self-regulate.

Sitter Spot
Cut 8” circles out of fun foam or felt and write the children’s names on them. Arrange for circle time to give children a special place to sit. Arrange spots to disperse problems and encourage social interactions. 

*Children can also use these for their “special spot” for doing quiet activities like independent reading.


Brain Toys
Fill a shoebox or basket with stress balls or knotted socks. Suggest children get a "brain toy" when they can’t keep their hands to themselves. You'll be surprised how a knotted sock can keep little hands still and help them focus.



Stress Button
Glue the hook side of Velcro to a poker chip to make a “stress button.”

Fiddlesticks
Wrap a 20” piece of string around a jumbo craft sticks. Children keep these in their desk and get them out when their hands need to fiddle.

BRAIN TOYS

Here are some simple and inexpensive tools for energizing brains and bodies anytime, anywhere, and with any skill.

Drum Sticks
Materials: paper towel cardboard rollers, markers, music

Directions: Let children decorate the paper towel rollers with markers. Play some popular music and invite children to keep time to the beat. They can tap on their desk, on their knees, on their shoulders, and other parts of their bodies.

*Cross and tap with the drum sticks.

Variations: You can also use pencils, craft sticks, or plastic cups for making music.

Streamers
Materials: surveying tape or ribbon, or pieces of toilet paper

Directions: Cut surveying tape or ribbon in 2’ sections. Pass these out to students and have them follow along as you make different motions to the music.

*Play follow the leader as different students make motions for friends to follow along.

*Use streamers for “invisible writing” as you practice making shapes, numbers, letters, and words.

Variations: Use strips of toilet paper for streamers.

*Tie several ribbons to craft sticks to make magic wands.


Paper Plates
Materials: inexpensive paper plates, catchy music

Directions: Give each child two paper plates and have them follow along as you clap in front of you, behind you, and make other movements.

*Place plates on the floor and put one foot on each plate. Shuffle feet and pretend to skate around the room on the plates.

*Sit on the plate and spin around.

Variations: Give children plastic spoons to tap on the plates.


Juggling
Materials: juggling scarves or scrap paper wadded into balls

Directions: Pass out one scarf or a paper ball to each child.

*Begin with one ball or scarf and have the children toss and catch it. Can they toss it, clap one time, and catch it? Can they toss it, turn around, and catch it?

*Can they count, rhyme, or sing the alphabet song as they juggle?

*Challenge children to toss and catch two objects at a time.

Noodles
Materials: swim noodles

Directions: Cut swim noodles into 8” - 9” sections. Pass these out to your students give them a few minutes to “mess around” and pretend they are Luke Skywalker. Explain that whenever you say “Statue of Liberty” they have to freeze and hold their noodle up like a torch.

*Follow the Leader – Play some music and have the students follow along with you as you cross the midline and make other movements with the noodle.

*Air Writing – Use noodles to practice pre-writing strokes, letters, shapes, numerals, and so forth in the air with big movements.

*Massage – Brush noodles down arms or legs. Place the noodle on the floor and roll on it to give yourself a massage.


Therapy Bands
Materials: therapy bands

Directions: Purchase a large roll of exercise resistance bands and cut it into 18” sections. Cut these in half horizontally and give one to each child.

*Children can stretch the bands as they extend sounds in a word.

*Exercise with the bands as you count, say the ABC’s, read word wall words, spell, and so forth.

*Stretch above your head, behind you, vertically, etc.

Variations: Use a dishtowel to make the movements.