Brain Breaks

 Our children are using their brains all day long both in and out of school but we don't often think about that organ as a muscle that we can train and rest.  Scientific evidence shows us that we can improve higher level thinking by creating neural pathways between the left side of our brains and the right side.  One way to do this is through exercises that cross the midline of the body.  If you imagine a line down the middle of your body dividing it into right and left, this is the midline.  Movements that cross over from left to right stimulate the brain and also improve physical responses such as fine motor skills, coordination and stability.  

There are  couple of easy games to play at home that cross the midline.  Remember the old hand clapping games like pat-a-cake and Missy Mary March?  When we match our right hand to a partner's right hand, we are crossing midline.  Exercises where you twist your elbow to touch your opposite knee or toe also will cross that midline and engage their brain.  Yoga and stretching can work too.  But the most fun way to engage little brains and bodies in midline crossing is through dancing - a little Macarena, twist or 50's hand jive will put a smile on their faces while growing neural pathways.