Find out what the average attention span of a preschooler is and teach your kids to focus with these 10 simple activities to increase attention span.
Brain breaks for kids are a great way to provide physical activity, movement breaks, and proprioceptive input. Fun sensory breaks from an OT!
Ever felt like your students could benefit from slowing down and taking a moment calm? Well, you're in for a treat. Mindfulness isn't just a buzzword; it's a game-changer. It's about hitting the pause button, taking a deep breath, and diving into the magic of the present moment. And here's the kicker – it's not just for adults; it's for kids too! So, picture this: A classroom where calm reigns supreme, thoughts find their chill, and focus becomes a superpower. That's the power of mindfulness. And guess what? We're not stopping there. We're bringing you the tools to create a Calming Corner that'll turn your classroom into a sanctuary of serenity. Let's dive in! (GREAT NEWS! I've put together exclusive FREEBIES for mindfulness. Click here to receive them!) Mindfulness meditation is a way of focusing the mind so that it is fully attending to what’s happening right now, to what we’re doing, and to the space that we’re currently in. Cultivating mindfulness means to be present, to pay attention, and to be aware of our emotions and the way that we respond to them. Recent neuroscience research points to many benefits of mindfulness meditation: ➧ increased focus ➧ a sense of calm ➧ decreased stress ➧ decreased anxiety ➧ improved impulse control ➧ greater empathy for others ➧ improved conflict resolution skills Our students need opportunities to practice mindfulness mediation. Since the human mind often wanders from the present. Our brains have a tendency to become absorbed with thoughts about the past or the future. This kind of thinking makes us anxious. Academic pressure now affects kids as early as kindergarten, resulting in less time for play and other stress-reducing activities. Today’s students are faced with an unprecedented amount of anxiety. The pressure only grows greater in middle and high school. Surveys have found students reporting stress and fatigue as much as 75% of the time. What’s needed is a way to decrease anxiety and help students to manage their emotions. That’s where mindfulness comes in. Infusing moments of mindfulness in the classroom is not only powerful, it’s also quite simple. In general, to practice mindfulness, have students start by bringing attention to their own body. Then, have them breathe in through their noses and out through their mouths. When they notice that their mind has wondered away from the present moment, they should gently bring their attention back to their breathing. It’s also a great idea to intentionally plan moments of mindfulness in the classroom! Here are some simple ways to do just that… 1. A Mindful Moment At the beginning of class, or after a transition, have your students close their eyes and take several deep breaths. Ask them to pay attention to their breathing and what it feels like. 2. A Mindful Break Once or twice during a standard length class, just stop. Have your students stand up and stretch and then sit back down and do 30 seconds of mindful breathing. This takes no more than a minute, and it gives everyone a needed break. 3. A Mindful Quote Use motivational and inspirational quotes to help focus students’ minds during a moment of mindfulness. It’s as easy as sharing a quote, or you can download this free set of mindfulness quotes and put together a container to pull from all year long. If you'd like me to send you a free set of 24 mindfulness quotes and the materials to make a container like above, add your name and email address below: Yes! Please send me MINDFULNESS RESOURCES! 4. Attention Check During a long lesson, stop and ask your students to pause and “check their attention.” Is their mind on what is being done in class, or has it been wandering? This gives kids the chance to deliberately redirect their attention to the matter at hand. 5. Finger Labyrinths Traditionally, labyrinths are used for mediation and relaxation. Often, people walk through labyrinths. Give students the same sensation with finger labyrinths. I’ve made a collection of them that students can use when they need to focus their minds. Students simply trace the spiral paths as they practice mindfulness. Add your name and email address below to receive the finger labyrinths and mindfulness quotes in your email inbox! Yes! Please send me MINDFULNESS RESOURCES! 6. Mindful Closure At the end of class, have students close their eyes and focus on their breathing again. Ask them to think of what they have learned and perhaps congratulate themselves on their progress and accomplishments. As teachers. we have many opportunities to introduce students to mindfulness practices. Of course, one of the most important ways we can do this is by cultivating mindfulness in ourselves. If we, as teachers, are present and aware of our own emotions and responses, we set an invaluable example for our students. Many of these mindfulness activities work well in a Calming Corner in the Classroom. Add the quotes or labyrinths to the calming corner to help students when they need to take a step back and become more present in the moment. Find more ideas for creating a calming classroom environment here. Thanks so much for stopping by! Mary Beth
This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. After years spent in different sectors of the education system, one thing I know for sure is that concentration in children doesn’t always come easy. Lack of focus and concentration is one of the issues most teachers struggle with; It is also one of the issues many parents
Find out what the average attention span of a preschooler is and teach your kids to focus with these 10 simple activities to increase attention span.
Brain breaks are an effective way to increase focus, support self-regulation, and boost a child's learning in the classroom (or home).
Improve Focus Naturally https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEojEDpCofA&feature=youtu.be Whether you have a toddler or a teenager, increasing focus is important to many parents. Our culture is concerned with diagnoses of disorders and our children’s abilities to focus for long stretches. I mu
Want to know how to help a child focus the easy way? We've got 9 simple strategies you can implement TODAY both at home and in the classroom!
The ability to focus for longer periods is what gives anyone the power to achieve their desired goals. Focus is an essential element that actually helps you to get things done in a comparatively shorter
Have a distractable kiddo? Use easy sensory strategies to increase focus today without disrupting the teacher or missing class instruction!
Find out what the average attention span of a preschooler is and teach your kids to focus with these 10 simple activities to increase attention span.
Brain breaks for kids are a great way to provide physical activity, movement breaks, and proprioceptive input. Fun sensory breaks from an OT!
Teach your kids to focus with these 10 simple activities to increase attention span. Learn what the attention span of a preschooler is.
How to Create a Calming Classroom Learning Environment with less visual clutter; plus 9 ideas of how to pay for the changes, so teachers don't fund it.
Fundraising can be fun and profitable with a little enthusiasm and ingenuity! This article focuses on DIY fundraising activities to increase the budget at your nursing home.
What is gamification for education? Will it really reduce math anxiety for my students? How can I get started? Answer these questions...
The best website blockers can help you focus and prevent you from being tempted to access time-sink sites so you can get things done. Apparently...
These Pronouns Sorting Mats w/ Real Photos include 4 unique sorting mats that focus on identifying the pronouns: he, she, they and it. It also includes 40 task cards or clip cards, that students can practice with. At an independent workstation, center or language group, students complete the following sorting mats or clip cards by identifying the pronoun to use with each photo. Sorting Mats In This Set: he she they it To increase or decrease difficulty for students, increase or decrease the number of mats that you give them to sort at once. These activities are now part of a bundle! You can find that bundle below: Real Photos Sorting Bundle If your students enjoy working on sorting with real photos, they may also enjoy the Sorting Mats With Real Photos Set or "Sorting Our World" File Folder Games Bundle found below: Sorting Mats With Real Photos Sorting Our World File Folder Games
When attention wiggles and wanes it can be easy for classroom conversations to get derailed. Sounds like it’s time for the Pass It On Game.
I love many parts of our classroom, but my favorite is our slipper wall. I'm answering all of your questions here, and have a FREE editable letter home to families.
Use yoga for kids to help children manage stress, increase focus, build strength, coordination, and balance, and help them calm down.
Stuttering treatment can begin after a child receives a stuttering diagnosis. The earlier treatment begins, the better the outcome.
Why my child don't concentrate on anything for a longer time? What could I do to enhance my child's memory power? We can achieve this by playing these 17 memory boosting games with kids 1)coloring 2)scissor activity …
Can you guess what I have been noticing lately? It is something that makes this mama and teacher's heart so happy. I have noticed an increased focus on math and number activities for preschool! I remember very well when the focus seemed to be solely on learning those ABCs. But slowly and surely, I have
Check out these creative movement activities for kids that can help improve behavior, attention, and alertness for learning!
**High Resolution Downloads** Looking for a fun and relaxing activity to help reduce stress and anxiety? Look no further! Our digital gaming controller (inspired by major gaming console brands) coloring page pack offer all the benefits of coloring, right from the comfort of your own home and is perfect for any gamer! Coloring has been shown to have a number of therapeutic benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety levels, increasing mindfulness and focus, and even improving sleep. Even the National Institutes of Health (NIH) says so!! It's the perfect way to unwind after a long day or take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Our digital coloring pages feature a variety of intricate and beautifully designed patterns inspired by mandalas. Each one is a unique and creative way to express yourself and relax your mind. Simply download and print the pages at home, grab your favorite coloring tools, and let the stress melt away. With our digital coloring pages, you'll have endless hours of entertainment and relaxation at your fingertips. Give them a try today and see the difference they can make in your life!
When attention wiggles and wanes it can be easy for classroom conversations to get derailed. Sounds like it’s time for the Pass It On Game.
Do your students have the wiggles? Want to increase focus? Get kids up and moving with these engaging movement activities for kindergarten.
Have you ever wondered why children and teens seem to be so addicted to their smartphones and other devices? Parents […]
In the time of ever increasing caseloads, time pressures and a focus on percentile scores the more informal assessments can sometimes be pushed aside. I'm here to encourage you to continue (or start) to do
Are you ready to use robotics and coding to increase vocabulary using Sports? Bee Bot robots are a perfect way to encourage critical thinking and increase student engagement. Sports are a perfect topic to gain student interest. This resource is designed to be used with a programmable BEE BOT robot.
Nothing like a good criminal investigation to liven up language arts! Based off my popular CSI projects, I have created Whodunnits? The Whodunnits plan to focus on single content topics as opposed to units and will focus more on skill building than application. Every day can't be a project day, so W...
Nothing like a good criminal investigation to liven up the segment addition postulate! Based off my popular CSI projects, I have created Whodunnits? The Whodunnits plan to focus on single content topics as opposed to units and will focus more on skill building than application. Every day can't be a ...
These super fun scooter board activities for kids help promote greater focus and self-regulation while also improving gross motor function and skills!
Find out what the average attention span of a preschooler is and teach your kids to focus with these 10 simple activities to increase attention span.
