Tips for Doing Things Easier and Better-Especially When Under Stress

Tip #7: The Cross Crawl: Cross crawls are similar to walking in place.

This is an ideal large-motor warmup to prepare for small-motor skills such as reading and writing.

To do The Cross Crawl:

The Cross Crawl Bring one leg and opposite arm together. Then bring the other leg and its opposite arm together. Repeat rhythmically for about one minute.

Tips for Doing Things Easier and Better-Especially When Under Stress

Tip #5: Lazy 8’s is a fun, easy Brain Gym Movement to activate both sides of the brain.

The Lazy 8 (8 lying on its side or the infinity symbol ∞) is done at eye level in front of you.

Lazy 8s:

 Either in the air or on a surface, draw an infinity sign by tracing a circle up and around to the left, then up and around to the right. Allow the eyes to follow the hand. Do each hand by itself and then both hands together. 

Tips for Doing Things Easier and Better-Especially When Under Stress

#3. Positive Points: When we are trying to remember something, sometimes we impulsively put our hands to our forehead? When we do so, we are doing a simple variation of Positive Points.

They relax, help to access long term memory, and help negative thoughts to fade away*.

To do Positive Points:

•Gently put your fingertips on your forehead just above your eyebrows and below the hair-line. You're at that point in the middle of your eyebrows. Use a light touch.
•Close your eyes**.
•Breathe deeply and relax.
They enhance:
•Release of memory blocks
•Useful in studying spelling, math, social studies, or whatever when long-term memory is required
•Organizational abilities
•Study skills
•Test performances

*Think of a the negative thought or stressful situation, notice how after a minute or so it will become less or fade away.

**Caution: Never make a child close their eyes. Sometimes that's really scary. You don't get to decide what is and what isn't scary for a child. They get to decide. When they're ready to close their eyes, they'll do it.

Tips for Doing Things Easier and Better-Especially When Under Stress

#2 .We have probably all done a form of neck rolls at one time or another when we have felt tension in our neck and shoulders. To enhance the effect there are a few easy things you can do.

Neck Rolls:

* Stand or sit with sternum lifted and feet parallel and shoulder-width apart

* Deeply inhale, then exhale relaxing shoulders

* Drop your head forward with chin drawn in

* Allow your head to roll slowly from one side to the other as you breathe out tension, chin grazing our chest in a smooth curve and alternately coming to rest just below each shoulder

Neck Rolls is often used before reading or writing. It enhances

* Language and speech

* Silent reading for study

* Reading aloud

* Near-point focus and eye pointing

* Skimming and scanning for information

* Auditory-linguistic processing (including skills of attention, recognition, discrimination, and memory)

New Classes and Preview Scheduled for February and March

Stressed? Trouble Focusing? Want to learn to do things easier and/or better?
Brain Gym® Activities can help. Learn what they are, how to do them, and how to implement them into your daily lives. They are simple, take only a few minutes, and are easy to learn.
See Classes and Workshops Page.

Tips for Doing Things Better and Easier-Especially When Under Stress Stress

#1. Sipping water: Sipping the water is more effective than drinking in gulps. Some of the benefits of sipping water:

• All academic skills are improved when we are adequately hydrated.
  
• Water intake is vital before test-taking or at other times when possible stress is anticipated. Has your mouth ever gotten dry when you are nervous?
• Sipping water helps to improve concentration.
• It improves mental and physical coordination.

Suggestions for Helping Kids (of all ages) Start the Day

It's January 3rd and most of us are back to work and school following weeks of festivities-family dinners and get-togethers, parties, concerts and performances, etc. The adjustment is usually hard for all of us. The first thing this morning a second grader came up to tell me that it was really hard to get up today, because she and her brother have been staying up late having fun.

In addition to getting back on track, it is important to remember that it is the end of the semester for many schools. As a result students will be doing more testing than in regular weeks. Some things to consider to help prepare your student to do their best are:

• Get adequate rest. It is recommended that children 5-12 years old get at least 9.5 hours per night.
• Be prepared. Have the things needed for school (or work) completed and in their designated place where they are ready to be picked up as he/she walks out the door.
• Eat breakfast. It is best to include some protein and to go lower on sugar.
• Keep the morning as calm as possible. I know it can get pretty hectic with everyone getting ready for their day, but we all think, react, focus, etc. better when we are "calm, cool, and collected."
• Send him/her off with a kind word of confidence and love. It will make a difference.