Tag Archives: physical activity

Author: Austin Stanfel

As students spend more time in school, it is essential to give them regular breaks to help them recharge and refocus. Two common types of breaks are brain breaks and Recess. While they might sound similar, critical differences between the two can impact student learning and behavior.

Brain breaks are short activities designed to give students a mental break from academic tasks. They typically last a few minutes and can be done in the classroom. Examples of brain breaks include stretching, deep breathing, and quick games that require minimal physical activity, such as “Simon Says” or “I Spy.”

The purpose of brain breaks is to help students recharge and refocus. They allow students to move their bodies, take a mental break, and return to academic tasks with renewed focus and energy. Brain breaks can also be used to transition between activities or to help students who are struggling with a particular concept.

On the other hand, Recess is a more extended break that typically occurs outdoors. It allows students to engage in unstructured play and physical activity, such as running, jumping, and playing games with friends. Recess usually lasts 15-30 minutes and is often scheduled mid-morning or mid-afternoon.

Recess aims to provide students with an opportunity to engage in physical activity and socialization. It also allows students to take a mental break from academic tasks, which can help reduce stress and increase focus. Recess can also promote essential social and emotional skills, such as communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.

While brain breaks and Recess share some similarities, some critical differences between the two are essential to consider.

Here are some of the main differences:

Duration:

Brain breaks are typically shorter than Recess, lasting only a few minutes.
Conversely, Recess is a more extended break that can last up to 30 minutes.

Location:

Brain breaks occur in the classroom, while Recess occurs outside, often on a playground.

Activity:

Brain breaks involve light physical activity and mental stimulation, while Recess involves more physical activity and unstructured play.

Supervision:

Brain breaks are usually led by the teacher, who provides instruction and guidance. Recess monitors or other staff members usually supervise Recess.

Benefits:

Brain breaks help students refocus and recharge, while Recess provides physical activity and socialization opportunities. Both brain breaks and Recess can be valuable for students, but it is essential to use them appropriately to achieve the desired outcomes.

Here are some tips for incorporating brain breaks and Recess into the school day:

Use brain breaks strategically:

Brain breaks should be used strategically throughout the day to help students recharge and refocus. For example, you might use a brain break to transition between subjects or help students struggling with a particular concept. Be sure to keep brain breaks short and engaging to keep students interested.

Schedule recess strategically:

Recesses should be scheduled strategically to provide a break in the day and an opportunity for physical activity and socialization. Be sure to schedule Recess at a time when students are most in need of a break, such as mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Also, be sure to provide adequate time for students to engage in unstructured play and physical activity.

Provide appropriate supervision:

Both brain breaks and Recess require appropriate supervision to ensure students are safe and engaged. Be sure to provide clear guidelines and expectations for both activities and ensure staff members are adequately trained to supervise and manage student behavior.

Incorporate movement:

Both brains breaks and Recess should incorporate movement to help students get their bodies moving and their blood flowing. Be sure to include various movement activities that require light physical activity, such as stretching, yoga, and quick games.

Incorporate socialization:

Recess should allow students to socialize and develop critical social skills. Encourage students to play games, interact with one another, and provide opportunities for team-building activities. Additionally, consider using Recess to promote positive behavior and conflict resolution by encouraging students to work together to solve problems and communicate effectively.

Consider the needs of individual students:

Every student is unique, and it is essential to consider the needs of each individual when incorporating brain breaks and Recess into the school day. Some students may need more frequent breaks, while others may prefer to engage in more structured activities during Recess. Consider individualized plans to meet the needs of all students.

Incorporate academic content:

Brain breaks can also be used to reinforce academic content in a fun and engaging way. Consider incorporating quick games or activities that align with the academic content being taught. For example, if you are teaching a lesson on math, you could incorporate a quick game that involves counting or solving simple math problems.

Brain breaks and Recess are essential components of the school day that can help students stay focused and engaged. While they serve different purposes, both provide essential student learning and well-being benefits. By incorporating both into the school day and using them strategically, educators can help students achieve their full potential both academically and
socially.

Brain breaks and Recess have become increasingly important in education as research has shown the benefits they provide to students. Using these breaks helps counteract the adverse effects of prolonged sitting and intense cognitive activity, leading to decreased motivation, attention, and learning. Taking breaks also improves students’ health, reduces stress and anxiety, and promotes social and emotional skills.

Incorporating regular physical activity in Recess helps students develop healthy habits that they can carry into adulthood. Additionally, physical activity stimulates the brain and helps to improve cognitive function, memory, and attention. Social interaction during Recess provides opportunities for students to build relationships and practice social skills, such as communication, problem-solving, and cooperation.

Brain breaks, however, are designed to provide brief interruptions to classroom learning, allowing students to refocus their attention and regain their energy. Studies have shown that brain breaks can improve academic performance by enhancing students’ concentration, motivation, and creativity. Incorporating movement and mindfulness activities, such as yoga or breathing exercises, in brain breaks can also reduce stress and anxiety and promote overall well-being.

When it comes to brain breaks versus Recess, it is essential to remember that both serve unique purposes and should be used strategically. Brain breaks can provide quick, energizing breaks throughout the day, while Recess provides an opportunity for physical activity and unstructured play. Educators should use both types of breaks to promote student well-being and achievement.

In addition, it is worth noting that there are some potential downsides to both brain breaks and Recess. For example, if not appropriately managed, Recess can lead to injuries or behavior problems, while excessive or poorly designed brain breaks can lead to distractions and reduced academic performance. Educators need to use breaks strategically and provide proper supervision and guidance to ensure they are effective and safe.

In conclusion, brain breaks and Recess are essential components of the school day that provide students with opportunities to rest, recharge, and engage in physical activity and socialization. Educators can use these breaks strategically and incorporate movement and academic content to enhance student well-being and academic performance. It is essential to consider the unique needs of each student and provide appropriate supervision and guidance to ensure that these breaks are effective and safe. With the right approach, brain breaks and Recess can be powerful tools to promote student success and well-being.

Author: Austin Stanfel

Simple outside play is an integral part of a child’s physical, emotional, social, and mental growth. Playground designers have been creating areas that are engaging and exciting for the child of all ages. These areas are fun and give learning opportunities to kids and parents, especially when it comes to safety. Proactive measures have also been taken and supported by the industry to keep playgrounds safe with the right equipment and surface. Children have a curiosity to learn, especially on the playground, so it is crucial to have the right stuff around for them to play with. Playground safety has grown in importance, thoroughly understanding the risks and the materials on the playground for children to grow with.

Building a safe playground begins with approved industry construction materials. The manufacturers that make them should be approved, and the materials should be insured in the event of an accident in which it manifests faults during construction or when in use. These businesses understand the need for playground safety, making their support essential. In fact, they are meant to provide the playground operators with specific instructions on installing the structure design piece-by-piece, as well as give proper analysis, upkeep, and repair. This includes surfacing protection to wood fiber, rubber, synthetic turf, and other safety surfacings.

Make a checklist when it comes to doing a rundown of the playground area. Check for any cracks, exposure of pipes, rust, weakened bolts, and other dangerous and faulty areas.

Plan out the schedule for inspecting the entire playground, weekly, monthly, and yearly. Keep everything up to date and organized efficiently; don’t let one inch of negligence take place, because it can become a bigger issue. Then, let the inspection take its course. There is also the necessary need to revisit and update the rules about the playground and regarding promoting ethical behavior on the playground, including the supervision of children at all times.

Notifying parents about playground risk and safety is helpful, and having someone with knowledge of first aid and accident protocol helps even more. Put up signs to inform kids on what is safe at the playground and have the parents read it to them. Always remind them of their play goals, spot possible dangers, and don’t have too many children on the same piece at the same time. The more the kids, the more fun it is, but also, the more dangerous it becomes. Bottlenecking to go down the slide or fire pole will cause problems and injuries.

The playground is a getaway for children and relieves adults the stress of childcare for a bit. The children get their one hour of exercise in the playground, and the parents just have to watch them from where they are. The playground is an outdoor classroom that has a lot to offer to kids. It starts by building a proper playground with the right safety features for everyone to utilize. Safety comes first, and everyone has to play their part in making sure it is used responsibly and with high regard.

Author: Austin Stanfel

Learning major life skills begin from the time when a kid starts playing in a playground. According to various studies, it is evident that recess time not only brings change to a child’s fitness , but is also crucial in terms of their academic performance, as well as social and emotional gains. When on a playground, a kid acquires life’s major rules. He learns to be nice to others along with the vitality of imagination that he uses when pretending during a play.

Sadly, most playgrounds are not accessible to kids of all kinds. The common grounds may restrict children with special needs when it comes to playing.

Here are a few helpful tips if you wish to learn how to make a playground friendly to children bearing different capabilities, for every kid has a right to access the pivotal rules of life on a playground.

Take a look at the current position of your play area:

This will give you a brief insight as to what changes are required in a particular area, and in what manner you can make it more mobility-friendly. Bear in mind the disabilities of all kinds such as blindness, inability to walk, inability to use hands, etc. Think from the child’s point of view as to how they would like to interact with toys or other kids.

Device easy pathways:

For your playground to be mobile-friendly, proper pathways must be oriented so that children with all sorts of needs can have access to the area. For example, as per the Americans with Disabilities Act, the approx. width of a thruway must be sixty inches, so to make it easier for wheelchairs to accommodate within. The point where the path ends and your playground begins, mark a delineation to enhance it. You can employ strips of bright colors or change the texture of the road to mark the prominence. In addition to this, the route material must be accessible, like concrete, asphalt, etc.

Playground necessities:

After the appropriate grounds have been laid, you can now equip your play area with the essential play articles. Thereafter, you make plans on how to adorn your playground with the necessary types of equipment to make it user-friendly for people with different capabilities.

• Children with special needs must remain in the sight of teachers or parents at all times. Hence, bring into use equipments made of see-through material. For example, the castle can have walls with normal-sized holes in them to make the kid visible to their caretaker when playing inside.

• Slides must be of varying heights, as well as of broader length to accommodate two people side-by-side. They must be static-free for those with cochlear implants and should have special seats for the ones on their wheelchairs.

• Your play area can have swings that work in different motions, for example, linear, circular, etc. Also, employ harnesses of different types. Various kinds of adaptive swings can also be used. They make it easier for kids with sensory integration issues.

• Rocking rides must have seats wide enough to allow an adult to sit with a child.
Be creative and imagine yourself in the shoes of a kid with special needs. This is how you can create a playground that welcomes children with varying abilities

Author: Austin Stanfel

NYC Community Parks Initiative: Does it Serve its Purpose?

There is very little that gets done when it comes to parks and recreation. In the past few years, there have been a few developments that have raised the hopes of those looking for better playground opportunities in their neighborhood. One such development is the NYC community parks initiative. This article will explore the objectives of such an initiative and whether it truly serves its purpose.

An excerpt on the New York Community Parks Initiative:

The Community Parks Initiative is a multi-faceted project for the community development in New York City’s thickly populated and developing neighborhoods where there is a significant need for park expansions. The Community Parks Initiative is NYC Parks’ first significant value activity. It will contribute $130 million capital dollars to bring about improved programming. The activity will captivate and spur New Yorkers to modify neighborhood parks, motivate residents to get out and get fit, and reconnect groups to the green spaces right outside their doorsteps. Here’s what the project covers:

• The activity focuses on 55 areas in the region;
• Capital tasks of the project will reconstruct 35 group parks;
• The project will spend $130 million that will be focused on the under-developed, lower-wage groups of the region;
• More than 70 new regular recreational Super-mario world programming and support staff will actuate and enhance stops in all Community Parks Initiative groups;
• Parks will make quick results with a focus on physical change ventures at 55 parks;
• By partnering with the Department of Environmental Protection, parks will acquaint better park plans with Community Parks Initiative groups.

The above highlights suggest that the initiative is a concrete step towards better community parks and hopefully better commercial playground equipment for children in blue-collar societies.

Objectives of the Initiative

The Community Parks Initiative is one of nine prompt ventures toward a greener future for the New York Parks. The primary objectives of the project are highlighted in the figure below:

• The project will be focused on 55 areas in each of the five precincts defined by the initiative.
• The activity will bring extended youth and grown-up games and wellness programming to each of our need groups. This will bolster nearby accomplices who wish to grow new projects to enact stops and serve groups.
• Each park will go through numerous littler scale park change extends that can be finished on a quicker timetable and bring about faster results to groups. Focused on change activities will happen all through the Community Park initiative zones.
• The project will focus on the NYC Parks expansion, which includes the vicinity of staff at parks all through the Community Park Initiative zones to guarantee enhanced support and more secure and sophisticated parks.

Our Take on the NYC Park Initiative Project

The NYC park initiative project is a healthy step towards building greener communities, especially in low-wage communities that are mostly neglected. The initiative will possibly introduce modern outdoor playground equipment and play structures that were hard to spot in various community playgrounds before.

Author: Austin Stanfel

Technology and your kid have been close pals all through the academic year. Now it’s time to say adios to the digital stuff. This summer, engage your children with something beyond the captivating virtual boundaries, and that’s closer to nature. This post will walk you through 3 highly active and mind-altering activities that you can try with your kids this summer.

Enjoy the Delight of Bird-Watching
If you have a slight interest in nature and its fascinating creatures, then this could be your chance to impart that knowledge to your kids.

What you’ll need:

• A good pair of binoculars
• Bird book related to your area (optional).

Here’s what you need to do:
Take your binoculars and search for fledglings flying and resting. A couple of things to search for when viewing birds include:

The type of bird;
Different mouth shapes are adapted to suit their respective primary nourishment source—long, or snared snouts are for tearing at prey, short and heavy cone shapes are to break the seeds;
Feet—This is for distinctive purposes like running, resting on twigs, sticking to trees, getting a grip on prey, and paddling in the water;
Colors.

Let’s go Bug Hunting
Want something better than the outdoor playground equipment for your kid’s recreation? Take some time to watch bugs? They are astounding animals. They fly, buzz, sting, jump, and even light up, which can stir up excitement in children.

What you’ll need:

• A clean container;
• A waxed paper or netting;
• A Rubber band;
• A Spoon;
• An overripe banana and some brown sugar;
• A magnifying glass.

Here’s what you need to do:
A great approach to attract bugs is to put out something sweet like a banana with cocoa sugar sprinkled on top.

• Let the banana mixture sit outside for a while, then spread it onto the bark of a tree.
• Check it routinely to see what new bugs you have pulled in.
• Look through the amplifying glass and draw what you see.
• Come out during the evening with a spotlight and check whether there are any newcomers.
• If you need to watch a specific bug, place it in your compartment with a jug top of the water, a stick, and some green takes off.
• Cover the compartment with mesh or waxed paper.
• Return your bug to its spot after the observation.

Be Builders; Put together a Terrarium
Next on the list is a little architectural work that can actually be better than playing around with commercial playground equipment.

What you’ll need:

• A glass compartment with a wide neck
• Potting soil
• Cheesecloth or mesh
• Tiny stones or rocks
• Enacted charcoal
• Your favorite Plants.

Here’s what you need to do:
Select your plants. Make sure that they are adequate in size and not excessively small or excessively tall.

• Place the rocks on the terrarium floor.
• Sprinkle a little measure of enacted charcoal on top.
• Spread the cheesecloth or mesh on the container with an opening cut in the center.
• Tenderly make little gaps and implant the plants in them, pressing the dirt accurately around them.
• Spritz your plants with water and spread. Add the tiny figures to add flair to the terrarium. (Ativan)

Author: Austin Stanfel