With all the snow and being stuck indoors so much, I would like to explain a program that I would like to expand upon for our children. As a special education teacher and the mother of five, I know how very important movement and exercise can be to the brain function and behavior and concentration. When my children were young, we lived in a small apartment in Los Angeles with no backyard to play in. We would take them to the local parks almost every day and enroll them in Toddlergym and Kindergym programs. I think the fact that we lived in a confined area which forced us out to the playgrounds was one of the best things for my children. They are all athletic now and do well in school. Even my son who has some learning differences has excelled in several areas. I think a portion of this is due to the movement and exercise they received growing up.
When my son was having difficulties in first grade, we took him to a tutor who was a teacher on sabbatical, raising her children. She was amazing and had him crawl and spin. As a special education teacher I have learned about and used some of the same techniques that she used. As one professional explained it, "The head is not separate from the body." They are made to work together. The process of crawling properly connects certain pathways in the brain that helps with reading. Spinning is also important in much the same way. Certain physical things must happen in order for intellectual progress to occur.
In many of our homes and school systems we have done away with much of the physical play. My child was told in fifth grade that they were too old for recess. This is the most absurd thing to me. Children solidify what they have learned intellectually often with physical movement. When my children were in parochial school the children in K-8 all had a recess in the morning and time after lunch to play. I truly feel that the reason there was little behavior problems was that all ages got this physical activity every day. This was in addition to their scheduled P.E. class. There are many studies and theories to support this thought, and I encourage all who interact with children to research this concept.
An idea that is often used in very effective special education programs is the "Wiggle Room." This is a room with very constructed, structured physical movement with various equipment. There may be swings, trampolines, mats, spinners, wedges and exercise balls. Activities can be constructed and led that encourage calm, focus and attentiveness. If one has been in a classroom in the afternoon, he/she knows how chaotic it can get. A wiggle room can help gain control and increase classroom productivity.
Even certain components of a wiggle room can be used in the regular classroom. I introduced yoga to some of my tenth and eleventh grade classes as a way to break up the one and a half hour block class and give them a physical break and help with focus. Yoga uses many of the same principles of a "wiggle room." I learned that after a week of getting the students on board and taking it seriously, they hated to have a day without the relaxation techniques and physical re-connection.
At the Center we learned through chance how important movement can be to our program. We used to start the program with the children signing in and then going to the cafeteria to begin their snack time. One day there was a terrible smell in the cafeteria from a chemical used to clear a drain. We were forced to stay in the gym to play for an extra 30 minutes. When we returned to the cafeteria, snack and homework time was so much more peaceful and constructive. I had been feeling bad that the children had to stay seated right after the stationary day at school and on the bus. I realized there was no reason they could not have a play and wind down period in the gym every day after they exited the bus. We have been doing this every day since with much success.
Now I would like to work on a more structured gym time to have activities that would specifically help with reading, math concepts and focus. I am currently working with an occupational therapist to come up with a plan to acquire equipment that would work with our space and with the confines of the program. I am excited about adding a jumping apparatus, scooter boards, climbing equipment, spinners and hopefully other movable equipment. This is a project that can start small for any home or program and can start with a simple swing or exercise trampoline.
Until next week: Keep it R.E.A.L.!
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