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Why should children move more for mental health?

  1. they will have less tension, stress and mental fatigue
  2. they will feel more energised after a natural energy boost
  3. they will feel a sense of achievement
  4. they will gain more focus and motivation in all areas
  5. they may feel less cross or frustrated
  6. movement will build a healthy appetite
  7. they will be having fun and boosting endorphins

How schools can encourage movement:

  • implement 'The Daily Mile' from Nursery – Y6 and encourage the children to run, jog or walk a mile a day during the school day
  • have mini movement breaks within the classroom behind their desks (calf raises, shoulder rolls, torso twists, knee lifts, bounce/jump)
  • breathing exercises (four counts In, 8 counts Out, humming bee breath, mountain breathing)
  • get outside and walk or run in nature, then pause breathe and ask them to mindfully notice what they can feel, see, smell, hear
  • create a 'scavenger' hunt with clues that encourage running around your school grounds. You could link the hunt to a theme that is being taught in class, or to maths or science questions so that they are being challenged mentally and physically
  • practise some basic yoga moves to help strengthen body and calm the mind
  • go on a bug or tree hunt, giving specific things to find and work as a team to tick off the list the quickest
  • make art in nature – create pieces of art made from the local environment encouraging movement, creativity and curiosity
  • encourage children to play hopscotch and French skipping during breaktimes
  • have the children follow fun instructions to create movement breaks in assembly or lesson time in order to reduce the risk of cognitive overload e.g everyone with a birthday in August jump up/sit down; anyone with a name beginning with G jump up/turn around/sit down
  • play a game of duck, duck, goose in the school hall or playground
  • create an outdoor learning environment and make your own version of a 'Forest School'. Include activities such as making a mini pond, a lego bird feeding table, or a bug hotel
  • create a waterproof den and link this to the science theme of materials, allowing children to discover which materials make the best waterproof home for them
  • draw a giant grid with chalk on the playground and play battleships linking the game to the maths theme of coordinates
  • have a skipping competition, who can skip for 30 seconds/ who can do 100 skips?
  • create fun circuits for the children to follow including balancing, jumping, squatting, lifting and hanging

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