Brain Gems

Brain Gyms are considered Brain Gems in our house.  Sometimes they can switch up things in a blink if things are spiraling out of control.  Kara & Jordan do them every hour, after their recess, during school hours too.  There's a video at the bottom of Kara doing her Brain Gyms before swimming at the lake.

Brain Gyms:

Focus on two-sided (left-right) movement across the midline of the body. Development and/or properly functioning bilateral movement skills are important for crawling, walking, seeing depth, and are a prerequisite for whole-body coordination and ease of learning in the near-visual area. The Midline Movements help integrate binocular vision, binaural hearing, and the left and right sides of the brain. Over the last century, crawling has been used in neurological patterning to maximize learning potential.


Activates the Brain for:

Ability to cross the midline.
Centering and grounding.
Relaxation of the central nervous system. Cranial rhythms.
Behavioral / Postural Correlates: Improved reflection and expression
A heightened energy level. Diaphragmatic breathing.
An improved attention span. 


More info here.


Brain gym exercises offer dramatic improvements in Asperger Syndrome, Autistic Spectrum disorders, Down Syndrome, ADD and ADHD, Dyspraxia and Dyslexia.  They are great exercises to do as a family and even NT children and adults will see great benefits.

Here's a link with more exercises and why they are good for kids (and adults).

If you're new to Brain Gyms, don't be surprised if your kid has a hard time doing them in the beginning.  That means you are seriously on to something that will help them and that they really need it.  Have them practice quite a bit and it will become more natural.

J's best friend, Kara, volunteered to model the series that we use daily.  There is a side view and a frontal view so that your kids can follow along if they would like.