We are nearly midway through the 2020-21 school year, and most of us teachers thought that we’d be able to visit with kids in person by now. Yet here we are, over half of the students in the United States are still learning primarily online, and countless families are involuntarily homeschooling. Fatigue is most certainly settling in for everyone.

This week, spice up that remote learning, whether it is throughout the school day or online assignments after a day in in-person class. Add in some brain breaks that will liven things up. Try these ideas:

• Pull up some cool dance music on YouTube or your favorite music site and get the kids shakin’ their bootie! Need some ideas? Check out these links: Kid-Safe Pop Songs and Dance Hits from Around the World.
• Sing your favorite action songs. Dig out your memories from summer camps gone by for those songs that have loads of motions, or if you need some new material, check out GoNoodle.
• Play Balloon Volleyball. Just inflate one or two balloons and challenge the kiddoes to keep them afloat for a certain amount of time, like three minutes. No fair letting them hit the floor or touch any furniture!
• Try some challenges, like rubbing a stomach while patting a head or blinking one eye while snapping fingers on the opposite hand. Not only will these silly challenges amuse and engage kids, but they also will help develop crucial attention and coordination skills.
• Set up a scavenger hunt for items in your home. Allow kids to take a break to find one or two things on the list at a time, then work for another time segment.
• Try a sensory bin filled with macaroni, beads, or other small items that you have a bunch of. Bury several small toys for kids to find in the bin. These work well in small storage boxes with lids- you can fix up a few different ones and rotate them.
• Start a jigsaw puzzle in an out of the way spot, and adjourn to the puzzle after working for 30-60 minutes.
• Play a group brain game. For example, play “One, Two, Octopus” – choose a small number and have the group count off, saying “octopus” when they come to a multiple of the chosen number. Or play one of the alphabet memory games, like “I’m going on vacation and I’m going to pack…” where each person repeats the list so far and adds a new item. How far can your group get?

Do you need more help with your child’s learning (remote or otherwise)? Be sure to visit SandyFlemingOnline to learn about ways to solve your child’s learning challenges!