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Brain Gym Exercises
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Below is a series of movements called PACE. They are surprisingly simple, but very effective! Everyone has a unique PACE and these activities will help both teacher and student become positive, active, clear and energetic for learning. For colorful, fun PACE and Brain Gym® supplies contact the Edu-Kinesthetics on-line bookstore at Braingym.com.

Drink Water

As Carla Hannaford says, "Water comprises more of the brain (with estimates of 90%) than of any other organ of the body." Having students drink some water before and during class can help "grease the wheel". Drinking water is very important before any stressful situation - tests! - as we tend to perspire under stress, and de-hydration can effect our concentration negatively.

"Brain Buttons"

This exercise helps improve blood flow to the brain to "switch on" the entire brain before a lesson begins. The increased blood flow helps improve concentration skills required for reading, writing, etc.


 * Put one hand so that there is as wide a space as possible between the thumb and index finger.
 * Place your index and thumb into the slight indentations below the collar bone on each side of the sternum. Press lightly in a pulsing manner.
 * At the same time put the other hand over the navel area of the stomach. Gently press on these points for about 2 minutes.

"Cross Crawl"

This exercise helps coordinate right and left brain by exercising the information flow between the two hemispheres. It is useful for spelling, writing, listening, reading and comprehension.


 * Stand or sit. Put the right hand across the body to the left knee as you raise it, and then do the same thing for the left hand on the right knee just as if you were marching.
 * Just do this either sitting or standing for about 2 minutes.

"Hook Ups"

This works well for nerves before a test or special event such as making a speech. Any situation which will cause nervousness calls for a few "hook ups" to calm the mind and improve concentration.


 * Stand or sit. Cross the right leg over the left at the ankles.
 * Take your right wrist and cross it over the left wrist and link up the fingers so that the right wrist is on top.
 * Bend the elbows out and gently turn the fingers in towards the body until they rest on the sternum (breast bone) in the center of the chest. Stay in this position.
 * Keep the ankles crossed and the wrists crossed and then breathe evenly in this position for a few minutes. You will be noticeably calmer after that time.

Sensory Integration Activities:
=**1. Playdough, and other messy sensory activities: ** Children need and love playdough and messy play. There are so many versions of playdough, from pre-package to homemade, scented to unscented, textured to non-textured, cooked to uncooked. Here are some great playdough recipes: =

1 cup baking soda 1/2 cup cornstarch 2/3 cup warm water food coloring or poster paints shellac or clear nail polish Mix baking soda and cornstarch in pot. Add water and stir until smooth. Cook over medium heat, boil and stir until "mashed potato consistency". Pour onto board to cool. Knead when cool. For color, knead food coloring into clay (after cooled) until blended, or paint after finished molding. When your shapes are dry, you can brush with shellac or clear nail polish.
 * PLAY CLAY (WITHOUT FLOUR):**
 * //Notes://**

> > > > **CORNSTARCH DOUGH:**1/2 cup salt > 1/2 cup hot water > 1/2 cup cold water > 1/2 cup cornstarch > Mix salt and hot water and boil in pot. Stir cold water and cornstarch in a separate bowl. Add cornstarch mixture to boiling water and stir. Cook over low heat, stirring until "pie dough consistency". Remove from heat and place dough on board. When cool, knead dough until smooth. Have fun playing! > **//Notes://** > > > > **SNOW PLAY DOH:**1 cup Ivory Snow laundry detergent > 2 cups warm water > food coloring > electric hand mixer or egg beater > Add food coloring to warm water, then add to laundry detergent. Mix well with beater until fluffy. Use just like regular play doh. > **Warning: Could be toxic if ingested** > > > > **SCENTED PLAY DOH: (smells awesome and the kids LOVE IT!)**1 package of sugar free gelatin; .3 oz size (use any flavor you want, as the dough will have that scent when done; I believe you can replace the gelatin with a Kool-Aid packet instead for even more scented varieties!) > 2 cups flour > 1 cup salt > 4 tablespoons cream of tartar > 2 cups boiling water > 2 tablespoons cooking oil > Mix dry ingredients together in pot, add the boiling water and cooking oil. Stir over medium heat until it forms a ball. Let it cool. Keep in air tight container in refrigerator when not playing with it. > > > > **CHOCOLATE SCENTED PLAYDOH:**1 1/4 cups flour > 1/2 cup cocoa powder > 1/2 cup salt > 1/2 tablespoon cream of tartar > 1/2 tablespoon cooking oil > 1 cup boiling water. > Mix flour, cocoa powder, salt, and cream of tartar together. Add cooking oil and boiling water to mixture. Stir quickly and mix well. Cook over low heat until dough forms a ball. When cool, mix with your hands. Store in airtight container. > > **//Note://** It smells good enough to eat, but tastes awful! Is NOT EDIBLE.
 * hardens quickly
 * will store in airtight container for several weeks
 * texture is grainy
 * hardens in 1-2 days
 * dough will be white
 * to speed dry, put in 200 degree oven for 1 hour
 * will keep for a long time if stored in a container

3 1/2 cups peanut butter 4 cups powdered sugar 3 1/2 cups corn syrup or honey 4 cups powdered milk chocolate chips (optional) Mix the ingredients. Divide into 15 to 20 portions and refrigerate in plastic bags. After washing their hands, have children mold and shape the dough onwaxed paper. Provide chocolate chips to be used as decorations if desired. Play with it and let them eat it!
 * "NUTTY PUTTY": (EDIBLE!!)**

= = 2. Heavy Work Activities:

 These types of activities are extremely important for children who have difficulty regulating their arousal levels. They are the crashers, the jumpers, the leg shakers, the ones that can't ever seem to sit still. Heavy work helps them to receive the input that they crave, which will in return calm their bodies down.


 * Carrying objects, such as...**
 * groceries
 * stacking or moving chairs/books
 * watering can/hose
 * baby's diaper bag
 * ANYTHING with weight to it
 * Pushing or pulling objects and activities, such as...**
 * laundry basket
 * wagon
 * silly putty
 * mop/sweep floor [[image:http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=computerrep01-20&l=ur2&o=1 width="1" height="1"]]
 * wrestling
 * shoveling snow l [[image:http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=computerrep01-20&l=ur2&o=1 width="1" height="1"]]
 * raking leaves, dirt etc.
 * "push of war" between partners (with ball, have to cross over line)
 * riding bikes
 * Jumping and bouncing on/with items, such as...**
 * on a trampoline
 * on an old mattress or soft area
 * on a pogo stick[[image:http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=computerrep01-20&l=ur2&o=1 width="1" height="1"]]
 * on a large ball
 * horseback riding
 * with a jump rope[[image:http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=computerrep01-20&l=ur2&o=1 width="1" height="1"]][[image:http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=dAUHMG6MDoM&bids=10012.587205716&type=10&subid= width="1" height="1" caption="icon"]]
 * floor gymnastic

Playing in the sand or water provides essential yet fun ways to experience necessary //tactile input//. Use your creativity, get plenty of towels, and have fun filling these tables with sand, rice, shaving cream, water, or any textured substance you can think of. Of course, put little toys in as well to encourage exploration.
 * 3. Sand And Water Play:**

For this and more information about things to do at home with your child please visit: [|http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com]

= = = = = Advice for Dealing with Picky Eaters = For more information about these tips and parent blogs visit: []
 *  Allow your fussy eaters to explore and play with their food. This will allow him to experience different textures through the tactile system which will ultimately help. Due to their oral hypersensitivity, they will feel "safer" exploring textures with their hands first, rather than their mouths. It is much less threatening and will lead to a better overall response.
 * Grind up "real" foods; as many of the foods the family is eating as possible! This way, they may tolerate the texture better and begin getting used to the tastes. You can also add their favorite condiment to the ground up food to make it more palatable and "smoother".
 * Use a "Fresh Food Feeder" to help your child try new flavors or to introduce regular whole foods, without the risk of choking.
 * Once you find a particularly successful food, try introducing similar foods. For example, if your child likes a particular brand of frozen pizza, then try; other brands, other toppings on the preferred brand, another "style" (i.e., thin crust, French bread, stuffed crust etc.), or try a variety of homemade pizzas using different "crusts" (i.e., frozen bread dough, pre-made pizza crusts, refrigerated crusts, English muffins, bagels, or pita bread).
 *  Try providing distractions while they are eating such as conversations, favorite stories, poems, pictures, songs, relaxing music, a toy he can hold or squeeze, or anything you can think of... just try it and see what works. Or "bribe" him with these things... he can only get or do something after he takes a bite, chews it, or swallows it etc. (making it realistic to where he is at, only the NEXT logical step)
 * Set up a reward system. use tokens, stickers, pennies, etc. and reward your child for trying a new food (even if he gags or can not eat more than one bite). He can then trade them in for a new toy, or any kind of reward you set up. (For example, my daughter was so bad, we set up a reward system of a new bike after she added 10 new foods to her repertoire). Find a reward system which works for both you and your child that will encourage him to try new foods, tastes, and textures. Once you find a food, get him to eat more of it and begin gradually adding it to his usual repertoire.
 * Give your child as much control as possible... give him a choice of two new foods to try. Let him know he only needs to eat one bite to see if he likes it. Praise him for trying, even if it doesn't "stay down". Do this FIRST, then he can have his preferred meal. (It is important you do it first while he is most hungry and while there is less food in his stomach in case he gags). Find out the best time of day for YOUR child to try something new... breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner. When is he most agreeable, hungry, willing, awake, etc.
 *  Pay attention to textures! fussy eaters with oral defensiveness are infamous for only being able to tolerate one or two food textures or temperatures. Make sure you try to introduce new foods to ultimately include: hot, cold, and neutral temperatures for food and drinks, pureed food, smooth, chunky, hard, soft, crunchy, "slippery", sticky, and mixed textures. If there is NO wheat allergy, you can increase and change textures by adding a 1/4 tsp. of wheat germ per 4 oz. of pureed food. If tolerated, for a few days, add another 1/4 tsp. to the same amount. If NOT tolerated (gagging, choking), wait a few days or week and try again.
 * When brushing his teeth, brush tongue and cheeks with just water then brush teeth normally. Use regular or vibrating toothbrushes. Vibration is best if they will tolerate it
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> If an infant or toddler, use vibrating and/or textured teething rings and toys
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Give your picky eaters free reign of the condiments... whatever it takes to get them to eat it! (i.e., ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, salad dressing, spaghetti sauce, barbecue sauce, salt, pepper, creamy soups, gravy, etc.) Eventually you can begin fading out the condiments, using less and less, each time as he begins to get used to the food.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Praise, Praise, Praise... positive reinforcement! No punishment!. If they did more than the time before they have accomplished something. If they played with it, smelled it, licked it, tasted it, chewed it and spit it out, or actually swallowed it (with or without gagging), then praise them for what they did do, do not punish them for what they didn't do.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Give your picky eaters 1/2 of a freeze pop or popsicle before they try a new food. The cold will help "numb" and desensitize their mouth.