Young children are in a natural state of learning - totally responsive to their immediate and care giving surroundings. They take in a huge amount of information and transform it into speech and language very quickly. Young brains are open and responsive. Most people develop the use one side of their brain more than the other. In order to maximise their learning, children need to learn to use both sides of their brain to the full. Brain Gym activities (or Kinestheology) provides a series of exercises/activities that can help this process. The activities can also help children with dispraxic tendencies and some learning difficulties. You can find out more from:

• Educational Kinestheology (UK) Foundation,
  12 Golders Rise, Hendon, London, NW4 2HR
  Tel: 0181 202 3141
  E-mail: ekukf@mccarrol.dircon.co.uk
• 'Brain Gym' by Paul & Gail Dennison
• 'Smart Moves' & 'The Dominance Factor' by Carla Hanniford
• 'Making the Brain Body Connection' by Sharon Promislow
• ...and many more...

To optimise their learning, children will sometimes start the day with PACE:

Positive - centre the energy

Active - get the left & right sides of the brain working

Clear - clear the mind

Energetic - rehydrate the body and brain

1. a drink of water, sipped, not guzzled

2. wake up the system with 'Brain Buttons', gently massaging the accupressure points just below the collarbone

3. stimulate the receptive and expressive regions with 'Cross Crawl' - touch left knee with right hand and vice versa, slowly several times

4. make ready for learning with 'Cooks Hook-Ups' - follow the pictures in the 'Brain Gym' book!!

To improve co-ordination and hand control/hand writing our Reception and Year 1 children find the 'Lazy 8's' and 'Lazy 8 alphabet' invaluable. For children having particular difficulty, 'Lazy 8's' done with a large felt tip on a huge white board works wonders.