Movement & Mindfulness 103

Skills for Healthier Kids

Leah Kalish, MA: leah@move-withme.com
www.move-with-me.com
818-667-3689
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TEAM
Leah Kalish, MA, a recognized expert in movement, yoga, and socialemotional education, has created many successful products/curricula for
companies, such as Barefoot Books, Yoga Ed. and School Specialty. She
founded Move with Me to support young children in being physically
fit, emotionally stable and learning able.

Wendy Piret, BS, is a Developmental Movement Education Specialist

with years of experience teaching children. She is a licensed Brain
Gym Instructor, a certified Yoga Ed. Instructor, and a craniosacral
practitioner specializing in pediatrics. With her collaborator, Liz Bragdon,
she is the co-creator of the Movement & Mindfulness Curriculum and the
instructor in the Scooter & Me movement adventure series.

Liz Bragdon, MA, is a certified Yoga Teacher and veteran early

childhood educator. She leads assemblies for Young Audiences and
teaches at schools, libraries, gyms, and studios. With her good friend,
Wendy Piret, she is co-creator of the Movement & Mindfulness
Curriculum, and the writer of the Scooter & Me movement adventure
series.
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Objectives
Learn last 4 Adventure Skills. Review all and
how to integrate them as part of school/home
culture.
Understand the Triune Brains 3 states of
mind and how to help children integrate them
to support SEL.
March of Penguins
3 Brain Games

Understand the impact of technology on brain

development and how to balance negative
affects.
Understand the profound benefits of nature
and outdoor play on development and selfregulation.

Movement and play grow brain cells by boosting BDNF (Brain

Derived Neurotrophic Factor). They also stimulate other positive
physiological responses shown to regulate and integrate the CNS.
Research shows definitely that the more we move, the stronger,
smarter, more aware, in control, and able to learn we become.
Why?:
Build strength, coordination, balance and fitness
Organize and connect both sides of the brain for optimal learning
Improve focus, concentration, and memory
Maintain a healthy body, heart, mind, and weight
Feel confident and alert (Self-Regulation)
Develop self-awareness (Mindfulness / EF)
Have fun with friends (SEL)
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Play Through the Day

Everyone should play/exercise for 60 - 90 minutes
every day!
Play outside instead of watching TV or playing video games.
Take Yoga, Game, or Movement to Music breaks every 30-60
min.
Use Adventure Skills with chants and rhythmic movement.
Use Books to inspire Creative Movement act out the story.
Organize Games, Sports or Obstacle Courses at recess time
Resources:
Move with Me
Kelly Bear
The Learning Station
SPARK
Angelique Felix Nature.org
Action for Healthy Kids ChildrenandNature.org

Releases stress and tension from the body, especially in your

back, legs, shoulders, and neck. Use it after youve been
focusing or sitting and feel tight, tired, or irritable.
Kitty cat, kitty cat furry and black - Meow, meow.
Kitty cat, kitty cat arches her back.
Kitty cat, kitty cat when shes afraid,
Kitty cat, kitty cat pushes away (round back)
Kitty cat, kitty cat watch out now
Here come Dog to chase you down! (downward dog pose)

Helps you turn a frown

upside down and a
disappointment into a
bright idea!
Try it when you hear bad or
sad news, are disappointed
or discouraged, feel down or
defeated.

When I feel - Oh No!!

I hold my forehead,
Massage my brow,
Breathe in deeply
I know how...
I breathe out slowly
I let my fears sink
I feel my heart clear
bump-bump, bump-bump,
Then, I think - Ah Yes!!
I know what to say...
Its going to be a wonderful
day
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Fish Breath is a silly way to use deep breathing to relax your brain
and recharge your body. Use it when you need to blow off steam
or when you feel tired or foggy and want to clear your mind.
One fin on my belly, I let it rest
The other fin, I bring up to my chest,
I need to do something; I feel like goop!
So, I breathe in deep and
Bloop, bloop, bloooooooooooooooooooop!
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Regulation Integration
To improve health, behavior, & learning, SR /
mindfulness must become part of the culture:
Regularity schedule time to practice daily
Repetition builds neural pathways = habit
Reflection noticing sensations is essential to
strengthening new neural pathways
Personalization support kids in becoming
prescriptive with techniques/skills for
themselves
Include Family share with parents/ caregivers to use at home

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Drop Off

Offer Water
Humming Breath/Ocean
Wisdom
Oh No! Ah Yes!
Deep Down Wisdom

Ability to think, learn, calm and interact

Center, relax body, calm mind
Attention, focus and awareness
Invites calm, dissipates fear and anger,
promotes focus

Transition to Circle

Monkey Wisdom
Infinity 8s
Oh No! Ah Yes!
Deep Down Wisdom

Whole brain learning, gross and fine motor

skills
Eye-teaming, binocular vision, stress relief
Attention, focus and awareness
Invites calm, dissipates fear and anger,
promotes focus

Transition to Active Time

Monkey Wisdom Variations

Full Sensing Mode/Elephant
Wisdom
Full Scanning Mode

Whole brain learning, gross and fine motor

skills
Relaxation, auditory clarity, balance
Center, relax body, calm mind

Transition to Clean-up

Humming Breath/Ocean
Wisdom
Full Sensing Mode/Elephant
Wisdom
Full Scanning Mode

Center, relax body, calm mind

Relaxation, auditory clarity, balance
Center, relax body, calm mind

Transition to Quiet Time

Drink Water
Humming Breath/Ocean
Wisdom
Deep Down Wisdom
Breathe/Fish Breath

Ability to think, learn, calm and interact

Center, relax body, calm mind
Invites calm, dissipates fear and anger,
promotes focus
Intentional conscious self-regulation, calm

Academic/Detail Work

Monkey Wisdom
Infinity 8s
Rock the Boat

Whole brain learning, gross and fine motor

skills
Eye-teaming, binocular vision, stress relief
Relaxation, attentiveness, memory

Conflict

Rock the Boat

Humming Breath/Ocean
Wisdom
Cat Wisdom
Deep Down Wisdom

Relaxation, attentiveness, memory

Center, relax body, calm mind
Stress relief, relaxation of the Tendon Guard
Reflex
Invites calm, dissipates fear and anger,
promotes focus

TIME TO PLAY MORE, STRESS LESS

ADVENTURE SKILLS

Drop Off

Offer Water
Humming Breath/Ocean Wisdom
Oh No! Ah Yes!
Deep Down Wisdom

Transition to Circle

Monkey Wisdom
Infinity 8s
Oh No! Ah Yes!
Deep Down Wisdom

Transition to Active Time

Monkey Wisdom Variations

Full Sensing Mode/Elephant Wisdom
Full Scanning Mode

Transition to Clean-up

Humming Breath/Ocean Wisdom

Full Sensing Mode/Elephant Wisdom
Full Scanning Mode

Transition to Quiet Time

Drink Water
Humming Breath/Ocean Wisdom
Deep Down Wisdom
Breathe/Fish Breath

Academic/Detail Work

Monkey Wisdom
Infinity 8s
Rock the Boat

Conflict

Rock the Boat

Humming Breath/Ocean Wisdom
Cat Wisdom
Deep Down Wisdom

Emotionally Triggered

Drink Water
Fish Breath
Humming Breath/Ocean Wisdom
Breathe/Fish Breath

Confusion

Monkey Wisdom
Full Sensing Mode/Elephant Wisdom

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SelfCare Messages

I am valued and cared for.

My well-being is important.
I can help myself feel well.
When I feel well, I can do well.
I can ground, soothe, shift, and focus
myself.
I am full of love, health, and intelligence.
I respect & support others as I do myself.
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Triune Brain Theory

-Professor Paul D. McLean

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3 States of Mind &

3 Stages of Development
Brain Stem: Body, Senses, Instincts,
Automatic, Reflexes, Non-verbal - Survival
Mid-Brain: Heart, Emotions, Relationship,
Memory, Morality - Connections
NeoCortex: Reason, Reflect, Communicate,
Plan, Create - Executive Functions

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Brain Integration
Vertically
Physical & Emotional Safety (brain stem) AND
Connection & Understanding (mid-brain) unlock
the door to higher thinking.
Clear, Consistent Rules & Boundaries - Safe
Accurate, Compassionate Mirroring - Seen
Support, Consequences, Nurturing - Supported
Movement, Play, Senses, Self-Care Stimulated
Reflection & Acknowledgement Strengthened

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Brain Hemispheres
Right Brain: Holistic, Non-Verbal, Emotional,
Intuitive, Imaginative Empathy &
Creativity
Left Brain: Linear, Literal, Linguistic, Logical
Analysis & Execution

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Brain Integration
Horizontally
Young Children are Right Brain dominant.
They do well with non-verbal, emotional
safety, and physical & sensory activities. They
are responding mostly to your state &
coherence.
Fuel childrens Left Brain development with
pretend play, story-telling, motor skills, selfregulation activities, reflection, problemsolving, and games that develop selfawareness, cooperation, & social and
emotional intelligence.

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Impact of Stress
Stress blocks access to Brain
Integration & Executive Functions:
Dehydration
Poor nutrition
Inability to self-soothe or regulate
Developmentally inappropriate
activities / expectations
Your stress
Stress makes us stupid. Daniel
Goleman
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Ways To Access
Executive Function
Decrease Stress
Use Embodied Self-Care and Regulation
as needed
Increase Music, Play, & Games
Integrate Intentional Movement (Yoga,
Karate, Thai Chi, Breathing) before
transitioning to an academic activity
Use Books for Movement Stories
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Stories in Motion
Purpose: To inspire early literacy,movement,
creativity, and a love of learning. To integrate selfcare/self-regulation skills with characters from the
story. Reading supports a wide range of positive
outcomes, from phonological awareness to social
emotional learning and self-awareness.
Materials: The recommended lesson book or a book of
your choice

Standards: PDH, SED, ATL, LD, LKS, CAE, SSKS, ELD

Procedure: Read each book at least twice in the

course of the week
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Stories in Motion
Book Suggestions

Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Eric Carle

Panda Bear, Panda Bear by Eric Carle
The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle
The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
My Daddy is a Pretzel by Baron Baptiste
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice
Sendak
When Sophie Gets Angry by Molly Bang
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Brain Games
Children are better able to identify, manage,
and sustain their own well-being, emotions,
and impulses when they have:
Basic info on brain - body health
Basic understanding of the Triune Brain
Kinesthetic experience of the 3 States of Mind

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Power of Hydration
Purpose: To reinforce the principle that water is the
most easily accessed and frequently needed
Adventure Skill, to demonstrate that water is a
powerful conductor of electricity and that the human
body, consisting of between 65%-75% water, needs
to remain well-hydrated in orderto deliver its
millions of electrochemical messages.
Materials: Dehydrated green plant, energy ball*, cup of
water
Standards Addressed: AtL, LR, LD, SKS, PHD

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* Energy Balls are available at most educational supply stores including

March of the Penguins

A Musical Bus Tour of the Brain
*music by Eve Kodiak

Brain Area - Dimension

Neocortex

- Communication (Laterality)
Robots
Shoulders/Neck

Limbic

- Coordination (Centering)
Swimmers
Chest/Stomach

Reptilian

- Focus (Verticality)
Penguins
Back/Calves
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Movements
Penguin

Swimmer

Robot

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Bus Tour of Brain

First Stop waddle, exploring in dark look
down/lean forward (over-focus) then look
up/lean back (under-focus) Find center
Second Stop swim, flow slow, figure 8
bump into each other expand up sink
down calm and make room for everyone.
Third Stop robots walk forward / backward,
arms up/out - down/together. Rock/lean left
rock/lean right find middle.
Script & Music @ move-with-me.com/march-ofthe-penguins

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State of Mind Game

Purpose: To understand the
three different levels of
cognition or States of Mind,
to develop the ability to
intentionally self-regulate by
shifting our state of mind.
Materials: 4 large dice,
sidewalk chalk

Standards Addressed:
PDH, SED, AtL, LR, LD, LKS,
MKS, SKS, CAE, ELD
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Our survival brain is activated

by stress!
Hold fists, act mean, ready to
fight or flee. Call JUMP up &
Down! (wait 2-3 seconds) then
FREEZE!
Repeat
2-3
times.of
Our mid-brain
-the
ocean
emotion!
Im calm. I can feel & manage my
feelings. (Kids act out emotions)
Sad - Excited Confused Tired
Scared Happy Frustrated
Our cortex
Guilty
- Lovingthinking brain, where we plan,
communicate, and take action. We feel
confident, courageous, determined.
Introduce yourself to each other and shake hands
Hug a friend, or two, and tell them what you had for
breakfast
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Skip and pat your head

Pass the Message

Purpose: To demonstrate that learning new tasks is easier
and faster with repetition, to show, kinesthetically, how the
brain prunes what isnt used, in order to become more
efficient and strengthen what is being used, to develop
higher level thinking such as: cooperation, teamwork, and
decision making.

Materials: Paper, timer

(Best with big group)
Standards Addressed: PDH, SED, AtL, LR, LKS, MKS, SKS,
ELD

Brain Game Directions @ move-with-me.com/3-brain-games

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Benefits of Games

(PDH, SED, AtL, LR, LD, CAE)

Promotes creative problem solving - apply to conflicts.
Facilitates better language skills and communication.
Improves memory and learning apply thru-out the day.
Builds focus, attention, and sustained concentration.
Develops impulse control I can contain & re-direct my self!
Strengthens balance & coordination = builds brain &
confidence
Regulates body weight = well-being
Calms, sooths, integrate CNS = natural self-regulation
Reduces stress and anxiety

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Technology

Inundating
Distracting
Speeds up and stresses NS - decreases EF
Decreases time in human interaction
Decreases active & imaginative play time
Decreases self-awareness, mindfulness
Develops specific skills and kind of thinking

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Balance is Key
Video Games, like stories and any other activity
you repeat, are Teachers we must use
wisely.
Make sure children get plenty of human
closeness, Nature, healthy play, food, sleep.
Planning ahead.
Yoga, mindfulness, sensory activities shown to
increase memory and inhibitory control (EF).
Activities that involve caring, collaboration,
connection, and empathy, so children develop
attunement, peacefulness, the ability to selfregulate, and their own creative expression. 35

Power of Nature
The GREAT REGULATOR more time in
nature means healthier, happier kids!
Boosts immune system, mood, mental health
Reduces stress, asthma, myopia, depression,
anxiety, Vit D deficiency, and obesity
Increases fitness, creativity, confidence,
focus, self-regulation (EF)
For Health green activities/environments
are a necessary balance to modern life
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Research Highlights
Decrease off-task behavior in preschool age children (Dr.
Jennifer Dustow, Autism Project, 2009)
Improve creative problem solving, language skills, and memory
(Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., The Cognitive Benefits of Play: Effects on
the Learning Brain, 2008)

Increases attention span and ability to ignore distractions and

concentrate effectively
Enhances behavioral regulation, metacognition, and overall
global executive function (Flook, Smalley, Kitil, Galla, KaiserGreenland, Locke, Ishijima, Kasari, 2010, Napoli, Krech, & Holley,
2005)
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Over-rides the bodys physiological response to stress

Stimulates the release of BDNF, which grows the brain (Ratey,

2008)

Improves the cognitive control of attention

Enhances academic performance (Hillman, CH, Pontifex, MB, Raine,

LB, Castelli, DM, Hall, EE, Kramer, AF, 2009)

Focus attention and engage participant in an empathic response,

creating a significant physiological effect on the body and on
behavioral choices. (Paul Zak, 2013)
Activate episodic memory and light up the whole brain for learning
(Dr. John Medina, Brain Rules, 2010)
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Unifies and integrates mind/body experience (Journal of Cognitive and

Behavioral Practice 2009)
Organizes whole-brain function for optimal learning (Dennison and
Hannaford, 1999)
Improves executive functions (Science 2011)
Concentrates BDNF in the hippocampus, enhances long term memory
retention (Ratey, 2008)

Nature
ChildrenandNature.org
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Bibliography
Teaching to the Brains Natural Learning Systems,
Barbara K. Given
You Can Heal Your Child, The 60 Seconds Fix,
Brain Charge - K-12 Curriculum, Dr. Regalena
Melrose
The Whole Brain Child, MindSight, Dr. Dan Siegel
The Mindful Child, Susan Kaiser Greenland
Movement & Mindfulness Curriculum, Wendy
Piret, Liz Bragdon, Leah Kalish
Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman
Molecules of Emotion, Candace Pert
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