10 Best Brain Gym Exercises for Kids and It’s Benefits by Pediatric Doctor in Ahmedabad

 Brain exercise is much like physical exercise that strengthens muscles, brain exercises stimulate brain activities including various basic tasks actions. These exercises involve movements that target different parts of the body including ears, eyes, head, limbs and overall body coordination. Brain gym exercises for kids are an excellent way of developing cognitive and intellectual skills as well as enhancing their mental agility. Engaging in these exercises may potentially improve a child’s overall growth, development, and make them smarter, although the extent of these benefits can vary from child to child.  Moreover, these exercises provide a platform to enhance cognitive skills, improve brain function, and explore different learning strategies. Over time, engaging these exercises may lead to children becoming brighter, sharper, and more confident compared to their peers. As a pediatric doctor in Ahmedabad, I have witnessed the positive impact of these exercises on children’s development firsthand. Here in this article, we will explore brain gym exercises and its benefits. Let’s take a look.

10 Best Gym Exercises For Kids And It’s Benefits By Pediatric Doctor In Ahmedabad:

1. Cross Crawls:

This physical game is highly beneficial for early brain development, helping children release their stress and improve concentration on academics. In this game, children move their left arm to touch the right leg then switch sides. This movement integrates the left and right hemispheres of the brain, leading to improved coordinations and cognitive function. 

2. Earth Buttons: 

Have your child either stand or comfortably sit down and place their right hand on the lips and the palm of the left hand on their navel. Then, have them rub their both hands in small circular motions in these regions. This activity improves your child’s mental alertness and enhances their whole-body orientations.

3. Hook-ups: 

For this exercise, ask your child to stand uo, sit down or lie down. Let your child cross their left ankle above the right one and then place their hands with fingers intertwined on the chest and breathe deeply.  This helps your child’s mind and body relax and reduce stress.

4. Lazy Eights: 

This is an interesting mental exercise where the child draws a figure eight multiple times,either in an imaginary way in the air or on paper. This exercise stimulates the child’s creativity and loosens the muscles of their wrists and arms. This is yet another physical exercise that is specifically improving in reading speed, eye-muscle coordination, and peripheral vision. This exercise acts as a neuro-physical stimulator for the child’s brain. While it seems like a fun and simple activity. It has many significant effects on  the child’s brain development process.

5. Calf Pumps: 

To perform the calf pump exercise, a child stands with the support of a wall or chair, putting one leg behind and leaning forward with a bent knee. As they shift their weight to the front leg, the heel of the back leg goes up, and when the weight shifts back, the heel is pressed to the floor. The child breathes out during this, repeating the exercise three times.

This exercise activates the brain for back-front integration, which can enhance speech and language skills in children. Additionally, calf pump exercise helps maintain the natural length of tendons in the feet and lower legs, which may shrink during times of fear.

6. The Thinking Cap:

Encourage your child to hold both the ears with their thumbs and index the fingers and gently roll and unroll the outer edge of the ear. Thinking cap helps to improve hearing, peripheral vision, and short-term memory. 

7. The Gravitational Glider: 

While your child sits straight on a chair, stretch their legs, and cross the right leg over the left at the ankles. Taking a deep breath, he should lean forward and stretch his arm to reach his feet. The gravitational glider stretches your child’s hamstrings and enhances blood and oxygen flow. It also boosts your child’s self-expression, confidence and stability.

8. The Elephant:

Encourage your child to stretch their hands and place it next to their ear on the same side. Then, have them draw the sign of infinity with their extended hand for at least 3 times and repeat with the other hand too. This exercise improves your child’s mind-body balance and also helps them listen to words correctly.

9. The Owl:

Let your child sit comfortably and bring one hand to the opposite shoulder. Instruct them to hold the hand steady and slightly pinch the shoulder near the trapezius muscles. Then, have them turn their head slowly towards the shoulder and take a deep breath. This exercise improves blood circulation and improves the memory and attention of your child.

10. Double Doodle: 

This is a bilateral drawing exercise involving your child drawing two images with both hands. This activity helps improve various skills like learning spelling accuracy , writing and recognition of symbols, and calculations, etc.

Benefits Of Brain Gym Exercises For Kids By Pediatric Doctor In Ahmedabad:

• Improved Focus and attention span.
• Enhanced memory and learning abilities.
• Better coordination and balance.
• Reduced stress and anxiety.
• Enhanced creativity and problem-solving skills.
• Improved mood and behaviour.

Conclusion:

Incorporating brain gym exercises into a child’s daily routine can offer numerous benefits for their cognitive and physical development. Recommended by the pediatric doctor in Ahmedabad that these exercises for children to reach their full potential and lead healthier lives.