Physical fitness is a current trend with fitness clubs opening every month. The phrase "if you don’t use it, you lose it" is true of the brain as well as the muscles. What if the brain could be exercised just like the physical body?
The Brain is all About the Neurons
Nerve cells in the brain are called neurons. The neurons are connected by synapses that transport information from one neuron to another in a chain effect. With age, the synapses begin to fire slower resulting in some cells dying. This results in the brain actually shrinking over time. The good news is that this is not inevitable and can be reversed.
In 1999 Drs. Katz and Rubin created a new understanding of brain function and coined it as "neurobics." This term is similar to "aerobics" used to exercise the body and is a series of brain exercises. Neurobics increases the range of mental motion by activating different parts of the brain. But recent studies show that neurobics not only keep the brain sharp but may actually reverse memory loss and improve mental agility.
Brain Development of Infants and Toddlers
Crawling is more than merely getting around for a toddler. Activity, interaction and movement are like food for an infant’s brain and help the brain develop. While some parents take great delight in their children skipping the crawling stage and going directly to walking, crawling is crucial for brain development and should not be skipped. In fact, some children with learning disabilities are treated later in life with crawling exercises. Skipping the crawling stage may result in reading, writing and comprehension problems when children enter school.
Crawling requires the movement of the right arm with the left leg and vice versa. This "cross-crawling" exercise activates nerve cells of the brain and stimulates them to create synapses between the left and right side of the brain. Therefore, crawling stimulates brain growth. While small children are physically able to crawl to toys they want to play with, they are also stimulating brain growth. Brain Gym operates on the same concept.
The Brains of Elementary Children and Pre-Adolescents
Brain games are very beneficial for elementary children. The matching memory games that have been around forever do have benefits. Puzzles, card games and riddles are equally as valuable as matching games. These may seem like simple exercises, but the brain benefits from them. Physical exercises involving crossing the left side of the body over the right side ( Brain Gym) have the same effect as crawling and should be incorporated into the school day. Best times would be immediately after transitions.
Dr. Claudia Anrig states, "Recent studies have found that today’s youth are struggling with cognitive thinking due to a lack of physical activities and games. Not referring to dominant-sided organized sports such as baseball or football, but instead to games like dodgeball and tag. These games demand the use of binocular vision beyond arm’s length and require the child to involve three-dimensional space." [1]
Games That Children Enjoy and Stimulate the Brain
Sudoku, a popular puzzle math game, is a perfect brain game since it requires deciphering, discerning and decoding while being challenged. Crosswords and jigsaw puzzles also challenge the brain. Teens respond to challenges. Asking what a needle, hurricane and a potato have in common is an example. The answer is they all have eyes. What about video games? Nintendo, DS and Wii have brain friendly games available:
- Big Brain Academy
- Brain Age
- Brain Age 2
- Ultimate Brain Age
- Master Jin Jin’s IQ Challenge
- Big Brain Academy
- Margot’s Word Brain
- Brain Challenge
These games will fascinate children and challenge them with higher order trivia questions. Other games that increase dendrites to form are chess, checkers, and card games. Any game that requires strategizing of the brain will be an excellent workout.
Brain Exercises for Seniors
Retirement often reduces brain challenges. A 50 year old brain could begin to degenerate. How can seniors stimulate their brains? Dr. Claudia Anrig suggests neurobics in addition to daily activities.
- wearing a watch on the opposite hand
- crossward puzzles
- jigsaw puzzles
- Sudoku
- reading newspapers
- brushing teeth with the opposite hand
- wearing a blindfold at home for an hour
"These activities stimulate the brain causing it to do mundane activities differently." [1]
Incorporating these games and exercises into family or classroom time may seem like play but, in reality, it will stimulate the brain.
Barbara Pytel - Email me Experience Although I was never particularly fond of going to school as an ELL student, I ironically became a teacher, ...
