Brain Gym: Movement That Matters – For Educators, Children & Families Alike

By Rachel Smith – The Educators Well

Have you ever noticed how children move before they speak? Long before they form words or write their names, they’re busy jumping, spinning, crawling, climbing, and rolling across the floor. These seemingly random movements are not just a way to burn energy—they're how young brains learn to process the world. Movement is the body’s first language. It's through these physical actions that neural pathways are built, sensory systems are integrated, and the brain starts to organise information for future learning.

What might look like “just play” is actually complex developmental work. Crawling strengthens cross-lateral coordination; spinning supports vestibular development; climbing builds spatial awareness and motor planning. These are all essential foundations for later skills like reading, writing, emotional regulation, and problem-solving.

One powerful tool that taps into this innate need for movement—while intentionally supporting brain development—is Brain Gym®. By using simple, structured movements designed to integrate body and brain functions, Brain Gym empowers children to focus, learn, and thrive in early childhood environments and beyond.

What is Brain Gym?

Brain Gym® is a program of 26 simple, intentional movements developed by Dr. Paul and Gail Dennison. Rooted in the science of educational kinesiology, Brain Gym was created to help children and adults alike improve how they learn, think, and respond to the world around them—through the power of purposeful movement.

The underlying belief behind Brain Gym is this: movement fuels learning. Long before a child picks up a pencil or reads a book, their body learns through movement. When we move—especially in ways that cross the midline of our body or involve rhythm and coordination—we're not just engaging muscles. We’re lighting up neural pathways and encouraging different areas of the brain to work together in harmony.

Brain Gym is particularly focused on supporting three key dimensions of learning:

Laterality – Left and Right Brain Integration

This is the ability to coordinate both sides of the body and brain. It’s essential for tasks like reading across a page, writing smoothly, or understanding cause and effect. Movements that cross the midline (like touching your right hand to your left knee) help strengthen communication between the two hemispheres of the brain, leading to improved logic, comprehension, and coordination.

Focus – Front and Back Brain Connection

This connection supports our ability to concentrate, process information, and stay present in the moment. The front of the brain is responsible for decision-making and planning, while the back processes sensory input. Brain Gym movements help integrate these functions, making it easier for children to stay alert, transition between tasks, and process what they’re experiencing without becoming overwhelmed.

Centreing – Top and Bottom Brain Integration

This area focuses on the connection between the emotional brain (lower brain) and the thinking brain (upper brain). It’s especially important for emotional regulation, impulse control, and managing stress or anxiety. Centreing movements help children feel calm, grounded, and in control—key skills for thriving in both group care settings and family life.

Together, these Brain Gym movements help improve:

• Concentration and memory

• Reading and writing fluency

• Listening and auditory processing

• Emotional balance and resilience

• Coordination and gross motor skills

• Overall learning readiness

Best of all, Brain Gym is fun, non-invasive, and inclusive. Children of all abilities and ages can engage in the activities—whether it's part of morning circle time, a transition strategy, or a calming bedtime routine at home.

Why Brain Gym Belongs in Family Day Care and Early Childhood Settings

Family Day Care and early childhood environments are uniquely positioned to embrace the natural power of movement-based learning—and Brain Gym® fits seamlessly into this framework. These settings are already built around principles of play, exploration, and responsive relationships, making them ideal places to implement intentional movement that supports children’s cognitive, emotional, and physical development.

In Family Day Care (FDC) in particular, the benefits are even more pronounced. With small group sizes, educators can easily observe and respond to each child’s developmental stage, sensory needs, and energy levels throughout the day. This personalised attention allows for Brain Gym movements to be woven organically into routines—whether it’s using cross-crawl activities during a morning welcome circle, calming techniques like the “hook-ups” movement before storytime, or energisers to reset focus after lunch.

Unlike more structured or time-restricted settings, FDC offers the flexibility to adapt the learning environment in real time. If a child is struggling to transition, having trouble concentrating, or feeling dysregulated, a few targeted Brain Gym movements can help them reset both emotionally and neurologically—without needing to “push through” discomfort or frustration. Over time, children begin to recognise these movements as tools they can use independently, empowering them to self-regulate and take ownership of their own learning.

In early childhood education settings more broadly, movement is already recognised as a fundamental part of learning. Brain Gym simply adds intention and structure to the types of movements children are naturally inclined to do, offering educators a research-informed way to support readiness for literacy, numeracy, and executive function skills—withoutsacrificing playfulness or joy.

By incorporating Brain Gym into everyday interactions—whether through music and movement, transitions, or quiet time—educators can enrich their program while also nurturing:

• Self-awareness and body confidence

• Peer collaboration through partner-based movements

• Language development through rhythmic patterns and repetition

• A strong sense of safety, grounding, and connection

Ultimately, Brain Gym aligns beautifully with the Early Years Learning Framework, particularly in supporting Outcomes 1 (Children have a strong sense of identity), 3 (Children have a strong sense of wellbeing), and 4 (Children are confident and involved learners).

How to Introduce Brain Gym in Your Day

One of the most beautiful things about Brain Gym® is how easy it is to integrate into daily routines—no special equipment, no extra setup, and no need to ‘add more’ to an already full day. Instead, Brain Gym becomes a natural part of how we support regulation, engagement, and learning through movement.

Here are some practical ways to gently weave Brain Gym into your everyday rhythm:

Morning Warm-Up

Starting the day with Brain Gym during group time or welcome routines helps children feel centred, calm, and ready to engage. This not only supports smoother transitions into care but also sets the tone for focus and learning.

• Cross Crawls: March in place while reaching the opposite hand to the opposite knee. This simple cross-lateral movement helps with coordination, body awareness, and left-right brain integration—perfect before a day of learning and play.

• Hook-Ups: Sit or stand with arms and legs gently crossed, interlock the fingers, and take deep, slow breaths. This movement promotes relaxation, reduces anxiety, and brings both hemispheres of the brain into balance.

• Brain Buttons: Use your fingers to gently rub just below the collarbone while placing the other hand over the navel. This activates the brain for learning and helps improve blood flow to the head.

Educator Tip: You might introduce a “Brain Gym Basket” with visual prompts, so children begin to choose the movements they need each morning.

Transitions and Emotional Regulation

Transitions can be tricky—especially when shifting from high-energy play to quieter times. Brain Gym offers gentle strategies to help children move through these moments with ease.

• The Owl: Children gently massage the muscles at the tops of their shoulders while slowly turning their heads side to side. This releases neck tension and supports auditory processing—ideal after outdoor play or before group listening.

• Positive Points: Lightly place fingertips on the forehead, just above each eyebrow. This helps release emotional stress, supports self-regulation, and promotes a feeling of safety and calm.

Educator Tip: Add a few Brain Gym movements into your rest-time wind-down or after big emotions—like returning from a noisy outing or conflict resolution.

Incorporate into Learning Experiences

Brain Gym doesn’t need to sit in isolation—it shines when connected to everyday learning.

• Lazy 8s: Children draw or trace a large number 8 on its side (∞), either on paper, in the air, or with their finger on a surface. This rhythmic, flowing movement supports hand-eye coordination, visual tracking, and fine motor control—ideal before writing, drawing, or cutting.

• Alphabet 8s: Take it large-scale! Draw sideways 8s outside with chalk or paint on large sheets and have children walk the shape while reciting letter names or sounds. It’s a powerful blend of gross motor movement, literacy, and fun!

Educator Tip: Pair Brain Gym with music and rhythm! Use songs that involve cross-lateral movements or adapt classic action songs (like “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”) to incorporate Brain Gym elements.

Make It Child-Led and Playful

The key to success with Brain Gym in early childhood settings is flexibility and fun. Rather than a rigid program, think of Brain Gym as a toolkit—a set of movements you can draw on throughout the day to support children’s wellbeing and learning.

Invite children to notice how the movements make them feel. Ask reflective questions like:

• “What movement helped your body feel calm?”

• “Which one made it easier to sit and listen?”

• “Do you want to show your friend the one you liked best?”

By empowering children to explore these movements independently, you’re building self-awareness, confidence, and essential lifelong regulation tools.

Extending Brain Gym into the Family Environment

One of the most valuable gifts we can offer families is simple, effective tools they can use to support their child’s wellbeing and development at home. Brain Gym® fits beautifully into busy family life—it’s quick, fun, and doesn’t require screens, special equipment, or a big time investment.

Many parents are seeking ways to help their children:

• Regulate emotions

• Settle at bedtime

• Focus on tasks like reading or homework

• Feel confident heading into their school day

Brain Gym provides playful, purposeful movements that can do just that—strengthening the home–care connection and creating a consistent support system around the child.

Encourage Families to Try:

• Cross Crawls before schoolA quick set of marching Cross Crawls before heading out the door can help children wake up, activate their brains, and prepare for learning. It's a great alternative to screen time in the morning!

• Hook-Ups during car rides or emotional momentsWhether it’s school refusal, sibling squabbles, or just a tough day, Hook-Ups can be done in the car, at the dinner table, or even during a meltdown. These movements support calming the nervous system and reconnecting the brain and body.

• Lazy 8s as a bedtime wind-downUsing a torch or finger to trace Lazy 8s on the wall or ceiling can become a calming nightly ritual. This rhythmic motion helps regulate breathing and prepares the brain for rest.

• Alphabet 8s or movement games on rainy daysOn days when kids are cooped up inside, large-scale movement activities like drawing Alphabet 8s on the floor or wall with chalk or painter’s tape provide both energy release and integrated learning.

Ways Educators Can Support Families:

• Send short videos or visual guidesInclude Brain Gym tips in your daily updates, newsletters, or family communication apps. A quick demo by you or the children can help parents understand how easy and enjoyable it is.

• Create take-home movement cardsThese could be laminated and kept on the fridge for families to pull out as needed. Include the name of the movement, a simple image, and what it supports (e.g. “Helps me feel calm before school”).

• Host a Family Brain Gym AfternoonInvite families in for a hands-on session. Let them join their children in a few Brain Gym activities, share the research behind them, and give them time to explore and ask questions. These sessions foster connection and confidence in supporting their child’s learning journey.

When we empower families with tools like Brain Gym, we’re not only supporting the child—we’re building bridges between home and care, enhancing wellbeing, and reinforcing the message that learning starts in the body and flourishes in connection.

Final Thoughts: Movement as a Gateway to Connection and Learning

As early childhood educators, we hold a deep responsibility—to nurture not only children’s academic potential, but their emotional resilience, social development, physical coordination, and sense of self. We know that learning doesn’t begin and end at a table with a pencil in hand. It starts in the body, in the joyful twirl of a dance, the steady beat of a march, or the calming rhythm of a breath.

Brain Gym® invites us to remember what we’ve always known: that movement is not a distraction from learning—it is the foundation of it.

By intentionally embedding simple Brain Gym movements into our day, we’re not only supporting literacy and numeracy readiness—we’re helping children feel settled, centred, and seen. We’re creating pathways in their brains for focus and connection, reducing anxiety, and honouring their need to move. And in doing so, we’re also reconnecting with our own sense of embodiment and presence.

In Family Day Care and other early childhood settings, we have the unique gift of flexibility. We can follow the child’s lead, adapt to their needs in real time, and truly individualise our approach. Brain Gym fits beautifully here—not as an add-on, but as an organic part of our rhythm, routines, and relationships.

In a world that increasingly asks children to sit still, stay quiet, and perform, Brain Gym offers a gentle rebellion—a reminder that real learning happens when children are free to move, to explore, to be.

Let’s embrace that freedom. Let’s model it with our own movements. Let’s share it—openly and intentionally—with our families, our communities, and ourselves.

Because when we honour the body, we unlock the brain.And when we connect through movement, we create space for lifelong learning.

Want to Learn More?

Ready to take the next step in bringing Brain Gym® into your everyday practice? Whether you’re just getting started or looking to deepen your understanding, The Educators Well is here to support you.

Follow us for:

• Downloadable visuals and posters to display in your service or share with families

• Quick-start Brain Gym routines perfect for morning group time, transitions, or calming moments

• Reflective tools and planning guides to help you integrate movement-based learning into your programming

• Ongoing professional development and training opportunities that empower you to implement Brain Gym with confidence and purpose

By weaving these practices into your day, you're not only enriching learning—you’re supporting wellbeing, self-regulation, and lifelong connection to movement and self-awareness.

Let’s get brains and bodies moving—because movement truly is the gateway to learning, connection, and joy.Join the movement. Follow The Educators Well and become part of a community passionate about child-led, brain-informed, heart-centered education.