26 Jan Rock around the Clock
by Kaelan O’Fallon (assisted by NFK team expert)A fun way for kids to play and work – movement and brain enrichment.
Young bodies need to move. Taking breaks for movement during school, homework, or chores keeps them focused on the task at hand.
The Pomodoro technique has been developed to maximize productivity. It involves working with focus for a period of time, followed by a dedicated break for a shorter time. The optimal time frame for an adult is a cycle of 52 minutes of work and a 17 minute break (many round this down to 50 minutes of work and a 10 minute break).
This technique can be applied for children as well. Given that they have shorter attention spans than adults, the time must be adjusted, and, of course, the technique must be made more fun!
The Nudge: use a simple wall clock to outline “Hero Time” and “Play Time”
-Remove the clock’s face from the covering
-Create sections alternating 15 minutes and 5 minutes
-The 15 minute sections are “Hero Time,” when kids can be a hero by doing their homework or “saving” their messy room. This premise keeps them not only focused but excited. Decorate these sections with one or more of your child’s favorite heroes
-The 5 minute sections are “Play Time,” when kids can step away from their work and do something fun and active. Taking these brain breaks keeps them from getting bored or burned out, and moving keeps them healthy and releases energy
-Highlight the minute hand (the hour hand won’t help much here)
-You can begin the cycle at the top of the hour, wind the clock so that the minute hand is at the top when it’s time to work, or decorate a kitchen timer instead
-Hang the clock in their room or homework area, and let Hero Time begin!