Brain Gym for Focus & Learning: Movement Strategies That Make a Difference
How simple, intentional movement supports children across cultures and classrooms
Hello, Aya here—pediatric occupational therapist, third-culture kid, and founder of Koi Wellness.
One of the questions I often get from parents is,
“Why can’t my child just sit still and focus?”
Especially in academic environments that value quiet, desk-based learning, it can feel confusing or even frustrating when your child seems to need more movement—not less—in order to focus.
Movement is learning.
Why Movement Matters for the Brain
As an OT who specializes in sensory integration and school-based strategies, I’ve seen how even small, intentional movements can significantly support attention, memory, and self-regulation.
This is where Brain Gym® comes in—a set of simple movement-based activities designed to help the brain and body work together more efficiently. These exercises can look playful on the surface, but they’re rooted in powerful neurodevelopmental principles.
Developed by Dr. Paul Dennison and Gail Dennison, the Brain Gym program is based on the idea that learning is not only a mental activity, but a physical one too. Just as we train our muscles, we can also train our brains—and these movements offer a bridge between the two.
For kids who are navigating multiple languages, transitions across countries or classrooms, and sensory sensitivities, Brain Gym offers structure, rhythm, and safety in the body—all of which are essential for learning.
Want to explore official Brain Gym resources? You can find free guides and information at breakthroughsinternational.org/resources/the-brain-gym-resources.
What Is Brain Gym?
Brain Gym is a series of physical movements that stimulate both sides of the brain and support learning readiness. A few of my favorite go-to exercises include:
🧠 Cross Crawls
Touching opposite elbow to knee, which activates coordination and supports left-right brain communication.
🧍♂️ Puppet Marches
Gentle rhythmic movement of arms and legs to improve body awareness and regulation.
🤗 Give Yourself a Hug
A calming, proprioceptive technique that promotes self-soothing and grounding.
These are deceptively simple activities that can be used:
Before school or homework to “turn on” the brain
During transitions to reset focus
When a child is overstimulated and needs to self-regulate
For TCKs, Neurodivergent Kids, and Multilingual Families
If your child is navigating multiple languages, cultures, or expectations that feel like they’re constantly shifting—movement-based strategies like Brain Gym can be especially supportive.
Why?
Because movement helps the nervous system feel safe. And when children feel safe in their bodies, they’re better able to process information, access language, and connect socially.
This is something I understand both personally and professionally. As a third-culture kid myself, I remember the feeling of being in new schools, switching between languages, and trying to “hold it all together” quietly. I didn’t have words for it then, but what I needed wasn’t always more structure; sometimes I just needed more ways to reset and come back to my body.
How to Use Brain Gym at Home
If you’re wondering how to integrate movement into your child’s routine, start simple. Here are three ways I guide families:
Make It Part of the Routine
Try 1–2 Brain Gym exercises in the morning, after lunch, or before homework time.
Let Your Child Choose
Offer two options and let them pick. This gives them agency and helps build body awareness.
Keep It Light
Brain Gym doesn’t need to be perfect. Focus on connection and rhythm over precision.
These regulation strategies are invitations to slow down, reconnect, and give kids tools they can carry with them, whether they’re at school, home, or adjusting to a new cultural environment.
When to Ask for Support
If your child struggles with attention, regulation, or transitions—and especially if they’re also navigating cross-cultural or multilingual environments—it may be time to check in with someone who sees the whole picture.
That’s why I created Virtual Parent Consultations. These are private, 1:1 sessions where we explore your child’s challenges and walk through realistic, movement-based, and culturally sensitive strategies you can use right away.
You don’t need a diagnosis. You don’t need to wait for school to flag a concern.
✨ You just need a space to ask, “What’s really going on here—and how can I support my child in a way that makes sense for our family?”
📩 Learn more and book a session here, or email me at aya@koiwellness.org.
Final Thoughts
Movement is more than just a break from learning… it is learning. For cross-cultural, neurodivergent, or multilingual children, Brain Gym and other OT-informed strategies can offer an anchor: a way to feel present, capable, and connected in their bodies.
At Koi Wellness, my goal is to help parents and caregivers create environments where every child feels that way—not just in theory, but in everyday life.