#CodingLabParenting: Get Fit in 5 Minutes A Day! - Break Ideas for Fun and Wellness
We know that taking care of the little ones while working from home can be reaaaal hectic - we've been there too. Hang in there, mums and dads! 💪 We've got your back with these quick and fun wellness activities that you can rope your kids in to do together.
I'm sure as parents we know that taking breaks has many benefits. That's why our classes have always had breaks (and will continue to have them), whether they are physical or online classes. We want our students to rest their eyes and get that extra brain boost to be the best coder that they can be!
So, we thought we would share with you the wellness activities that the Coding Lab Team encourages our students to do during breaks. We have even included the recommended age groups so that you can choose the right one. Our suggestion? Perhaps one video a day with your children (and family) so that they can remember it in the long run!
1. Eye Workouts
We only have one pair of eyes to see the world around us. Pamper it with a little massage or simply relax it gently with these videos that we have compiled for you. Maintain optimal eye health with these easy eye exercises!
Bond with your tiny tots when you perform this simple eye massage to a catchy song together. Massage the face to relieve tension quickly and easily.
Recommended for: Ages 4 to 6 (Accompanied by parents)
Squeeze your eyes tight and then open wide! This soothes your eyes and facial muscles while you inhale and exhale deeply. It’s easy, effective and energising.
Recommended for: Ages 4 to 9
Need a quick screen break? Soothe your optic nerves and relax your eyes in less than 2 minutes. All you need are your palms, then you are good to go!
Recommended for: Ages 7 and above
Want more ideas on other eye exercises that you can do? Check out this 2-minute video that introduces 8 simple eye exercises you can do anywhere.
Recommended for: Ages 10 and above
These exercises aim to soothe your optic nerves and relax your eyes. This way, you can strengthen your eye muscles, increase your focus, ease eye movements, and stimulate your brain's vision centre. Feeling creative? You can even design an eye workout with your favourite eye exercises.
2. Deskercise
Did you know that 'deskercise' (desk exercise) is a thing? All you need is a desk and chair for these moves. This is useful even if you are in the office or classroom – just do not start busting these moves while you are eating at the dining table! If you are feeling stiff, these two-minute workouts feature exercises that can all be done without leaving your chair.
Grab a chair and get moving with arm rolls and leg in-and-outs!
Ready for more deskercise? We have twists and knee lifts!
That very chair you are sitting on has some versatile functions. Try some 'deskercise' as the catchy music and bright colours encourage you to move along! There’s nothing like some quick yet effective movements to get active and loosen those tense muscles after sitting for a while.
Recommended for: Ages 4 to 9
Want something to add to your daily routine? Check out this 3-minute stretching plan that you can easily fit into your day!
Stretch your lower body with this 2-minute desk stretch, so you can feel your best.
Try out some 3-minute chair yoga stretches to relax your muscles and mind.
Feeling an ache in your neck and shoulders? Here are 3 quick stretches you can do to target those tight spots!
Stretch your neck, back and arm muscles without leaving your desk! These quick and easy tutorials of chair yoga stretches (yes, it’s an upgrade from the primary school version) relieve stiff, tight shoulders and neck at your desk. Instil good digital habits and get active during your short breaks!
Recommended for: Ages 10 and above
3. Look out of the window
It is no secret that our Parkway Parade campus boasts a great view of East Coast Park and the sea. It is where our students are naturally drawn to during their breaks, which works wonders for calming and relaxing their eyes. What are the sights and sounds around your home?
Play “I spy with my little eye” with this catchy song and challenge your child to spot things around them according to the alphabets.
Recommended for: Ages 4 to 7
Go through these simple exercises, naming the things that you see around you or outside of the window. It is a great way to spend your eye break!
Recommended for: Ages 8 and above
Look out of your window together to rest your eyes and absorb the lush greenery! Appreciate the nature around you and look far away, such as spotting planes and looking at different cloud shapes. This is great for the eyes, and it is also a therapeutic experience.
4. Take deep breaths
Breathe in… and breathe out. We have all heard these words. But how often do we practice them? Release the tension in those muscles with some deep breathing exercises!
Teach your little ones square breathing with some underwater friends. They will learn the handy technique and can visualise it when they need to relax.
Recommended for: Ages 4 to 9
Take a deep breath with one of the top mindfulness apps, Calm. They have a relaxing, 1-minute video as you go down the river. Got 3 minutes to spare instead?
Recommended for: Ages 10 and above
These videos impart deep breathing to help you relax and stay calm during times of stress, or even when feeling a little stiff. Oxygen helps to promote blood flow, flushing out the lactic acid that causes muscle soreness. You can also view this playlist of helpful short videos with picturesque views and guided breathing and meditation. Feel as good as new with some breathing exercises!
5. Replenish your energy with drinks and snacks
A boy sitting on a bean bag snacking
Our students snacking at our Parkway Parade campus.
Note: Masks were only removed when eating, and social distancing measures were in place.
We could all use a little perk-me-up at any time of the day. This is why we provide snacks to our students during breaks and encourage them to drink more water. Our Python Perfect students sometimes even bring their own tidbits to nibble on as they get in the zone and code on.
As the saying goes, “You are what you eat.” Choose the healthier options, such as the list of brain food we have compiled here. It is also as important that you drink plenty of water and stay hydrated throughout the day. As an added benefit, getting to your snacks and drinks can also help you to rack up more steps. Research has found that this can even improve your creativity!
We hope that you had fun doing these activities together with your family, taking productive and fun wellness breaks, and making great memories working from home and together with your family!
At Coding Lab, we do our best to instil these habits, which we hope will go a long way. If you see your children doing some exercises during their coding classes, don't be shy and join in the fun. Let’s all work together to achieve better physical and mental wellbeing!
GIF of our Young Computer Scientists doing some deskercise - with grandpa joining in the fun!
Our Young Computer Scientists doing some deskercise - with grandpa joining in the fun!
(Written by Amanda Soh and Edited by Cheryl Tang)