Brain Gym® is Edu-K’s movement program for enhancing the physical skills of learning in the areas of organisation, focus and communication was developed by Paul E Dennison PhD and Gail Dennison in the mid 1980s. Paul was an educator with a background in Applied Neuroscience and Gail was an artist and movement educator with a background in Montessori education and natural vision improvement.
There are 26 Brain Gym® movements that encourage the development of the following main areas of the human experience:
- the physical areas of learning – this term (for a concept unique to Edu-K) refers to the sensory motor mechanics behind each academic and cognitive skill.
- self-regulation – the self care initiative, and self-direction that are best learned through movement and social interaction.
- structured play – interactions with others or with objects in which a theme provides a creative context.
- symbolic thinking – mental processing in which, by mastery of the coding words and images, concrete physical experience is represented
- aesthetic appreciation – the perception of beauty and other sensory-emotional values experienced in such areas as nature, fine arts, and coordinated movement.
With these backgrounds, it is easy to imagine how Paul and Gail created these movements together to enhance learning and personal development. The movements support
Only licensed Brain Gym® facilitators can teach these 26 movements to parents and educators and use them in their work.
Caroline is a licensed Brain Gym® facilitator and uses these movements in her own daily practice, with her clients, offers workshops and the full 26 Movements ‘Teacher’s Edition’ Course.
If you would like to learn more about Brain Gym® and how it may enhance the learning of your child or the children you teach or your own, please contact Caroline
Reference: Dennison, Paul.E., & Gail E. 2010. Brain Gym® Teacher’s Edition. United States:Hearts at Play Inc., California.