As we move through Term 4, our classrooms and playgrounds are buzzing with activity! Students have been busy taking part in swimming carnivals, excursions, transition days, and end-of-year assessments. With all this excitement and change, it’s natural for children to feel a little more tired, anxious or unsettled as the term progresses.

Movement continues to play a vital role in helping students stay calm, focused, and ready to learn. Physical activity supports strength, balance, and coordination while also boosting mood, attention, emotional regulation, and sleep quality. The Learning Connections Program provides simple, purposeful movement activities that help children reset, refocus, and build strong foundations for learning.

Here are a few calming and organising movement ideas you might like to try at home:

• Egg Rolls – Sit on the floor with legs crossed at the ankles, knees bent, and hands around knees. Rock slowly backwards and forwards, keeping eyes close to knees.
  
  
• Half Rolls – Cross arms over the chest, legs straight. Using flat hands to shoulder height, push gently to roll side to side.
  
  
• Standing Spinning – Stand up, touch a chair, then slowly spin in one direction. Stop when dizzy, hold the chair, breathe, then turn slowly the opposite way.
  
  
• Arm Extensions and Head Turning – Sit comfortably, turn head slowly side to side. When ready, extend one arm out to the side at shoulder height and focus eyes on the hand.
  
  
• Aeroplane – Lie on the tummy with arms out to the side and legs straight. Lift head, chest, arms, and legs off the floor, holding the position briefly before relaxing.
  
  
• Body Awareness Activities – Tapping, patting, rubbing, squeezing, or playing ‘Simon Says’ to music builds coordination and self-awareness.
  
  
• Marching – High knees and swinging arms are great for improving balance and rhythm while boosting energy and focus.

SWAP IT – Supporting Healthy Choices

The Learning Connections Program also recognises how nutrition and movement work hand in hand to support children’s wellbeing and learning. What children eat has a direct impact on their concentration, behaviour, and energy levels throughout the day.

I love sharing practical tools that make healthy choices easier for busy families. One fantastic resource is SWAP IT, a website designed to help families make simple food swaps for healthier lunchboxes. It offers great tips on reading food labels, choosing from the five food groups, and finding balanced snack ideas recommended by health professionals.

Check it out here: SWAP IT — small changes really do make a big difference!

Moving our Bodies, Boosting our Brains, Ready for Learning 

Mrs Deanna Guerra

Learning Connections Coach