Brain Breaks are short activities, often only 1-3 minutes long, that help kids get ready to learn or refocus on the task at hand. They often involve physical activity and movement though relaxing activities can also boost mental brain power.
So, in addition to encouraging your kids to participate in these fun breaks, join the kiddos and have some refreshing, stress-free fun yourself, too!
Boom Snap Clap is a body percussion activity. It builds your coordination, gets you in rhythm, plus it’s a lot of fun. 😊
Supplies needed
Just yourself
Here’s what you do
The movements are simple.
- Start with a gentle tap on your chest – this is the boom!
- Then snap your fingers – snap.
- Now give one clap.
- The last movement will be to put your forefinger to your mouth and make a ‘shhh’ sound.
Now that you’ve got the movements, we’re going to do the actions to a rhythm.
Boom – snap – clap
Boom – boom –snap – clap – snap
Boom – snap – clap
Boom boom – snap – shh!
Easy peasy! Try going faster, alternating hands that do the boom and snap, or changing up the order of the actions.
Challenge Extensions:
For the little ones –
Little fingers can struggle to do a snap – substitute a new action for the snaps. Children can make two fists and tap one fist on top of the other.
For the older kids -
Try mirroring the action rhythm with a family member. Or try doing the actions with your feet. Stomp for the boom, tap the side of your foot with your hand for the snap, and click feet together for the clap.
“The Why” behind the Challenge:
We all have a built-in rhythm to our bodies. Expressing rhythm through a structured activity helps center and refocus children. There are also lots of cross-influences between rhythm, music, logic and math concepts.
Check out these books for more fun!
Unbored Games: Serious Fun for Everyone by Joshua Glenn & Elizabeth Foy Larsen
Anna Banana: 101 Jump-rope Rhymes compiled by Joanna Cole; illustrated by Alan Tiegreen
Diez Deditos = Ten Little Fingers & Other Play Rhymes and Action Songs from Latin America selected, arranged, and translated by Jose-Luis Orozco; illustrated by Elisa Kleven