Welcome to the breathing and stretching breaks site for students. Here you will find links to a variety of breathing and stretching techniques for almost any student!
Over-stress and anxiety in students can manifest as headaches, stomachaches, racing heart, and tense muscles; possibly requiring frequent trips to the nurse’s office. Anxiety symptoms may interfere with students’ academic achievement and school attendance. With about 20% of students experiencing some form of anxiety episode during their school years, school-based prevention and intervention programs have been recommended.
School-based mental health promotion programs have demonstrated some promising, but small effects; but may have the potential, if refined, to assist in reducing future mental health problems.
School nurses, part of the school mental health team, can not only provide screening and referral but also conduct prevention interventions such as teaching students coping skills as well as relaxation techniques. School staff, especially school nurses who spend up to about one-third of their work time dealing with student mental health issues, should be provided skills and resources to help students cope.
This website contains stretching and breathing movements as written descriptions for students to read and follow, as well as short videos for students to watch and follow. These types of exercises have demonstrated some positive effects on student motivation and achievement. These exercises may also allow students to relax, recharge, and refocus in order to help them maintain classroom focus. When students are anxious or over-stressed, working memory is limited and fatigue occurs; negatively affecting learning.
Bibliography:
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Anderson, J. (2017). When nurse’s office is a refuge. Harvard Graduate School of Education. Retrieved from: https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/17/11/when-nurses-office-refuge
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Bohnenkamp, J., Stephan, S., & Bobo, N. (2015). Supporting student mental health: The role of the school nurse in coordinated school mental health care. Psychology in the Schools, 52(7). https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.21851
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OConner, C., Dyson, J., Cowdell, F., & Watson, R. (2017). Do universal school-based mental health promotion programs improve the mental health and emotional well-being of young people? A literature revivew. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(3-4), e-412-e426.
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Scharfstein, L. (2016). Calming Anxiety During Middle School: Practical Strategies for Parents. Retrieved from: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/pylems/counseling/CAC_Oct_2016.pdf
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Werner-Seidler A., Perry, Y., Calear, A., Newby, J., & Christensen, H. (2016). School-based depressions and anxiety prevention programs for young people: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 51, 30-47.
DISCLAIMER RE: BREATHING/STRETCHING
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The breathing/stretching information and videos provided on this site are for general information and cannot be substituted for medical advice. This information is designed for educational purposes and not a professional service. Check with a doctor before beginning any extended breathing/stretching exercise regimen. The use of any information provided on this site is solely ‘at own risk’. The author of this program is not liable or responsible to any person for any errors contained in this program, or for any special, incidental, or consequential injury caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this program. If you are having a medical or health emergency, call your health care professional, or 911, immediately. This website lists many external web links and videos which can be used to potentially identify ideas one can use for teaching/learning. The author is not responsible for maintaining these links, nor does their listing imply content endorsement. The audience for this site is school nurses and classroom teachers who wish to incorporate breathing/stretching into their classrooms.​
Authors: K. Welker, C. Cox, C. Myers, J. Tiberi-Ramos (2019).