In our classrooms, we, teachers and education professionals, engage in a daily quest: that of concentration. We all know that students' attention is a precious but volatile resource. Like a candle exposed to a draft, it can flicker and extinguish at the slightest sign of fatigue, restlessness, or boredom. After an hour of mathematics or a dense grammar lesson, it is natural to see gazes wander, bodies fidget in their chairs, and concentration crumble. The question is not whether this decline in attention will occur, but how we can respond constructively without losing the thread of our teaching.
The traditional response often consisted of doubling down on firmness or chaining activities without interruption, in the hope of "keeping the pace." However, neuroscience and field experience show us another path, one that is more effective and respectful of children's fundamental needs: the active break. At Dynseo, we designed our tools, including our COCO PENSE and COCO BOUGE applications, based on this fundamental principle. An active break is not wasted time; it is a strategic investment in our students' learning capacity. It is a way to reset the brain, re-energize the body, and prepare the ground for renewed concentration. Let’s see together how our COCO BOUGE tool can transform these few minutes of break into a powerful educational lever to energize your class without ever losing control of attention.
To understand the importance of active breaks, we must first let go of the idea that the body and mind are two separate entities. In reality, they are intrinsically linked, and physical movement is one of the most powerful fuels for the brain.
A breath of oxygen for neurons
Imagine your students' brains as an engine running at full speed during a lesson. To function optimally, this engine needs fuel and oxygen. Sitting for long periods slows blood circulation and, consequently, the supply of oxygen to the brain. The consequences are direct: decreased alertness, difficulty concentrating, feelings of fatigue.
An active break of a few minutes with COCO BOUGE acts as a real physiological boost. The proposed exercises, whether they involve miming, gentle yoga, or coordination, moderately increase the heart rate. In doing so, they stimulate blood circulation and send a wave of oxygen and essential nutrients to the brain. It is a simple and natural way to "wake up" the neurons and make them more receptive to the information that will follow. It’s a bit like opening the classroom windows to air out the room; here, we are directly refreshing the minds.
The chemistry of well-being in the service of learning
Movement does not just oxygenate the brain. It also triggers the release of essential neurotransmitters. Physical activity, even for a short duration, stimulates the production of endorphins, often called "happiness hormones." These have a direct effect on mood, reduce stress, and create a general sense of well-being. A more relaxed and happier student is a more available student for learning.
Moreover, neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine, which play a crucial role in concentration, motivation, and memory, are also boosted. By offering a COCO BOUGE break, you are not just "letting off steam" for your students; you are subtly adjusting the chemistry of their brains to optimize learning conditions.
Rebuilding bridges between the two hemispheres
Many exercises offered in COCO BOUGE involve crossed movements, meaning actions that require using both the left and right sides of the body simultaneously (for example, touching the left knee with the right hand). These seemingly simple movements are extremely beneficial as they force the two hemispheres of the brain to communicate more intensely. This improved communication is fundamental for complex tasks that require both logic (often associated with the left hemisphere) and creativity or big-picture thinking (associated with the right hemisphere). By regularly practicing these exercises, we help our students build and strengthen the "bridges" of neurons that will serve them across all subjects.
COCO BOUGE: a ready-to-use tool for successful active breaks
Knowing that active breaks are beneficial is one thing. Implementing them simply, quickly, and effectively is another. This is precisely where our COCO PENSE and COCO BOUGE application comes into play. We designed it as a toolbox for teachers, ready to use and perfectly suited to the constraints of the classroom.
Short and engaging formats
We know your time is precious. Every minute of class counts. That’s why COCO BOUGE sessions last on average between 3 and 5 minutes. This duration is ideal: it is long enough to produce the desired physiological and neurological effects, but short enough not to disrupt the flow of your day.
The videos are animated by our character, Coco, who guides the children with clear and visual instructions. The playful and colorful universe immediately captures the students' attention and encourages them to participate enthusiastically. It is not a constraint, but a moment of shared play and enjoyment.
Simplicity above all: no equipment, no excessive space
One of the major barriers to implementing active breaks is often logistics. Do we need to push the tables? Take out equipment? With COCO BOUGE, we have eliminated these constraints.
- No equipment required: Students only need their own bodies.
- Minimal space: The exercises are designed to be done standing, next to their chair and table. There is no need to rearrange the classroom.
This ease of use is crucial. It allows you to initiate an active break spontaneously, as soon as you feel the class's attention beginning to wane. It’s a "reset" button you can activate in just a few clicks, with no preparation needed.
The balance between dynamism and calm return
A legitimate concern for teachers is that the active break may overly excite the students, making it difficult to get them back to work afterward. We have integrated this concern at the heart of the COCO BOUGE design. Each session is structured to follow a controlled intensity curve. It begins with a gradual warm-up, reaches a peak of energy with coordination or miming exercises, and then systematically ends with a calming phase. This last phase often includes gentle stretches or simple breathing exercises. The goal is to channel the released energy and transform it into a calm concentration. Thus, students do not return to their tables agitated, but revitalized and refocused. The application acts like a thermostat, increasing the energy in the room before bringing it back to an ideal temperature for intellectual work.
Integrating COCO BOUGE active breaks into the daily classroom routine
The key to successful active breaks lies in their regularity and natural integration into the day's rhythm. It is not an exceptional event, but a beneficial routine.
Identifying strategic moments
Every class has its own rhythm, but certain moments are universally conducive to a short energizing break. As a teacher, you are the best judge, but here are some suggestions based on feedback we have received:
- At the beginning of the morning: After the welcome, to start the day well and ensure that all students are awake and available.
- Mid-morning: Around 10-10:30 AM, to counter the famous "slump" and recharge before the last hour of class.
- Just after lunch break: To aid digestion and combat post-lunch drowsiness, which can often be difficult to manage.
- Before an assessment or demanding task: To oxygenate the brain and put students in the best conditions for concentration.
- In transition between two subjects: To mark a clear break, "clean the mental hard drive," and prepare for a new topic.
Creating a positive routine
By establishing COCO BOUGE breaks as a ritual, you create a positive expectation among students. They know that after a period of concentration, a moment of relaxation and movement will be offered to them. This can even become a motivational element. The routine also has the advantage of smoothing transitions. After a few sessions, students will stand up and prepare without the need for lengthy instructions. Launching the video becomes the clear and expected signal for a well-deserved break.
The teacher's role: participate and observe
Your participation, even partial, is a powerful driver of engagement. By doing a few movements with your students, you break the formal barrier and strengthen the bond with them. You show that well-being and movement are important for everyone. It is also a unique opportunity to observe your students in a different context. You may notice motor skills or difficulties, social interactions, or simply see smiles appearing on faces. This shared moment helps build a calmer and more caring classroom climate.
A valuable tool for inclusion and support for students with specific needs
If active breaks are beneficial for all students, they prove to be a particularly powerful lever for those facing specific difficulties, especially students with learning disabilities, or "DYS disorders."
Channeling energy and supporting concentration for students with ADHD
For a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), staying seated and focused is a constant challenge. The need to move is often irresistible. Structured active breaks with COCO BOUGE provide a positive and guided outlet for this need. Rather than suppressing movement, we give it dedicated time and space. These few minutes allow the student to release their excess energy constructively. The result is often spectacular: after the break, the student is calmer, more able to concentrate on the task at hand, as their physiological need for movement has been satisfied.
Support for coordination and body awareness (DYS disorders)
Disorders like dyspraxia (a motor coordination development disorder) or dyslexia can be linked to difficulties in perceiving one's own body in space (proprioception) and automating gestures. The exercises in COCO BOUGE, which work on coordination, balance, and gross motor skills, provide excellent training. They help these students become more aware of their body schema in a playful and non-threatening way. This is not a rehabilitation session, but a gentle stimulation that can have positive repercussions on finer gestures, such as writing.
A cognitive and motor break is also a necessary breath for dyslexic or dyscalculic students, for whom deciphering letters or numbers requires considerable mental effort. The break allows them to relieve this intense cognitive load before diving back in.
Our holistic approach: training to better support
At Dynseo, we believe that technological tools are only fully effective when accompanied by a nuanced understanding of pedagogical issues. That is why, in addition to our applications, we offer training dedicated to teachers. Our training "Identifying and Supporting DYS Disorders in Primary School" has been designed to give you the keys to understanding and practical strategies to help these students. We cover:
- The warning signs to identify difficulties.
- The cognitive functioning specific to each DYS disorder.
- Concrete and easy-to-implement pedagogical adjustments.
This training and the use of tools like COCO BOUGE are part of the same philosophy: to create an inclusive learning environment where every student, regardless of their difficulties, can find the resources to progress and thrive.
Beyond concentration: benefits for the classroom climate
The impact of active breaks with COCO BOUGE is not limited to individual cognitive performance. By integrating them into your practice, you influence the very dynamics of your class group, weaving connections and improving the "living together."
A cement for group cohesion
When students mime an animal, perform a yoga pose, or follow a simple choreography all together, they share a common, joyful, and non-competitive experience. There are no right or wrong answers, no grades at stake. There is just the pleasure of moving together. These moments of laughter and synchronization create a sense of belonging and strengthen group cohesion. Students see each other in a new light, which can help diffuse tensions and promote mutual support.
A safety valve to release stress
The school day can be a source of stress for many children: fear of failure, pressure from assessments, relational difficulties... Physical activity is one of the most effective and healthiest ways to release these tensions. A COCO BOUGE break acts as a safety valve, allowing accumulated stress to be released before it transforms into restlessness, conflict, or withdrawal. A more relaxed classroom climate is an essential prerequisite for serene learning.
In conclusion, integrating active breaks into your teaching is not a gimmick or a waste of time. It is a modern pedagogical approach, validated by research, that recognizes the student in their entirety: a body that needs to move and a mind that needs to concentrate. With COCO BOUGE, we aimed to provide you with a simple, playful, and effective tool to implement this approach effortlessly. It is our way of supporting you in your essential mission: to create an environment where every child can recharge their batteries, not only to learn better but also to grow better.
The article "Active breaks with COCO BOUGE: energizing the class without losing attention" highlights the importance of maintaining students' attention while engaging them physically. A related article that may interest you is the tablet usage guide for activities for people with Alzheimer's. Although this article focuses on a different audience, it shares the common goal of stimulating engagement and mental activity through interactive tools, which can offer interesting perspectives on using technology to energize various learning environments.
