Research on Study Breaks to Support Children’s Learning

A study published in Educational and Developmental Psychologist examined how short breaks affect children’s learning in math. After completing difficult math problems, some students proceeded directly to a new lesson, while others took a 5-minute break. One group had an unstructured rest (free time), and another group watched nature scenes.

The results showed that children who rested (whether through free time or watching nature) performed better on the math problems after the lesson compared to those who didn’t rest. Unstructured rest also helped students feel more focused during the lesson.

The study tells that even a short break can recharge a child’s attention and improve their learning. Although watching nature did not show clear extra benefits over free time, both types of breaks supported better problem-solving.

A quick 5-minute break can make a big difference in their focus and learning. This is encouraging news for parents and caregivers.

Understanding the Research

In this study, researchers wanted to know whether taking a quick rest, either quietly or by watching nature, helps students recharge their attention and perform better on a challenging math lesson.

Seventy-two university students, aged 18 to 25, volunteered to participate. About 42 were female and 30 were male. Each student was randomly assigned to one of three groups: no rest, unstructured rest (quiet free time), or nature-based rest (watching a short nature video).

The study started with a series of challenging mental math problems to tire students’ attention. After this, participants either moved straight to the lesson, rested quietly for 5 minutes, or watched a 5-minute nature video. All students then completed a short lesson on a mental strategy for solving 2-digit multiplication problems.

After the lesson, students answered questions about how focused they felt. They reported whether their attention was on the lesson or if their mind had wandered. Finally, they completed a post-lesson test to see how well they had learned and could apply the new math strategy.

After analyzing the results, researchers found that short breaks helped students focus and improve their math problem-solving. These were the key findings:

• Students in all groups started with similar math skills, so the results reflect the impact of breaks.
• Unstructured rest helped students feel more focused during the lesson.
• Both unstructured rest and nature-based rest helped students solve more math problems after the lesson.
• There was no clear advantage of watching nature videos over unstructured rest for attention or performance.
• Even a short 5-minute break can recharge attention and improve learning outcomes.

Practical Strategies for Parents and Caregivers

It’s exciting to see research showing that even quick breaks can help kids. The good news is that these breaks don’t have to be complicated or require special tools. Below, we share some tips to help your child get the most out of study breaks:

Keep their breaks short and timed.

As we’ve learned from the study, short breaks are enough to recharge your child’s attention without losing momentum. Try aiming for 5 minutes of rest after 25 minutes of focused study. You can set a timer and let your child stretch or rest quietly. This will signal that they have a clear start and end to the break.

Many families find the Pomodoro method helpful. We have a handout on this technique for additional guidance on study and break times.

Incorporate light movement

This includes walking around the room, stretching, or shaking out tension. Don’t underestimate these small movements — they help increase blood flow and alertness. For instance, your child can do a quick walk to the kitchen, march in place, or do a few shoulder rolls.

Encourage them to step outside

If possible, a quick 5-minute walk outside can be very refreshing. This doesn’t have to be a big adventure. Stepping into a backyard, looking out a window at trees, or noticing flowers and birds in a garden can provide a mental reset.

Even pausing to notice greenery or sunlight through a window can be surprisingly effective!

Model taking breaks yourself

It’s important to show your child that you also take time to pause and recharge. When you do this, you reinforce that resting is part of effective work and learning.

You might stand up to stretch after finishing a task, step outside for a few minutes of fresh air, or take a short mindful heart-focused breathing break between chores. Talk out loud about how the pause helps you feel refreshed so that your child can appreciate its benefits even more.

Future research might explore more hands-on nature experiences, such as walking outdoors or using virtual reality, to see if they have stronger effects. They may also examine breaks of different lengths and involve larger groups of students.

Try our Self-Care Worksheets and Coping Skills Worksheets to help your child manage their mental energy and improve learning.