How Can I Plan Movement Before School So Classroom Hits Drop? 

Parenting Perspective 

Aggressive behaviour in the morning at school, such as pushing, bumping, or hitting, often stems from unspent energy or a sensory imbalance. When a child walks into the classroom already overstimulated or under-regulated, even small frustrations can trigger a physical outburst. The solution is to design a short, structured movement circuit to do before school that can help to balance their nervous system and fill their sensory “tank” in advance. The aim is not simply to ‘tire them out’; it is to give their body the deep pressure, rhythm, and control it needs to feel grounded and safe in the company of others. 

Begin With a Predictable Routine 

It is best to start every morning with a calm and predictable sequence, as the brain finds a sense of calm through familiarity. For example: wake up, wash, have breakfast, then do some ‘power moves’, followed by a short period of quiet time. You can let your child know, ‘These few minutes are to help your body feel ready for your friends and for focusing at school.’ Consistency in the routine matters more than the duration. 

Use Heavy Work First 

Deep pressure and resistance are some of the fastest ways to regulate the body. You can choose five to seven minutes of ‘heavy work’ activities, such as: 

• Carrying a backpack with two books in it up and down the hall. 

• Doing some wall push-ups or slowly pushing a chair into place. 

• Pulling a laundry basket filled with toys across the floor. 

• Helping to pack lunch boxes or to sweep the floor. 

These actions help to compress the muscles and joints, which has a calming effect on the sensory system before the excitement of the day begins. 

Add Rhythmic, Bilateral Movement 

Follow the heavy work with activities that require crossing the midline of the body, as these can help to synchronise the brain and improve focus. 

• Marching in place while counting or reciting short du’as. 

• Skipping or gentle jogging outdoors for a few minutes. 

• Clapping out rhythms or doing simple stretches set to a song. 

Just two to three minutes of this kind of activity is enough to be effective. 

End With Grounding and Breath 

After the movement, guide your child through a one-minute slow-down exercise. They can place their hands on their heart, take a deep inhale through the nose, and then a slow exhale through the mouth. You can say, ‘Let us feel the calm in our bodies before we go.’ This final step helps to transition their energy from a state of physical readiness to emotional steadiness. 

Link the Routine to School Readiness 

It can be helpful to tell your child, ‘Your body has already done its big work for today, so now it can do its smart work.’ Over time, the child will come to associate this act of self-regulation with a feeling of competence, not restriction. Teachers often notice an improvement in a child’s focus, their social tolerance, and a reduction in their aggression within a few weeks of starting a consistent pre-school movement routine. 

Adjust for Mornings With Less Time 

If the school run is particularly tight one morning, you can still use “micro-movements” to achieve a similar effect. 

• Five wall pushes while they are brushing their teeth. 

• Squatting down to tie their own shoes. 

• Walking backwards to the car or to the school gate. 

• Doing three big jumps before they enter the classroom. 

These small bursts of activity, when repeated daily, can help to stabilise their energy without causing chaos. 

Partner With the Teacher 

Share your child’s new movement routine with their teacher. You could ask if they might be able to include short “reset” tasks for your child during the morning, such as carrying books or wiping the board. When the routines at home and at school are aligned, patterns of aggression often drop quite sharply. 

Spiritual Insight 

In Islam, the body is considered a trust (amanah) from Allah Almighty, and caring for its balance is an act of gratitude. When we help a child to regulate their energy before they go to school, we are teaching them tadbeer, which is the wise management of the blessings that Allah has given to them. A calm body allows for a calm heart, which in turn can be reflected as ihsan (excellence) in our behaviour. 

Balance Is the Way of the Believer 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Furqaan (25), Verses 67: 

‘And it is those people that do not spend extravagantly, nor miserly; and (act in such a way) that is a balanced format between these two (extreme characteristics).‘ 

This reminds us that balance, not excess or deprivation, is the path that Allah Almighty loves. Helping your child to channel their energy through a sense of moderation before school is a way of practising this divine balance in their movement and in their emotions. 

Controlling Energy Is Strength, Not Suppression 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2609, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The strong man is not the one who overcomes people by his strength, but the one who controls himself while in anger.’ 

This teaches us that true strength lies in mastery, not in outbursts. When your child learns to use morning movement to prepare themselves for a patient day in the classroom, they are embodying this Prophetic strength by using their energy to serve goodness, rather than to react to their frustration. 

You can end your routine with a brief du’a as you leave the home: ‘O Allah, please fill our hearts with calm and our bodies with peace.’ Over time, this pairing of movement and mindfulness will become your child’s spiritual armour. It will be a daily rhythm that helps to turn their potential for aggression into a purposeful sense of calm, helping them to walk into their classroom feeling grounded, focused, and ready to do good.