PBS Brain Exercises

According to PBS.org, PBS is an organization that provides 356 member stations so all Americans can discover new ideas about life through television and online content. In 2007, PBS began airing shows about the brain that discussed the brains powers to change and to be exercised. According to Dr. Arthur Toga, a professor at UCLA, brain activity is caused from genes and the environment, and we can change our environment. Our brain is pliable and changeable, regardless of age and genetics.

PBS Exercises for Adults

• PBS.org provides beginner exercises on their website for adults who are just starting to exercise their brains. First, you should warm up your mind by attempting to write your name with your non-dominant hand, then attempting to write your name with both hands at the same time. After practicing this for a bit, other exercises they provide include counting the number of squares in an image of numerous squares, completing a sequence of images by choosing the correct final image from a choice of three, and so much more. Answers are provided on a separate page. For intermediate levels and beyond, software programs and DVDs are available with brain exercises from PBS.org, and they suggest purchasing Gary Small's book, "The Memory Bible."

PBS Exercises for Kids

• PBS.org also provides brain exercises for children between the ages of 3 and 6. The online program not only helps prepare kids for what they will learn in school in 25 different skill areas, but it also keeps the mind working during after-school hours, and it's fun. The program includes interactive games, problem-solving questions, sentence-making tools and a manager of emotions and chores. The program adapts to the child's level of knowledge so that each child can get the most out of it. The program is free for 15 days and is about $10 per month after that.

Lifestyle Changes

• Aside from the brain exercises that PBS.org offers, they also recommend making some changes in your lifestyle that will increase your brain usage. Just as physical activity makes your body strong, mental activity keeps your mind sharp. Adding new aspects to your lifestyle and changing up your daily routine can cause the brain to work harder and stay sharper. An easy way to do this is to find a new hobby or pastime, such as learning a foreign language, trying to play a musical instrument or switching the subject of books you read.