Does exercise improve learning?

You may have heard before that exercise plays a pivotal role in a child's cognitive development—and there's certainly evidence to support this:

According to Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School:

• Children respond faster and with greater accuracy to a variety of cognitive tasks after participating in a session of physical activity.
• A single bout of moderate-intensity physical activity has been found to increase neural and behavioral concomitants associated with the allocation of attention to a specific cognitive task.
• When children who participated in 30 minutes of aerobic physical activity were compared with children who watched television for the same amount of time, the former group cognitively outperformed the latter.

So, it seems that providing our children with as many opportunities for movement as possible is not only good for their physical health and wellness but also for their ability to learn and achieve academic success!

Win-Win!

Having said that, it's not always easy to get our little ones (or not-so-little ones!) off the sofa, to put down the game controller, or to step away from their phones long enough to move their bodies and feel the benefits. With that in mind, we've compiled a list of physical activities, games, and simple ideas you may not have thought of that are suitable for children of all ages. These activities help promote movement, learning, and most of all, fun!

Going to the Gym

You may not be aware that most gyms nationwide offer teen gym programs suitable for children as young as 11 years old. Simply search 'gym memberships for teens' in your area and see what options are available.

Make Movement a Family Affair

Most children will jump at the chance to 'beat the parent.' Why not set a little family challenge to encourage more movement? Set family targets like walking 10,000 steps a day or walking the dog for 20 minutes. Display everyone's results on the fridge or on a family calendar to keep track.

Green Fingers

With spring in full swing, there's no better time to get into the garden. Encourage your child to take ownership of a flowerbed or vegetable patch, or even tackle a project such as building a bird table. This not only challenges them physically but also mentally. The RHS has some great ideas here about how to get started.

Put the Ball in Their Court (So to Speak)

Not all children and teens are enticed by 'usual' sports such as football or dancing. Spend some time exploring other physical activity options with them and chat about what they might like to try. Some more unusual activities available in your area could include scuba diving, lacrosse, paddle-boarding, or squash. Take a look here for more ideas of unusual sports to try.

Go on a Treasure Hunt!

Have you heard of Geocaching? If you like the idea of going on the world's biggest treasure hunt, then you're going to LOVE it! Essentially, you follow a map and clues to find a hidden object in the environment. It's a huge hit with all age groups and gets you outdoors.

Encouraging regular physical activity isn't just about staying fit; it's about enriching your child's mind too. As we've seen, exercise can dramatically enhance a child’s ability to focus, learn, and perform academically.

So why not try some of these fun activities? You might just find that fostering an active lifestyle leads to happier, healthier, and more successful kids.

Let’s get moving and make learning a dynamic adventure for our children.