Want a Successful School Year? Keep The Kids Moving!!
The school buses are out this morning, taking the little darlings back to their learning environments. So much has happened over the last few years, I’m sure everyone is happy to have a semblance of normalcy again. While most parents focus on uniforms and teachers and home rooms and books, I’m challenging you to focus on exercise. That’s right, exercise is an important ingredient for a successful school year.
Many a day, while homeschooling my son, I would sense he needed a break and send him outside to play ball or ride his bike. When he came back in he was ready to study again. So, I already knew how much it helped...... BUT an article I read a few years ago https://www.dogonews.com/2016/5/4/read-and-ride-aims-to-make-students-healthier-and-smarter describes how a school in North Carolina has created a program called Read and Ride and it is clearly making a difference in the children there.
It actually started with one bike in the corner of a classroom. Later, a variety of stationary bikes were placed in a classroom and children went there to Read and Ride!!!! Teachers could schedule 15-20 minutes of time for their students. Children could ride at their own pace. Since adding it, students test scores have gone up. And, the program is now in about 30 states across the country.
We all know how important exercise/physical activity/movement is for weight management. Imagine how it would be to encourage your child to exercise for fun and read while doing it. No pressure......just fun. It could be a bike or exercise ball. And if you have neither, let them play hard and THEN do their schoolwork!!! Actually sounds like recess to me……IJS.
Other benefits of exercise/physical activity/movement to learning, according to the experts, include the following:
More blood flow from exercising improves blood flow to the brain and improves learning.
Stress is relieved and they interact better with others.
Evidence that studying longer is better does not exist. But, studies have proven that moving more improves learning. (Pollatschek and O’Hagan 1989; Michaud and Wild 1991; Hannaford 1995; Ratey 2008)” (Reilly, Buskist, and Gross, 2012).
Helps children sleep better. When all they have learned during the day is being filed, memory is improved.
The actual act of moving and interacting with the environment improves learning and memory.
Movement outside in a green space tends to calm the nerves.
Exercise reduces inflammation and helps to improve memory. In some cases there is actually increased volume in some areas of the brain (Harvard).
I wasn’t a big athlete as a child. But, I loved jumping double dutch, playing handball and riding my bike. And even now as I reflect on it, I can also remember the feeling of how energized I was when I completed any of those activities. Wouldn’t it be great if you joined your children in physical activity. I’m sure they will benefit, like the experts say. And, it might help your stress level and job performance as well.
Improve that Brain Function!!! Get Moving!!!! Keep It Moving!! It’s Wellness Wednesday!!
I’m Still Shoutin’ Ova Here!!
#children #learning #movement #fun #achievement #readandride #exercise #letsmove #backtoschool #successfulschoolyear #cookinupgoodhealth #wellnesswednesday
