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Regular Exercise Can Help Kids Do Better in School
Special to The Truth
Physical activity may not
be the first thing parents or teachers think about when they
want to boost a child’s academic performance, but evidence
supports the notion that a bit of exercise for the body is
beneficial to the brain as well.
In fact, kindergarteners
who participated in Build Our Kids’ Success (BOKS), a free
before-school program involving physical activity and
nutrition education, had significantly improved memory
skills as rated by teachers, compared to their peers who did
not participate. A study of the children’s performance also
concluded that those who participated in the program
exhibited good behavior in the classroom.
“A sedentary life and poor
eating habits can lower kids’ performance in the classroom
and start a cycle of health problems later in life,” says
Kathleen Tullie, Founder and Executive Director of BOKS and
the Director of Social Responsibility for Reebok. “Simply
stated, a healthy body and a healthy brain go hand in hand.”
So how can you incorporate
more healthy habits into your family’s routine?
• Active weekends: Instead
of a lazy Saturday or Sunday, get outside and get moving.
Take a soccer ball to the park for a pick-up game or hike a
local trail. Make exercise on the weekends a regular habit
for your family, and those habits will extend to the rest of
the week as well.
• Fuel throughout the day:
A hearty breakfast sets kids up for a great day. Follow that
up with a healthful, satisfying lunch and snacks such as
nuts and fruit, to help kids avoid the pitfalls of the junk
food machines.
• Cook together: Take-out
is great when you’re crunched for time, but be sure to cook
at home at least a few times a week. Not only are homemade
meals one of the only ways you can be exactly sure of what
you’re feeding your family, but the act of cooking together
is a great opportunity to impart some lessons about
nutrition and eating right.
• Bed time: Adequate sleep
is crucial for a healthy, functional mind and body. Setting
a regular bedtime and sticking to it is best to ensure kids
get a full night’s rest.
• Volunteer to get your
school involved: Children should have one hour or more of
physical activity daily, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Unfortunately, physical
education class may not be sufficient. Investigate what
other opportunities your child’s school has for physical
activity, such as before school programs like BOKS or after
school sports. If your school doesn’t have such a program in
place, look into starting BOKS at your school.
BOKS, for example, can be
run by anyone -- parents, teachers, the school nurse or a
community activist. To learn more, visit www.BOKSKids.org.
Healthy habits will not
only reduce your child’s risk for such problems as obesity,
diabetes and heart disease, they can help prime children for
more success inside the classroom and beyond. So give your
children a leg up and encourage them to get moving.
Courtesy StatePoint |
