As per The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition, children and adolescents should get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise/physical activity every day. This not only helps in improving their overall health, but also boosts academic performance.
Let us take a look at how physical activities affect academic performance:
- Better Cognitive and Motor Skills: The dynamic interaction between cognitive and motor skills during physical activities help in improving attention span and coping levels which help in academics.
- Academic Behavior: Physical activities improve academic behavior by promoting a positive range of behaviors such as organization, attendance, planning, scheduling, on-task behavior and more. Kids who engage in after-school physical activities enjoy superior allocation of neural resources for better working memory tasks in class.
- Higher Attendance: Children who participate in any form of physical activity during school hours or after school are more likely to enjoy better health than those who are sedentary. Better heath translates into higher attendance and good grades in the long run.
- Better Sleep: Sleep is crucial for optimal brain functioning as it affects how neurons interact and communicate with one another. Children who are physically active tend to enjoy better and deeper sleep which impacts their brains functioning and academic performance. They have reduced stress and anxiety levels and are calmer and more focused throughout their school hours.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Team work and competition are usually a part of physical activities. These skills also help in academics as they teach kids the value of setting goals and achieving them. They learn how to solve problems in order to get the desired result. This makes them more focused, consistent and resilient even in academics.
- More Energy: Children who are engaged in one form of physical activity or the other are more energetic in the classroom. Physical activity rejuvenates the mind and body as a result of which children are fresher and more alert during their learning sessions. They have a better understanding and retention power of what is taught in class.
One of the best ways of encouraging children to be active is to engage them in an after-school club where a variety of physical activities are available for children of different age-groups. This will not only improve your child’s academic performance, but also his/her mental and emotional health. Physically active children are more engaged and motivated in the process of learning due to which they are more likely to get higher test scores and grades.