Did you know that by encouraging your child’s physical fitness you are also encouraging their mental fitness? Research has shown that the amount of physical activity a child gets has a direct impact on how well he or she does in school. And according to past US Secretary of Education, Roderick Paige, “Healthy bodies and healthy minds go hand-in-hand. Parents can play a vital role in their child’s academic achievement by keeping them stimulated during the summer to exercise their bodies and challenge their minds.”

A California Department of Education study of students’ test scores and fitness levels found a definite link between physical fitness and academic accomplishment. The researchers found that students who are physically fit are more likely to perform well in their classes. And according to the study, it’s not just about being the star football or volleyball player; students who achieved the minimum fitness requirements showed the greatest improvement in terms of academic achievement. Physical fitness levels seemed to be even more significant for girls – for girls, the higher the fitness level, the higher the academic achievement.

How It Works

Believe it or not, exercise actually stimulates the brain’s nerve cells and causes them to multiply. It also strengthens them, increasing their ability to resist damage and disease. In other words, when you’re exercising, you’re not just getting your body in shape, you’re getting your brain in shape!

Exercise increases the circulation of oxygen and nutrients throughout your body. With an increase in oxygenated blood flow, your brain and other organs operate more efficiently and you feel better and think more clearly. Now doesn’t that make you want to jump up and get the whole family moving?

Exercise is Essential for Growing Minds

There’s a reason all that running around your kids do in school is called “Physical Education.” For one thing, children need a physical outlet for all that energy they have stored up inside. If they spend all their time sitting in front of the teacher in school and then go home to sit in front of the TV, their bodies will soon get used to that kind of immobility and they won’t find physical activities appealing.

Physical activity does more for young children than prevent unhealthy childhood weight gain (although that is certainly an important benefit). The truth is, movement is the most simple and essential key to a child’s growth and development. Young children develop many skills simply through learning to move in their environment. Being physically active helps children develop emotionally and socially and, as we’ve established earlier, it actually helps their brains grow. So when you take your child to the park to play on the jungle gym, you should be proud of yourself- you’re not only contributing to your child’s health, you’re also helping his or her brain develop!

Get Your Brain in Shape at Any Age

Exercise benefits everybody- from your 6-month-old baby to your 80-year-old great aunt Ida. Remember how exercise helps your brain stay strong and healthy? It’s really never too late to start an exercise program. Researchers have found that people aged 65 and older have better memory retention. Not to mention the fact that they feel better and have more energy. Think of this as a great excuse to plan something that allows the whole family to be physically active together!