Students of every age throughout the country’s
private boarding schools and public schools are struggling in classes and academics,
but what if instead of using more education to solve the problem, educators
tried incorporating more physical activity?
Studies show that just 60 minutes of physical activity a day
can increase the academic performance of students and improve their test
scores. Schools often stress the importance of physical activity as a solution
to obesity and other health issues, but it has become apparent that exercise
can solve issues in the classroom as well.
First, physical activities that involve hand-eye
coordination — such as basketball or volleyball — have been shown to improve
children’s cognitive function. This type of brain function is something that
can’t be taught in a classroom, but rather through physical participation and
experience. However, it will transfer over to students’ academic performance in
school.
While sports may be the first things that come to mind when you
think of physical activity, there are many other options for getting active.
For example, non-competitive exercise such as hiking, swimming, yoga or paddle
boarding, can be just as effective in the classroom. This is because physical
activity helps create a healthy mind and a healthy body.
More specifically, sitting down in the classrooms of private
boarding schools for a long period of time trying to cram your brain with
information can be both stressful and overwhelming. Participating in physical
activities, however, can provide time to not only get students up and moving, but
also let them have some fun while still exercising their body and their minds —
important for academic success in the classroom.
While parents play a major role in facilitating and
encouraging physical activity, it’s just as important for private boarding
schools to do the same. Students spend a tremendous amount of time on school
grounds, and integrating physical activity into the environment is the key to
unlocking increased academic performance.
With that, physical activities allow students to exercise
and practice a healthy lifestyle. The more physical opportunities students
encounter throughout their years at private boarding schools and elsewhere, the
more likely they are to continue these activities beyond school.
Alyssa Koenig is an academic writer for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency.
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