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2. 24 New Jersey North NANorthNJ.com
F
or decades, neuroscientists
and physiologists have
been gathering evidence
about the beneficial relation-
ship between exercise and
learning, in hopes of prov-
ing that there is a direct link
between the two. While the re-
search is fascinating, one can’t
help but wonder what such a
link would mean, especially
when it comes to making the
most out of a child’s education.
If exercise and learning are
connected, could that mean ex-
ercising before and during class for children has the potential
to improve a child’s ability to learn and retain information?
Current research shows that exercise is a powerful tool
with the unique ability to prime the brain for learning, espe-
cially in children. The esteemed Institute of Medicine states,
“Extensive scientific evidence demonstrates that regular physi-
cal activity promotes growth and development in youth and
has multiple benefits for physical, mental, and cognitive health.
Children who are more active show greater attention, have
faster cognitive processing speed and perform better on stan-
Better Exercise Makes for Better Grades
by Sarah Davies
dardized academic tests than
children who are less active.”
In Naperville, Illinois,
physical fitness educator Phil
Lawler implemented a daily
fitness program for students
that involved one hour of
vigorous physical activity
before their first-period class.
Lawler’s educational experi-
ment resulted in a 17 percent
improvement in reading and
comprehension for partici-
pating students compared to
a smaller 10.7 percent im-
provement among students that opted out of the program
to sleep in and take standard physical education classes
instead. Even more significantly, in 1999, Naperville’s
eighth-graders finished first in the world in science on the
international standardized Trends in International Math-
ematics and Science Study test. “The correlation between
Naperville’s unusual brand of physical education and its
test scores is simply too intriguing to dismiss,” notes Dr.
John J. Ratey in his book, SPARK: The Revolutionary New
Science of Exercise and the Brain. “Fitness plays a pivotal
role in Naperville’s students’ academic achievements.”
In England, a recently published study resulted in find-
ings much like the results seen in Naperville. John Reilly, author
of the study, published that regular exercise has the ability to
increase a child’s grades by one full level. The study also found
that the more children exercised at age 11, the better they did
at school not only at 11, but at 13 and at ages 15 to 16. “Our
study suggests that the effect of physical activity may be quite
large,” Reilly says about the study’s findings.
With this research in mind, how, as a parent, can we take
advantage of the positive connection between exercise and
learning? Start by being proactive and encourage a child to
participate in physical activity before and after school each
day. If a child’s school does not have a physical fitness pro-
gram, suggest something like Reeboks’ BOKS program, where
parents and teachers can get involved in organizing fun physi-
cal activities that have been proven to boost brain power.
Also, take advantage of action-based tutoring programs
such as the Key Learning Program offered by the Brain Bal-
ance Achievement Center of Allendale, where children are
encouraged to participate in vigorous physical activity that
primes the brain for learning and memory retention. In all,
encourage children to be physically active, because in the
long run, they’ll be a smarter and better learner from it.
Sarah Davies is the assistant center director at the Brain Bal-
ance Achievement Center of Allendale, NJ. For more informa-
tion, call 201-825-1030 or visit BrainBalanceCenters.com. See
ad, page 9.