Exercise in schools 'can help kids concentrate'
19/04/2010 Exercising outdoors or even in the classroom can help schoolchildren concentrate during lessons, it has been claimed.
According to research conducted at the Universities of Leeds and Aberdeen, children who took part in moderate exercise during the day were able to focus better.
The study, which is published in the Journal of Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, was the first to look at how exercise helps children's brains to function.
"How exercise helps children to concentrate is not yet clear and future research is needed to determine the brain mechanisms involved. But however exercise works, this research is important because it suggests that exercise in schools might actually help academic learning," commented Professor Mark Mon-Williams, professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Leeds.
Last week, Daniel Kirschenbaum, Professor at Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, told the Wall Street Journal that it is important that parents encourage their children to take part in outdoor play activities.
According to research conducted at the Universities of Leeds and Aberdeen, children who took part in moderate exercise during the day were able to focus better.
The study, which is published in the Journal of Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, was the first to look at how exercise helps children's brains to function.
"How exercise helps children to concentrate is not yet clear and future research is needed to determine the brain mechanisms involved. But however exercise works, this research is important because it suggests that exercise in schools might actually help academic learning," commented Professor Mark Mon-Williams, professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Leeds.
Last week, Daniel Kirschenbaum, Professor at Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, told the Wall Street Journal that it is important that parents encourage their children to take part in outdoor play activities.
