It is a vital, but often overlooked fact, that if you want to maximize the growth of your children’s cognitive abilities and academic success, you need to give them lots of free and active play time. Movement literally wires the brain for learning. As Dr. John Ratey states, simply and to the point: “Exercise is miracle-gro for the brain.”
When a toddler is learning to crawl, to pull up, to put one foot in front of the other, she’s laying the groundwork for reading, writing, and mathematics skills. And it doesn’t stop once we learn to walk and run – moving the body, engaging the mind in natural environments and through creative play wires us for whole-body coordination, cognitive and emotional intelligence, and physical health. Our kids need more recess, PE, and active play, not less, for greater learning success.
Movement is crucial for all of us, no matter what our age. Movement and exercise are not optional lifestyle choices – they are essential for the healthy regulation of every biological system, including your brain. Participating regularly in vigorous movement and play helps protect us from disease, depression, and degeneration. Moving and playing generate mood-enhancing endorphins and joy.
Covington offers many places to play with our kids and enjoy the amazing gift of movement. Bogue Falaya Park has been one of our favorites since my son was a baby (he’s now 12, and we still love to spend time there). Opportunities to climb, run, jump, balance, crawl, throw & catch, lift, carry & swing abound for all ages. Did you know the best teacher is an involved, enthusiastic parent? Want your kids to try out the monkey bars? Don’t ask them to do it – just get up there and start swinging along yourself, and they’ll soon be joining you. Remember to model and encourage, but let your children progress at their own pace. Even when they are just watching, they are learning – storing up information to access and use later when they are ready.
Liz Bragdon is a movement educator, and co-creator with Wendy Piret of the award-winning Scooter & Me movement & story DVD series for children and a soon-to-be-published movement and mindfulness curriculum for Pre-K to Grade 2. Locally, you can find her in Covington at Our Place Studio, 338 N. Vermont Street.
Read more about Liz & Wendy’s work here:
