How physical fitness benefits children’s brain and helps them learn

Scientifically it is recommend that kids get at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise each day. Why? Such activities are crucial for cardiovascular health. But exercise for children is important for other reasons too. It appears to stimulate brain growth. It helps kids focus, and stick to a plan. It may even make it easier for children to learn.

How does exercise affect a young human brain?

Scientific evidence has found that physical exercise affects the brains of human children specifically the hippocampus-the part of the brain that responds to exercise in kids. Scientists noted an interesting pattern: the more physically fit a child is, the larger his or her hippocampus tends to be. And it is not just a question of brain volume. There are also links with learning and memory. The bigger the hippocampus the more intelligent the child will be. Children who exercise have a high retention of what they learn and outperformed kids with lower fitness levels.

Executive functions

These are the mental abilities we rely on to control our own behavior.

They permit us to pay attention, stay focused, and juggle information in working memory.

They help us restrain our impulses and stick to a plan.

They also help us solve novel problems, adapt quickly to changing rules.

Executive functions are linked with higher academic achievement. They’re linked with better economic and mental health outcomes, too.

Physical fitness can enhance children’s executive functions as children with higher levels of fitness have been found to allocate more brain resources to attention and working memory during their learning.