Benefits of Physical Activity
Movement and learning go hand in hand! Physical activity can improve all areas of development in children including cognitive, social emotional, logic, and literacy/language. If you’ve ever stopped and said to yourself, “My child is always moving,” that’s because children learn primarily through movement! Through movement children begin to develop spatial awareness and the concept of proximity which translates into developing safety skills when navigating the world around them, for example crossing the street. Through movement children begin to develop creative expression, observing the movements of others, making choices and developing their own personal preferences which can build self-confidence and self-esteem. Did you know that children learn movement from others exactly like they learn speech, through imitation and repetition? Each person has their own distinct way of moving called a movement signature. When a child imitates another's movements, her movement vocabulary increases and her personal movement signature begins to form. Also, by vocalizing while your child moves, for example maybe when you’re outside blowing bubbles and your child jumps to reach them or chases after them as they blow away, you can label their movements with words like up and down or fast and slow in order to help create new connections in their brain around these concepts.
By being physically active, children are activating new skills that will assist them throughout their lives. Skills necessary for school, for example memorization, are truly enhanced by encouraging physical activity. For example, movement combined with a concept helps one to remember that concept better because the area of the brain that is responsible for cognitive ability is actually activated through movement. During Kindermusik when we pair body movements with poetry, our goal is to help imprint the words and the meaning of the words in your child’s brain. As your child grows, both you and they can apply those learning strategies to concepts introduced in formal schooling and activities.
As simple as it sounds, being physically active is good for your child’s overall health! Incorporating regular physical active at an early age not only helps children develop healthy lifestyle habits as they grow, but exercise builds muscle strength, increases cardiovascular health, and can positively affect mood, self-esteem, and energy level as well. All areas of growth need practice and that is why we support the combination of singing and moving during class and at home. To get better at something you have to practice, so even things that we take for granted as adults, such as balancing, walking, and using tools like scissors, need to be practiced by children so that they build fine and gross motor skills as well as strong balance and coordination. Here’s a “Try It Tip” for home: Core strength can be built through skipping, hand-eye coordination can be practiced through tossing items in the air and catching them, and spatial awareness can be explored by activating the vestibular system when swaying along to music!
There is so much evidence to support the benefits of physical activity on a child’s growth and development. To learn more, check out this video that summarizes a lot of what was discussed in this month’s blog!
There is so much evidence to support the benefits of physical activity on a child’s growth and development. To learn more, check out this video that summarizes a lot of what was discussed in this month’s blog!
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