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Any research question related to psychology or family issues. Will a regular exercise program improve the grades of a school aged children The Introduction and Research Question. The present study investigates relationships between regular physical activity of a school aged children and their grades in school. Physical activity is arguably one of important factors influencing growth of children and development of their skills. Thus, the value of regular exercise program can be used as a guide to develop different methods chosen to improve the grades of a school aged children.
The main conditions of progress in studies are constructed from three fundamental sources: physiological, psychological and personal characteristics. The actuality of this research is stipulated by possible implications of physical activity to improve success in studies for a school aged children. Method. Independent research of regular exercise programs, theoretical analysis and methodical procedures, interpretation of results and consequent common conclusions and recommendations. Review of literature, specialized on exercises and physical development of children and their implementation in studies; analysis, generalization of studies. Practical approach and actuality of information.
Studies and works were found with help of electronic databases and search engines as well as electronic libraries such as web In the process of search the following keywords were used: regular exercises, children, school aged children, physical activity improving grades, etc. The selected studies were chosen because then contain information about regular exercises, physical activity, particular cases of usage, doctors recommendations, different factors which influence success in study, etc. Results and Findings. The article Children's Taekwondo Program provides us with food-for-thought regarding regular exercises. The authors focus attention on fact that children build confidence and self-esteem while they progress through the program.
Each of these characteristics improves attitude and grades... They compare success in sport with success in studies, underlining the similarities of personal characteristics necessary to achieve success. They draw a parallel between self-esteem enhancing, self-confidence and abilities to achieve successful results in life. IN such a way the authors confirm that physical activity is able to improve grades (especially for children of a school age).
The article Question of the Day: Should more be done in schools to improve physical fitness? (2002), being a second selected study, provides us with a similar point of view. It shows us the results of poll, where 76 % voted Yes, whereas only 24 % voted No. Explanations are also given. The opinions are quite different, although they come to one conclusion. Some parents state that they teach children to be laze and laziness effects studying. By requiring kids to be active in school, they will hopefully be active out of school too.
Others indicate that they will still attend classes, . but hopefully with added enthusiasm & greater ability to learn. Research shows that nutrition & oxygen (from physical activity) play a key role in the brains' ability to process & assimilate information. A sluggish body results in sluggish thinking. Certain foods enhance mental agility, while others slow the mind. Exercise enriches the blood with oxygen, a crucial component for mental & physical health & optimum performance.
Ashlee Warren in Final Draft argues about correlation between exercise, being a physical part and mental activity, being an academic part. She monitored real life of college students who had exercising three times per week 45 minutes each time. Students from the University of Notre Damme were taken to compare dependence between progress in studies and frequency of physical exercises. She considers that exercising has made the students more organized, and also has taught them discipline that is important during academic studies. She documented physical benefits of exercise as subject for continuous research. Ashlee Warren came to conclusion that children who were exercising regularly were able to learn faster and in some cases better than their inactive counterparts.
The learning was also not exclusive to one subject area as improvements were shown across the board in grades and test results. The overall learning environment was also enhanced by exercise. Teachers reported better classroom behavior and the ability to maintain attention from students who were in the experimental groups (Warren, A. 2000) The fourth selected study by National Association of School Psychologists, NASP Communique, Vol. 32, No. 3. (2003) investigates the possibilities of improving learning skills to improve grades. They examine independent and dependent variables, such as gender, level of abilities, age, personal physical characteristics (i. e. students / children with disabilities) and come to conclusion that exercising also can improve grades.
Although they focus attention on developing motivation, they mention possibility to help a child reduce anxiety about his studies. The psychologists indicate that more than 1 / 3 of children are too nervous about their schoolwork that can interfere with academic success. Yet relaxation, meditation and physical exercise can reduce anxiety and improve his academic results. National News Exercise seen boosting childrens brain function by Dolores Kong reviews new researches in humans and animals related to findings about brain function and physical activity. Dolores Kong (1999) suggests that in addition to the findings about exercise and brain function, educators yesterday learned what the latest animal research is showing about the ability to grow new brain cells and what the latest developmental psychology studies are revealing about how young children learn.
The scientists consider that movement can be the best way to maximize the brain. The scientific researches related to correlation between exercise, being a physical part and mental activity, being an academic part, made a revolution in classical approach to academic process. Exercises became a popular part of education. We are convinced by information from selected studies so far and our own experience that physical exercises add to the childrens success in study. Our research suggests that physical education / exercise is really very important in academic process and can improve grades of a school aged children. The aim of research is to prove that correlation between physical activity and academic success really exists.
The variables tested comprise age, sex, type of physical exercise, duration of exercise, academic preconditions, personal characteristics, etc. We expect to found a positive correlation between exercise and academic success. The Surgeon General considers that nearly half of Americans youths aged twelve to twenty-one years are not active on a regular basis. Only nineteen percent of all high school students are physically active for twenty minutes or more, five days a week, in physical education classes. As far as we know, physically active children learn better. One of the measures should suggest elementary schools a minimum of 45 - 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
For example, they can use games and playing as a special part of childrens development. Such special programs can increase mental activity of children and increase self-esteem, discipline, etc. All these qualities improve academic process. Lets take API (Academic Performance Index) as the system to measure academic progress and childrens success in schoolwork. According to studies and findings, children who have physical activity 45 - 60 minutes every day, have high API scores, whereas children who study in school during the same hours without physical activity, have low API scores. Schools can increase API scores of children by implementing different strategies and measures, such as obligatory physical activity during the day (45 - 60 minutes every day).
Success in study can depend on different variables that include physical health as well. To assess the correlation between physical activity and academic success we took into account all independent variables as demographic characteristics, racial, grade composition, age / gender , etc. Dwyer administered a fitness test where academic performance was measured via five-point scale and compared with average physical activity in school. After analysis of the results, Dwyer concluded that "consistently across age and sex groups, the [academic] ratings were significantly correlated with questionnaire measures of physical activity and with performance on the 1. 6 kilometer run, sit-ups, and push-ups challenges, 50 -meter sprint, and standing long jump. (Leslee J.
Scheuer, 2003) What are possible guidelines for enhancing of physical activity and, as a result, improvement in academic success? The American Heart Association (AHA) suggests school to increase physical exercises in school, organizing day-care physical education, promoting weekly participation in different sport competitions, etc. In accordance with studies, 80 % of children who exercised 4 - 5 days per week had better results in academic success than those children who exercised in school 1 - 2 times per week at a regular basis. In conclusion we can admit that our study convinces that definite correlation between physical activity and academic success exists. Some percentage of academic improvement can be obtained from enhancing physical activity in school. The desire of educational institutions to use possible benefits from physical exercises should be implemented in school programs for a better learning experience.
Bibliography: Article. (2002). Question of the Day: Should more be done in schools to improve physical fitness? . Retrieved February 2, 2005 web Harvey, V. S. , PhD, NCSP. (2003) Study Skills to Support Learning: A Guide for Parents. University of Massachusetts-Boston. NASP Communique, Vol. 32, # 3 November 2003.
Retrieved February 2, 2005. web Kong, D. (1999). National News Exercise seen boosting childrens brain function. Globe Staff 11 / 09 / 1999.
The Boston Globe Page Al. Retrieved February 2, 2005. web Scheuer, Leslee J. (2003). Does Physical Activity Influence Academic Performance? Physical Education / Sports & Fitness. University of Central Florida- Orlando, FL USA.
Retrieved February 2, 2005. web Warren, A. (2000). Final Draft. Retrieved February 2, 2005. web World Taekwondo Academy Website. Childrens Taekwondo Program.
Retrieved February 2, 2005. web
Free research essays on topics related to: physical activity, brain function, academic success, physical exercises, school aged children
Research essay sample on School Aged Children Physical Activity
