Wednesday, 16 November 2016

Better Motor Skills Linked to Higher Academic Scores

Catching the last rays of the day.

Better Motor Skills Linked to Higher Academic Scores
Christopher Bergland

Children with poor motor skills score lower on reading and arithmetic tests.
A new study from Finland has found that children with poor motor skills also have poorer reading 
and arithmetic skills. The study found that children who performed poorly in agility,
speed and manual dexterity tests also had lower reading and arithmetic test scores
in first through third grades. Across the board, children with better performance in motor tests scored higher in reading and arithmetic tests.
The study was published October 28, 2013 in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
The study investigated the relationships of cardiovascular fitness and motor performance
in the first grade to reading and arithmetic skills in grades 1–3 among 174 Finnish children
as part of The Physical Activity and Nutrition (PANIC) Study at the University of Eastern Finland and The First Steps Study at the University of Jyväskylä. These associations were stronger in boys than girls. Those children in the lowest third of motor performance
had dramatically lower reading and arithmetic test scores than children in the other two thirds.
Interestingly, a recent study from Harvard University ranked Finland as the number one country
in the world for childhood education.
As American children become less active and spend more hours each day in front of a screen,
it appears that their cerebral and cerebellar function is declining.
There is growing evidence of the link between improved motor skills, dexterity, and cognition.
I have written extensively in The Athlete's Way about the link between stimulating neural growth
in all hemispheres of the brain—which includes the left and right hemispheres of both the cerebrum and the cerebellum. One backlash of the “No Child Left Behind” approach to over-emphasizing
the importance of test scores are the consequences of literally causing a child’s cerebellum and its related motor skills to atrophy, which reduces cognitive abilites and lowers academic performance.

5 Finnish Guidelines for Childhood Well-Being and Education
The objective of the Finnish PANIC Study is to provide new scientific evidence on physical activity, sedentary behavior,  diet, eating behavior,  cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular fitness,
excess body fat, and metabolism. In addition the study looks at cardiovascular function,
bone mineral density, cognition, reading and arithmetic skills, sleep, pain and other aspects of life quality. These include oral health and healthcare expenses.
The main focus of the study is on the effects of increased physical activity, improved diet
d genetic factors on health and well-being among children and adolescents.
The Finnish researchers recommend the following 5 guidelines:

1) Increase total physical activity to at least two hours per day
by increasing different types of physical activity, such as unstructured physical activity, 
physical activity during recess, organized sports, structured exercise time,
and commuting to and from school on foot, bicycle, scooter... 

2) Increase the versatility of physical activity
to develop physical, emotional, cognitive and social skills and brain functions.

3) Provide a variety of positive physical activity experiences
to help each child find a suitable type of physical activity and to be able to enjoy exercise
in the long-term.

4) Decrease sedentary behaviors,
such as watching television and playing on computer, to an absolute maximum of two hours per day.

5) Increase energy expenditure
to maintain energy balance and to prevent becoming overweight.

Conclusion: Cerebellar Dexterity Linked to Cerebral Smarts
What are the Finns doing that we could emulate in the United States to improve our education
and global competitiveness? The findings of this study emphasize the importance
of motor performance and movement skills as key to a child’s academic success during the first years of school, and most likely throughout a lifespan.
The academic development of children with poor motor performance should be closely monitored. Teachers and parents should strive to include daily activities and take steps to support
not only the development of reading, arithmetic etc. but make sure to include time each day
focused on movement skills and physical activity.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201310/better-motor-skills-linked-higher-academic-scores


Turbo Charged Reading:  Read More>>>Read fast>>>Remember more>>>Years later
Contact M’reen at: read@turbochargedreading.com

You can TCR specialist and language dictionaries that are spontaneously accessed.
I can Turbo Charge Read a novel 6-7 times faster and remember what I’ve read.
I can TCR an instructional/academic book around 20 times faster and remember what I’ve read.
Introduction to Turbo Charged Reading YouTube
A practical overview of Turbo Charged Reading YouTube 
How to choose a book. A Turbo Charged Reading YouTube
Emotions when Turbo Charged Reading YouTube

Advanced Reading Skills Perhaps you’d like to join my FaceBook group ?

Perhaps you’d like to check out my sister blogs:
www.innermindworking.blogspot.com        gives many ways for you to work with the stresses of life
www.ourinnerminds.blogspot.com              which takes advantage of the experience and expertise of others.
www.happyartaccidents.blogspot.com       just for fun.

To quote the Dr Seuss himself, “The more that you read, the more things you will know.
The more that you learn; the more places you'll go.”

No comments:

Post a Comment

Your opinions, experience and questions are welcome. M'reen