As your child edges closer to kindergarten-age, one of the biggest questions on your mind is probably, “How can I make sure she’s ready for school?”
Surprisingly, the answer does not lie in the multi-billion-dollar educational toy industry, special TV shows for babies, or flashcards and worksheets.
It lies in your own backyard. Or living room. Or neighborhood playground.
The secret is…exercise.
Aerobic exercise* increases executive functioning (aka higher-level thinking) scores by 50 to 100 percent! This holds true regardless of age, so both you and your children will reap the benefits of exercising together—in fact, when children exercise with their parents, they achieve even better executive functioning improvement than children who exercise solo. These results remain as long as regular exercise continues.
It’s never too early to start working out with your kids. The sooner you begin, the sooner a healthy pattern can be formed. It’s worth noting that parents who plan a consistent exercise schedule for their kids are up to 1 ½ times more likely to instill a regular exercise habit in them—even a lifelong habit!
How can you establish a consistent exercise schedule with your kids? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Go on daily walks together. Even when baby is still teeny tiny, she’ll still be exposed to the routine and will even begin to anticipate these excursions. As she becomes more mobile, she can begin to take advantage of this time to get in some activity toddling, walking, or even jogging alongside you.
Engage in active play. No fancy equipment required! Play beanbag toss with rolled-up socks and a laundry basket. Kick a ball around the yard. Have crawling races (or crab-crawl races) down the hallway. Turn on some upbeat tunes and have a dance party.
Incorporate bursts of activity into your routines. Hop or skip out to the car. Help your baby crawl up the stairs instead of carrying her. Do jumping jacks together before you help her get dressed—or in between each article of clothing! Frog-hop waiting at the bus stop.
Join a parent/child or “mommy-and-me” exercise class together. From swimming to dance to gymnastics to yoga, many cities offer classes specifically geared towards parents and their kids. Some of these classes include parents as a facilitator for their child, but others provide an opportunity for a more active parent participation role—where you both can reap the benefits of aerobic exercise!
*Interestingly, strengthening exercises (although still beneficial for a host of reasons) do not affect executive functioning scores to this degree.
Source: Medina, J. (2014). Brain rules for baby: How to raise a smart and happy child from zero to five. Seattle, WA: Pear Press.
0 Comments