Are you looking for strategies to learn how to improve behavior in school? Perhaps you’ve tried visual supports, classroom rules, and more. Have you ever considered aerobic exercise to improve self regulation and behavior in your students? This is an evidence based strategy that can help your students succeed! What Does the Research Say About […]
Movement in the classroom and brain breaks are becoming more and more popular to help students. What does the research say on exercise and executive function in children? Executive functioning in children include skills such as working memory, impulse control, focus, emotional control, organization, planning, and self-monitoring! Methodology of the Study on Exercise and Executive […]
How to do a jumping jack? Seems pretty easy right – a simple jumping jack. Well, it actually isn’t that easy! This exercise can be done anywhere with no equipment and it is a full body workout! If you are a school based OT or PT, you most likely have taught students how to do […]
Physical Activity and Math Skills in Elementary School The Journal of Physical Activity and Health published research on physical activity and math skills in elementary school. In the study, a group of eighty-five 4th-grade students were randomly assigned to a physically active group or a classroom group. The physically active group of students participated in […]
Acute Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Cognitive Flexibility in Children with ADHD Journal of Attention Disorders published research investigated the acute effects of aerobic exercise on cognitive flexibility in children with ADHD along with heart rate variability. Using a cross-over design, 36 participants (18 children with ADHD and 18 neurotypical peers) completed cognitive assessments following exercise […]
Right now, fidget spinners are everywhere. Whether they are banned from your school or not, here is a fun way to add in some overall exercise while your spinner spins! You can download your FREE fidget spinner workout below. Years ago, I created a fun printable with a different DIY spinning top (you can view […]
Some students may have difficulties keeping up with their peers in physical education class, recess or walking in a classroom line. Finding feasible endurance activities can be difficult in the school setting. One school I worked at actually had a gorgeous work out room with treadmills, exercise bicycles, ellipticals and full nautilus equipment. The reality […]
Pediatrics published research on 221 children (7-9 years old) who were randomly assigned to either a 9 month after school physical activity program or a wait list group. Following the intervention various measurements were recorded: changes in maximal oxygen consumption, electrical activity in the brain and behavioral measures (accuracy, reaction time) of executive control. The […]
JAMA Pediatrics published a research study on The Healthy Eating Aerobic and Resistance Training in Youth (HEARTY) that included 304 overweight teens between the ages of 14 to 18. All were given the same four weeks of diet counseling to promote healthy eating and weight loss before being randomly placed into four groups: 1) resistance […]
A recent Dartmouth study of 85 participants (ages 17-21 years old) compared selective visual attention, reading comprehension and stress levels of low income and high income students following 12 minutes of jogging in place in the individual’s target heart rate zone. The following results were recorded: 1. both groups saw improvement in selective visual attention up […]