According to a new study, students who exercise and play in school have better thinking abilities which helps them perform better.
All work and no play makes jack a dull boy! That's so true when it comes to education as well. Researchers of a new study found that students who exercise and play in school have better thinking abilities, which helps them perform better academically.
"These results provide a compelling argument to universities that a higher student retention rate could be enhanced just by having adequate recreational and fitness facilities for students," the study authors said in a press statement.
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. They approached school administrators at public elementary schools in the surrounding communities and asked if they could recruit the school's 8- and 9-year-old students for an after-school exercise program.
"A sedentary life and poor eating habits can lower kids' performance in the classroom and start a cycle of health problems later in life," says Kathleen Tullie, founder and executive director of BOKS and the director of Social Responsibility for Reebok. "Simply stated, a healthy body and a healthy brain go hand in hand."
The study doesn't necessarily indicate that only exercising boosts academic performances. Any type of physical activities including sports can provide similar benefits. This is probably one reason why many educationalists have debated that some form of physical activities should be included in school curriculums.
Another study found that students that join a gym have higher GPA scores than those that spend more time in the library. What's more? Students that have a gym or recreational club membership tend to stay in school longer. Researcher reported a 3.5 percent higher retention rate among such students.
A very recent study also highlighted that kids who play sports in school enjoy better mental health as adults. Other reports have also highlighted that physical activities in school inculcate team spirit in children, boost their self-esteem and make them more competitive in life.
Findings of the study were published in the Recreational Sports Journal.
