Physical Activity Breaks
Our bodies are made to move and it’s extremely important for our students to have physical activity breaks throughout the day. Movement instantly improves blood flow throughout the body, helping our brain and body to function better. Research shows that physical activity creates better learners, improved brain function, higher retention of material, and several other benefits for a student’s brain functioning.
Physical activity not only improves our brain function, but also improves concentration, cuts down on off-task behaviors, and helps kids focus on learning following activity both in the classroom and inside of schools. Lastly, movement promotes better overall health and the many benefits that come with participating in physical activity throughout the day.
What does physical activity do for us?
Why is it so important?
Academic Benefits:
- Higher academic performance
- Ability to concentrate
- Memory (higher retention)
- Overall cognitive performance
- Promotes the growth of new brain cells
Behavioral Benefits:
- Helps focus and stay on-task
- Lessens off-task behaviors, such as disruptions from learning
- Fewer disciplinary incident
- More attentive
- Improved mood
Health Benefits:
- Improves physical fitness and overall health
- Improves the immune system and lessens the chance of getting sick
- Reduces the risk of certain diseases
- Lessens stress & anxiety
- Improves mental/emotional health
Learning Environment Benefits:
- Supports and improves learning environment for all students
- Physical activity is a natural medication to help relieve stress and anxiety
- Physical activity breaks have been shown to effectively help students with ADHD
- Physical activity breaks have been shown to effectively help students with autism
- Physical activity breaks have been proven to improve our moods and mental health immediately following activity
Physical Activity Break Research & Resources
- Frontiers | Attention Improves During Physical Exercise in Individuals With ADHD | Psychology (frontiersin.org)
- Frontiers | Effects of Physical Exercise on Working Memory and Attention-Related Neural Oscillations | Neuroscience (frontiersin.org)
- Emerging Support for a Role of Exercise in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Intervention Planning (nih.gov)
- The Effects of Exercise on the Brain with Dr. John Ratey
- 12 Brain Rules- Dr. John Medina & Exercise - Brain Rules by John Medina on Vimeo
- IPHI_Enhanced_PE_Fact_Sheet.pdf (iphionline.org)
- Can exercise improve behavior? Help encouraging a child who has autism | Autism Speaks
- Why It Works - The Walking Classroom
- Measurement of the Effect of Physical Exercise on the Concentration of Individuals with ADHD (plos.org)
- Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors and Academic Grades (cdc.gov)
- Effects of Classroom-Based Physical Activities on Off-Task Behaviors and Attention: Kindergarten Case Study (nova.edu)
- Developmentally Appropriate Practices in Early Childhood Programs PSDAP.pdf (naeyc.org)
Physical Activity Break for the Workplace
Physical Activity Breaks
Our bodies are made to move and it’s extremely important for our students to have physical activity breaks throughout the day. Movement instantly improves blood flow throughout the body, helping our brain and body to function better. Research shows that physical activity creates better learners, improved brain function, higher retention of material, and several other benefits for a student’s brain functioning.
Physical activity not only improves our brain function, but also improves concentration, cuts down on off-task behaviors, and helps kids focus on learning following activity both in the classroom and inside of schools. Lastly, movement promotes better overall health and the many benefits that come with participating in physical activity throughout the day.
What does physical activity do for us?
Why is it so important?
Academic Benefits:
- Higher academic performance
- Ability to concentrate
- Memory (higher retention)
- Overall cognitive performance
- Promotes the growth of new brain cells
Behavioral Benefits:
- Helps focus and stay on-task
- Lessens off-task behaviors, such as disruptions from learning
- Fewer disciplinary incident
- More attentive
- Improved mood
Health Benefits:
- Improves physical fitness and overall health
- Improves the immune system and lessens the chance of getting sick
- Reduces the risk of certain diseases
- Lessens stress & anxiety
- Improves mental/emotional health
Learning Environment Benefits:
- Supports and improves learning environment for all students
- Physical activity is a natural medication to help relieve stress and anxiety
- Physical activity breaks have been shown to effectively help students with ADHD
- Physical activity breaks have been shown to effectively help students with autism
- Physical activity breaks have been proven to improve our moods and mental health immediately following activity
Physical Activity Break Research & Resources
- Frontiers | Attention Improves During Physical Exercise in Individuals With ADHD | Psychology (frontiersin.org)
- Frontiers | Effects of Physical Exercise on Working Memory and Attention-Related Neural Oscillations | Neuroscience (frontiersin.org)
- Emerging Support for a Role of Exercise in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Intervention Planning (nih.gov)
- The Effects of Exercise on the Brain with Dr. John Ratey
- 12 Brain Rules- Dr. John Medina & Exercise - Brain Rules by John Medina on Vimeo
- IPHI_Enhanced_PE_Fact_Sheet.pdf (iphionline.org)
- Can exercise improve behavior? Help encouraging a child who has autism | Autism Speaks
- Why It Works - The Walking Classroom
- Measurement of the Effect of Physical Exercise on the Concentration of Individuals with ADHD (plos.org)
- Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors and Academic Grades (cdc.gov)
- Effects of Classroom-Based Physical Activities on Off-Task Behaviors and Attention: Kindergarten Case Study (nova.edu)
- Developmentally Appropriate Practices in Early Childhood Programs PSDAP.pdf (naeyc.org)