The Mind and Body Connection

The mind and body are not two separate things that develop on their own. They are two very connected elements that play a vital and intertwined role in the development of a child. A strong body creates a healthy environment for a mind to thrive and grow. 

As a child moves and plays and learns new physical skills their brain creates neuro pathways that allows their mind to learn more academically. As a child runs and raises their heart rate they increase their cardio vascular health which helps their body provide enough oxygen to the brain so it can process mentally.

Hannaford shares in Smart Moves that "A coordinated series of movements produces increased neurotrophins (natural neural growth factors) and a greater number of connections among neurons." This means with movement the brain can actually be stimulated to create new growth and more connections. We can give our children tools for developing more mentally and academically by helping them lay a ground work of neural growth through movement.

Supporting our kids academically is closely tied to supporting them physically.