Dear Parents,

As many of you know, physical activity does a body good. However, are you aware that physical activity also impacts the mind? It’s true! Several recent studies have shed light on this important fact.

In 2009, researchers Hillman and Castelli of the University of Illinois determined that physical activity benefited cognitive performance directly afterwards. The researchers had two groups perform a cognitive test; one group walked for a period of twenty minutes prior to the test and the other did not. In addition to higher test scores, the children who walked also demonstrated improved concentration and task focus. The physical activity, it seemed, primed students for learning. The researchers suggested incorporating physical activity in to the school day through daily outdoor recess, requiring physical education for 150 minutes in elementary school and 225 minutes per week in high school, and promoting the use of physical activity breaks in the classroom.

In 2002, the California Department of Education (CDE) sampled 954,000 students in grades five, seven, and nine. The CDE compared student test scores on the Stanford Achievement Test to their physical fitness test scores. The results indicated that there was a "distinct and linear correlation between students’ academic achievement and fitness scores." In essence, those students with higher fitness levels scored higher on the achievement test, particularly those students who passed three or more fitness standards. Similar results were also found for comparable studies in Massachusetts (2005) and Texas (2007).

The research is clear, physical activity improves both short and long-term cognitive function. This should come as no surprise since the brain and the body are linked; the performance of one directly affects the performance of the other.

So as a parent, what can you do? First, encourage your child to be physically active daily. The Physical Activity Guidelines published by the CDC in 2008 recommend 60 minutes of physical activity for children and adolescents each day. As a parent, promote physical activity your child enjoys – bike riding, basketball, and playing with friends among others. It’s okay to spread out the physical activity as well. For example, walking to the bus for 10 minutes, engaging in physical education for 30, and raking leaves for 20 minutes would equal the recommended 60 minutes. Also, don’t underestimate the power of your example; if you are active your child is more likely to be active as well. To download a fact sheet on the role of families in youth physical activity, go to:

www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/physicalActivity/toolkit/factsheet_pa_guidelines_families.pdf .

You will find helpful information and suggestions on what you can do at home.

Be active together, have fun, and enjoy these early days of fall.