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By Martin Martinson

Healthy body, healthy mind

Physical activity offers running start to a healthy school year

Aug 28, 2019 | 4:05 PM

As the summer season winds down and the leaves begin to change, a new school year is on the horizon.

Whether getting involved with an extracurricular sports team, or enjoying the refreshing fall breeze on the walk to school with friends, the new school year brings with it an opportunity to get a running start on establishing an active lifestyle.

Professor in Kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S), Dr. Louise Humbert said in addition to the obvious physical benefits that come from exercise, an active lifestyle is also an important part of keeping mentally sharp for students as well, as they return to the classroom.

“Physical activity has a lot of benefits for children in all ways, but I think more and more we are hearing about the benefits of physical activity for mental health and learning,” she said. “There is a great deal of research about [exercise] helping the brain get ready to learn, and helping it tune in a little bit better.”

Humbert said some schools have also started taking a brief break mid-class when the collective attention of students begins to wander, to offer a quick activity designed to help to engage the brain and get children up and moving.

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Saskatchewan in Motion is one resource offering ideas for such activities that allow the students to move around a bit and return to their work refocused.

Humbert added that while the education system can do their part in helping to encourage an active lifestyle amongst the students at school, parents and guardians also play an essential role in helping children and youth get out and active.

“Most children want to be with their parents, [and] they want to be outside with them,” she said. “The more parents can model an active lifestyle, and the more parents and teachers can do to help encourage getting active, the more you are going to get that learning benefit in schools, and also the health benefits around physical activity for children.”

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1