Exercise Improves Concentration in Children
More physical activity means better concentration for kids.
New research shows exercise improves concentration. Physical activity, concentration and quality of life are interconnected for primary school children, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine (2022; 11 [5], 1326). Researchers at the Technical University of Munich evaluated 6,533 healthy boys and girls ages 6–10. Data analysis showed that higher fitness levels were associated with an increased ability to concentrate and an improved health-related quality of life. These factors contributed to better school performance and a greater likelihood to pursue more advanced studies in secondary school.
The research on how exercise improves concentration was so compelling that a school district near the university is giving all first-grade pupils in the region a voucher for a 1-year sports club membership. “Collaboration among parents, schools, communities and athletic clubs is very important when it comes to creating a comprehensive and appropriate range of possibilities,” said study author Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz, MD, PhD, professor of preventive pediatrics, Technical University of Munich.
See also: Executive Function: A Powerful Mode of Concentration
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA, is an internationally acknowledged integrative health and mindfulness specialist, best-selling author of 16 fitness and wellness books translated into multiple languages and sold worldwide, award-winning health journalist, contributing editor to Fitness Journal, media spokesperson, and IDEA's 2008 Fitness Instructor of the Year. She's a 25-year industry veteran and former health and fitness educator at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, who has served on multiple industry committees and co-authored trade books and manuals for ACE, ACSM and YMCA of the USA. She has appeared on TV worldwide and was a featured trainer on America's Next Top Model.
