The Role of Movement in the Classroom

The modern education system has formatted learning in a way that removes movement from a children’s day. Students go to school for 7 hours a day where they sit in desks and receive instruction. There are limited opportunities to move and use their bodies. This limited movement puts both children’s physical health and cognitive development at risk. Research has shown links between chronic exercise, cognition, and mental and physical health in children and adolescents (Graham et al, 2021). Studies have shown that the ages of 0 years old to 5 years old are a critical time for cognitive and behavioral development in humans (Mavilidi et al, 2021). During this time there is a large amount of brain growth and development. The basis for a healthy life style is, in part, built during this influential period in a child’s life. Additionally, physical activity can increase cognition and psychosocial health in children. The recommended duration of physical activity for children ages 3 – 5 is 180 minutes per day. This lack of exercise is not limited to the under 5 age bracket. Research shows that adolescents are also, on average, not getting enough daily exercise (James et al, 2017). The recommended exercise requirement for this age group is at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day (Damian et al, 2018). However, many children and adolescents also do not meet the daily suggested amount of physical activity. Therefore, integrating physical activity into the school day could have significant benefits to children’s and adolescent’s cognitive, mental, and physical health. It has been found that exercise, in short bouts, can help to improve overall health. Physical movement is integral to the development of all children. As children interact with their environment they gain motor, social, emotional, and cognitive skills (Lee et al, 2021). Often times, students need movement-based experiences in order to learn new information. Movement experiences give context and meaning to new information.

Grantor dc:publisher

SUNY Brockport, Department of Education and Human Development

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Michalak, Katherine L

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Kagle, Melissa

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12648/14095

OAI record oai:identifier

https://soar.suny.edu/oai/request/?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Asoar.suny.edu%3A20.500.12648%2F14095