Benefits of extracurricular sports extend into the classroom

Extracurricular sports have long been promoted as a way of keeping children healthy, but new research suggests they could also provide benefits in the classroom, helping children remain engaged and disciplined. The study suggests an association between physical activity and self-regulation from kindergarten to fourth grade. The study, published in the American Journal of Health Promotion, found that children who regularly participated in structured sports were better at following instructions and remaining focused in the classroom than their peers by the time they reached fourth grade. "There is something specific to the sporting environment - perhaps the unique sense of belonging to a team, a special group with a common goal - that appears to help kids understand the importance of respecting the rules and honoring responsibilities," explains study author Linda Pagani of the University of Montreal, Canada. For the study, Pagani and colleagues analyzed data obtained from the Quebec Longitudinal Study on Child Development on 2,694 children born between 1997 and 1998. Trial Packs () with free prescription She explains the aims of the study: "Our goal was to answer two questions: firstly, does participation in extracurricular activities in kindergarten predict fourth-grade self-discipline, and secondly, do kindergarten self-discipline characteristics predict fourth-grade participation in sports?" Information was provided by both the teachers and parents of children in kindergarten, detailing the behavior of the children while in school and at home. Colofac (Mebeverine) Four years later, when the children had reached fourth grade, the information-gathering exercise was repeated. Once they had obtained the data, the researchers took into account other factors that could have influenced their findings such as the children s physical fitness, parental education levels and how well the family unit functioned. The researchers found that children who participated in structured activities such as sports while at kindergarten were more likely to be involved in sports by the time they reached fourth grade. Jelly Pack-30 () with free prescription In contrast, participating in unstructured activities had no impact on the child s future. Extracurricular sports could prevent kids from being left behind "Across the board, we found that children who had better behavior in the kindergarten class were more likely to be involved in sport by age 10," reports Pagani. About Capoten without Rx "Nonetheless, we found that those children who were specifically involved in team sports at kindergarten scored higher in self-regulation by the time they reached fourth grade." According to the researchers, sporting activities and attention skills are intrinsically linked, and school planning can use this association to the benefit of pupils. Buy Himcolin () without Rx Additionally, pupils deemed to be at risk of not getting enough exercise could be targeted to improve both obesity and school drop-out rates. "Programs to help parents develop their child s self-regulation skills and the availability of extracurricular sports programs as early as kindergarten could help decrease the risk of kids being left behind," Pagani suggests. The researchers hope that their findings can be of use to policymakers outside of schools as well, leading to improved access to parks and playgrounds for children and their families and to promoting active schools and communities as a whole. According to a report released this past December by the US Census Bureau, there are a large number of children that do not currently participate in extracurricular activities. Buy Hair Loss online Although children were found to be more likely to participate in sports than other activities, only 57% of children aged 6-17 participate in at least one after-school extracurricular activity. The report identified household structure as a factor that influenced how likely a child was to be involved in extracurricular activities. http://pharmaceuticaljournal.wordpress.com Children whose parents were married and lived together were more likely to participate than children living with cohabiting parents or a single parent. Recently, Medical News Today reported on a study finding that when teenagers exercise like young children - in short bursts of intense activity - their health outcomes are improved. Written by James McIntosh