More sport for smarter kids!
Being physically active helps them gain confidence and give them the taste for effort. Did you know that encouraging children to play outside has a positive effect on their cognitive performance? Besides, they have improved language skills and they are better at managing their emotions? For proper neurological function, the brain needs sugar, oxygen and nutrients. The blood flow that irrigates the neurons is absolutely essential during physical activity. The brain is therefore well nourished and performs better. Children who practice more sports see their school results improving.
Since many years, the World Health Organization has recommended 60 minutes of sports activities per day for children between five and 17 years old. However, according to a study carried out in France, this recommendation is rarely respected. Only 50.7% of boys and 33.3% of girls practice enough sports. In 40 years, young French people have lost a quarter of their cardiovascular capacity! The lack of exercise among children has become a real public health problem.
In September 2022, teachers are encouraged to organise sports activities with their pupils. The French Ministry of National Education introduced an additional 30 minutes of sports activities daily in the schools besides of the 3 hours per week already set. We can only encourage such policy initiatives for the well-being of our kids, their academic performance and their future career.