Two Studies Supporting Brain Breaks for Improving Thinking

 Everything in our lives depends on our brain health and growth, especially at formative ages when the brain is still growing. Recently, two studies were published in Pediatrics focused on giving the growing brains of children a break from studying, to improve their thinking skills. One study focused on an after school program that increased non-competitive physical activity and how it correlated to improvement in cognitive function. The second study focused on children recovering from concussions and how giving the brain a rest from both physical and mentally stimulating activities is important for a fast and full recovery. 

The first study (summarized by NPR) focused on active play by observing just over a hundred students who take part in an after school program at the University of Illinois. The program, Fitness Improves Thinking in Kids (FITKids),  was simple – the kids meet after school for 70 minutes of active play with a short lesson on nutrition and fitness. When students participating in the program were given multitasking tests, their responses were more accurate and faster than their peers who did not participate in the after school program. Brain scans during the tests showed that kids who participated longer in the FITKids program showed a greater increase in brain activity than their peers who participated in the program for a shorter duration. 

Conclusion? Small changes in physical activity greatly improves a child's thinking skills, not just their physical health. For teachers this means using activities like Brain Breaks in the classroom, especially on those days with indoor recess. Brain Breaks are pauses during learning to do an activity that doesn't take much, if any, cognitive functioning to perform. See the link here for over 50 Brain Breaks that teachers can use in their classrooms. Parents can do their part too by increasing physical activity as a family – family bike rides, trips to the park, walking the dog, etc.

In another recent study found in the journal of Pediatrics, children ages 15 and under who have suffered a concussion were found to recover in a faster amount of time (20 to 50 days) compared to those children that had homework, watched TV, played video games and even read (around 100 days recovery)!

The study was brought to national attention when a Oregon TV station, KATU.com, released the article titled: Kids Need to Lay of the Brain Work When Recovering From Concussions.
The new findings are in the report titled Effect of Cognitive Activity Level Duration of Post-Concussion Symptoms. This study suggests that children who have suffered a concussion should lessen their cognitive functioning during recovery if they are to recover at a faster rate.

What does that mean for parents? Plain and simple, your child should lay off the video games, TV, and even reading while recovering. What are alternatives, you may ask? Go for a walk, sit outside and enjoy nature, and most importantly, rest.

What about teachers? Surely, you can't expect educators to lay off the schoolwork? If your child's teacher is aware of the recent study, possibly modifications to assignments in class and homework can be made for the child for a period of time. Also, teachers could incorporate Brain Breaks that don't take much physical or cognitive functioning to perform.

Concussions are a serious medical concern that shouldn't be taken lightly with children. We hope that we have provided some helpful tips for teachers and parents when wondering about children with concussions.