Physical exercise is an important aspect of human life. Several available pieces of evidence demonstrate how physical exercise correlates with brain plasticity, which impacts human cognition and wellbeing. According to Santrock (2018), physical exercise induces both structural and functional modifications of the brain, resulting in biological and mental benefits. In this regard, maintained physical exercise is associated with improved grades in schools, increased executive functions, and longer attention spans because exercise improves meditation and promotes brain plasticity.
Physical exercise improves the action of meditation in students. For instance, according to Santrock (2018), meditation promotes the thickness of the cerebral cortex of the brain which promotes more connections of brain cells resulting in improved mental sharpness and memory ability. In addition, Santrock (2018) argues that exercise in school-going children promotes brain plasticity by necessitating the growth of new connections of brain cells. The effect is an increase in oxygen within the brain cells, which reduces the risk of memory disorders, hence reducing memory loss. Moreover, there is increased attention due to improved executive functions, which results in good grades in school.
Based on the above illustrations, there are several ways in which the brain’s cognitive functions in children can be improved through physical activity. As such, parents should encourage physical activity in their children to necessitate the gain of such functions. For instance, parents can be role models for their children by encouraging physical exercise. Since children emulate the environment and actions of their parents, children will participate in physical exercises just because their parents do. Moreover, to encourage physical exercise in children, parents can promote gift-giving to children who participate in exercise activities. Because children love gifts, a majority will be encouraged to participate for gifts purposes.
Reference
Santrock, J. W. (2018). Life-span development. (17th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.