Contributed by JC BoushhResearch by Dr. Antonio Convit may link academic performance with child obesity. In a recent article in the Huffington Post he shared his findings on the possible negative effects of childhood obesity. Dr. Convit began his research studying childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes, and soon began to see a possible correlation with obesity and cognitive learning. He used several research methods to test children’s performance…

by JC BoushhArchitect Gerald Reifert, who specializes in school design, writes in the Daily Journal of Commerce that early childhood outdoor environments need several key design elements. They need areas to test their limits, areas that create comfort, areas for developing competency, and areas for learning self-control, and exposure to nature. Each one of these design elements plays an optimal role in creating not only a great outdoor play envi…

Contributed by JC Boushh
A 2009 study by Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University researchers published in Pediatrics links recess with better behavior and increases in student’s ability to learn. The study looked at approximately 11,000 third grade boy and girl students, who were enrolled in the National Early Childhood Longitudinal Study. What researchers found was that children who had more than 15 minutes a day of unstructure…

Contributed by JC BoushhThe human brain is a miraculous organ, and over the last two decades we have learned more about the brain than we have in the entire history of the human race. Advancements in brain imaging have allowed researchers to discover a vital link between brain health and physical activity. The effects of physical activity increase the brain’s ability to learn and make vital neural connections throughout our lifespan and especial…

Contributed by JC BoushhAccording to the recent findings published in The New England Journal of Medicine researchers from the obesity center at Temple University are seeing an overall decline in childhood obesity in their study group of 4,500 students. Researchers followed students from sixth grade to eighth grade and half of the students in the study were involved in higher levels of physical activity and a healthier cafeteria diet. Preliminar…