Keep your teen moving! Studies show that aerobic exercise increases the volume of the hippocampus – that portion of the brain responsible for transferring information into memory. In other words, by being active, a teen can actually impact the structure and performance of his or her brain. In fact, researchers have found that in addition to regular exercise, being active right before performing mental tasks can yield improved results. Some schools have put these findings to work by scheduling physical education classes for struggling students right before their most challenging subject. Your teen might not have that option at school, but he or she can put the same strategy to work at home. Here’s how:
Rather than sitting down to do homework right after walking in the door, encourage your teen to do something active: jog or walk around the block, ride his skateboard, or take a bike ride. Just like priming an engine, he will be warming up his brain for mental work.- Does your teen get frustrated or stressed out over homework? Blowing off steam just might be the answer. Next time your teen hits a roadblock with an assignment, don’t scold her for stopping. Instead, let her engage in something physical that takes her mind off the frustration and gets her heart pumping.
- During seasons of intense study, such as prior to final exams, standardized testing or college admissions tests, help your teen incorporate movement into his study breaks. Suggest that he plan intervals of exercise into his study sessions, like going outside to shoot hoops with a friend after a couple of hours.
- Help your teen find an activity she can stick with on a regular basis. Scientists have found that the impact of exercise on the brain is sustained over time. Fitter bodies coincide with fitter brains.
