The Link Between Afterschool Exercise and Math Skills

By Sam Piha

Erin Gibson, 10, worked on homework
during a study at Georgia Prevention Institute
 at Georgia Health Sciences University.

In the past, we have used this blog to promote the importance of active, physical activity within afterschool programs. A new study published in Health Psychology revealed that children in afterschool programs in Georgia engaging in regular exercise performed better on goal-oriented tasks and improved their math skills. 


According to Dr. Catherine L. Davis, associate professor of pediatrics at Georgia Health Sciences University, "You have to use your brain to exercise. It is not just that you are using your muscles. Your brain is coordinating your movements. Your brain is issuing the commands to the body to do the exercise. So it may be a direct stimulation of the neurons that are needed to exercise that makes the difference."


For a discussion of this study from Education Week, click here.