Active Kids Learn Better
Just as Einstein interpreted space and time, so too a young child’s “football brain” is doing the same thing. Not only does a child have to be able to physically control the ball with his or her feet, but they also have to calculate space and time. Children learn to judge the speed and arrival time of the approaching ball, the nearness of the opposing player, or the force needed to get the ball to a team mate before the opposing player enters the same space. So yes, your little football player might be a little Einstein!
Holistic education has always been the focus for schools in Singapore, where importance of CCAs in conjunction with studies are championed. Let’s peek into your active child's mind and understand why it is strongly encouraged to balance both.
Red areas are very active, blue areas are least active.
Credits: Research and scans by Dr. Charles Hillman, University of Illinois
Football for the Brain
Promotes brain cell repair
Physical activity increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) responsible for brain cell repair.Reduces stress, depression and anxiety
Exercise releases positive neurochemicals Dopamine, Serotonin, Endorphins and Oxytocin.Boosts decision making skills
In football, unpredictable situations are constantly faced and you need to think on your feet, as every decision leads to immediate consequences.Improves multi-tasking and planning
Football demands multi-faceted coordination. Hand-eye-leg coordination in every player, and group coordination within the team.Lengthens attention span
Studies have shown that an increase in physical energy helps strengthen mental energy and stamina.Improves memory
Exercise activates the temporal lobe, which is responsible for storing sensory memories.Improves communication skills
Playing on a team with other peers forces you to interact in ways you wouldn’t learn at school. To win as a team, you must play as a team.
Fun Fact: Football overcomes evolution! Since the dawn of time, humans used legs and feet for locomotion while arms and hands were used for finer coordination actions. Consequently, there are more nerve endings in our hands than in our feet, giving the hands greater “natural” abilities. Football counters this pre-ordained physical limit when feet learn muscle movements and gain abilities to stop and shoot the ball, dribble and juggle.
Read more at: https://www.takethemagicstep.com/training-exercise/families/childhood-soccer-a-playground-bursting-with-benefits/