Moving is SMART: benefits of daily physical activity

There is increasing talk about the benefits of physical activity and its importance for optimal development and maintaining good health as we age. Several school initiatives have also emerged to encourage students and their families to move more and eat better to create healthy lifestyle habits. However, the focus is often on the positive effects that activity has on our appearance. In contrast, we tend to forget the many other benefits we gain from moving regularly. Indeed, physical activity also has significant positive impacts on all areas of development: intellectual and cognitive, emotional, social, and physical.

Intellectual and cognitive sphere

Sport activates blood flow and allows for better oxygenation of brain cells, thus facilitating learning by improving concentration capacity and working memory. It is therefore advantageous to set aside a short time to move before rushing to perform a task that requires sustained attention. This tip applies even more to children when they return from school. In addition, activating the body significantly prevents daily stress and anxiety, by reducing symptoms of physical discomfort such as muscle tension, headaches, extreme fatigue, etc. If your children tend to experience anxiety, you have even more reason to allow them a little more free time before homework! This natural phenomenon produced during physical activity also helps to reduce the risk of suffering from neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's and/or to maintain the current state for as long as possible. In the same vein, serotonin secreted during physical exercise helps prevent and combat depression by restricting negative and automatic thoughts that are normally generated by the prefrontal cortex (front part of the brain).

Emotional sphere

Exercise also increases self-esteem and self-confidence by setting goals that allow us to surpass ourselves. A little trick for your children to set achievable goals to avoid the opposite effect? Rely on the S.M.A.R.T. acronym. The goal set must therefore be:

• S: Simple and Specific, focused on the desired development.
• M: Measurable and easily quantifiable and/or have observable progress.
• A: Achievable according to current potential and abilities.
• R: Realistic.
• T: Time-bound. Have a predefined period that has a beginning and an end.

Team sports, meanwhile, offer a sense of attachment and belonging to their members. Children can therefore learn concepts surrounding teamwork, trust in others, and benefit from the encouragement and support of their teammates to help them understand the value each individual brings to the team.

Social sphere

With so many endorphins (pleasure hormones) after a "game," a weekly class, or a one-off activity, how can one resist the good mood of others? In addition to getting us moving, physical activity practiced in small or large groups allows us to socialize with people who have a common interest with us. This simplifies the approach for children who are shyer or a little awkward.

Physical sphere

And finally, we couldn't ignore the physical sphere. Continuous activity practiced 4 to 8 hours before bedtime helps prevent insomnia and promotes restorative sleep. In addition, exercise increases our strength and endurance to make other activities less demanding and eventually allow us to diversify and multiply our sources of pleasure through physical activity.

Still not convinced of the benefits of physical activity? Go for a run or play for 15 minutes with your children and get back to me afterwards!

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