Story At-a-Glance
- Traditional education often separates the mind from the body, but neuroscience reveals an integrated relationship between movement and cognitive development.
- Physical activity directly stimulates neurogenesis, with exercise increasing Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)—what neuroscientist John Ratey calls “Miracle-Gro for the brain.”
- Movement triggers the release of key neurotransmitters (dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin) that prepare the brain for learning, with research showing up to 20% improvement in attention following just 20 minutes of moderate physical activity.
- Cross-hemispheric movements strengthen the corpus callosum, improving coordination between analytical and creative thinking, while also developing the cerebellum and vestibular system.
- Executive functions show significant improvement with increased physical activity, with physically active children consistently outperforming less active peers on executive function tests.
- Different types of movement benefit various learning needs: cross-lateral movements help with reading and language processing; spatial-temporal activities enhance math skills; cardiovascular exercise improves attention.
- Simple movement interventions include brain breaks (1-3 minute activities between tasks), embodied learning (physically representing concepts), and alternative seating options.
- Parents can support movement-enhanced learning by creating movement-friendly home environments, implementing simple movement activities for specific academic areas, and collaborating with schools.
- Age-appropriate approaches include exploratory movement for early childhood, structured movement games with cognitive components for elementary years, and choice-based physical activities for adolescents.
- Common concerns about movement integration can be addressed with research showing that time invested in movement pays off with more efficient learning and improved behavior.
- Movement is not merely beneficial for learning—it is essential, offering a natural, accessible, evidence-based intervention that improves not just learning but also physical health, mood, social connection, and joy in the learning process.
In classrooms across the country, a concerning trend has emerged: children are increasingly expected to learn while remaining seated for longer periods, even as physical education and recess times are reduced. This approach not only contradicts children’s natural inclination toward movement but also overlooks mounting scientific evidence about the crucial relationship between physical activity and cognitive development. For parents of children with learning disabilities, understanding this connection offers powerful opportunities to enhance learning through one of the most natural and accessible interventions available: movement.
The Brain-Body Connection: The Neuroscience of Movement and Learning
The traditional view of education often separates the mind from the body, treating learning as a purely cognitive process while movement is relegated to gym class. However, neuroscience research has revealed a far more integrated relationship:
Movement and Neurogenesis
Physical activity directly stimulates the growth of new neurons and neural connections, particularly in brain regions critical for learning:
BDNF Production: Exercise increases Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, a protein that neuroscientist John Ratey calls “Miracle-Gro for the brain.” BDNF promotes the survival of existing neurons and encourages the growth and differentiation of new neurons and synapses.
Hippocampal Development: The hippocampus, crucial for memory formation, responds particularly well to aerobic exercise. Research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed that regular physical activity increased hippocampal volume by 2%, effectively reversing age-related loss by 1-2 years.
Cortical Thickness: Studies using neuroimaging have demonstrated that physically fit children show greater cortical thickness in areas associated with cognitive control and memory compared to less active peers.
Dr. Charles Hillman, a leading researcher in the field of exercise neuroscience, explains: “We’re finding that children who are more physically active and aerobically fit have improved brain function, better cognitive performance, and higher academic achievement compared to their less active peers.”
Optimizing Brain Chemistry for Learning
Movement triggers the release of key neurotransmitters that prepare the brain for learning:
Dopamine: Physical activity increases dopamine levels, enhancing attention, motivation, and perseverance – all crucial for engaging with challenging learning tasks.
Norepinephrine: Exercise boosts this neurotransmitter, which strengthens attention, perception, and motivation while also retrieving and storing information more effectively.
Serotonin: Movement increases serotonin levels, which improves mood and helps regulate impulse control – a significant benefit for children who struggle with attention or behavior regulation.
Research published in the Journal of School Health found that children showed up to 20% improvement in attention-to-task following just 20 minutes of moderate physical activity, with effects lasting up to 45 minutes after the movement session ended.
Neurological Organization and Integration
Movement plays a crucial role in organizing and integrating neural systems:
Cross-Hemispheric Integration: Movements that cross the body’s midline strengthen the corpus callosum—the pathway connecting the brain’s hemispheres—improving coordination between analytical and creative thinking.
Cerebellar Development: Once thought to primarily control motor function, the cerebellum is now known to play a significant role in cognitive functions including attention, language processing, and sequential thinking. Movement directly stimulates cerebellar development.
Vestibular System Activation: The vestibular system (our balance sense) has extensive connections throughout the brain. Movement that challenges balance activates this system, indirectly strengthening neural networks involved in spatial awareness, attention, and emotional regulation.
Dr. Carla Hannaford, neurophysiologist and author of “Smart Moves,” notes: “Movement is essential for strengthening and expanding neural networks, which are the fundamental grounds for learning. Movement activates the neural wiring throughout the body, making the whole body the instrument of learning.”
How Movement Enhances Specific Learning Functions
Research has identified several specific cognitive functions that respond particularly well to physical activity:
Executive Function Enhancement
Executive functions—the cognitive skills that allow us to plan, focus, remember instructions, and manage multiple tasks—show significant improvement with increased physical activity:
Working Memory: Studies published in Health Psychology showed that children who engaged in regular aerobic exercise demonstrated 15-20% improvements in working memory capacity compared to sedentary control groups.
Cognitive Flexibility: Research in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that children who participated in activities requiring coordinated movements and decision-making showed enhanced cognitive flexibility, improving their ability to switch between tasks and adapt to new rules.
Inhibitory Control: Multiple studies have demonstrated that regular physical activity improves children’s ability to inhibit inappropriate responses and resist distractions—a critical skill for classroom success.
A meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine examining 59 studies found that physically active children consistently outperformed less active peers on executive function tests, with effect sizes ranging from moderate to large depending on the specific function measured.
Attention and Focus Improvement
For children who struggle with attention, movement offers particularly powerful benefits:
Sustained Attention: Research shows that just 20 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity can improve sustained attention for up to 2-3 hours afterward.
Selective Attention: Studies using EEG measurements have found that physically fit children show neural signatures of better attentional allocation, with greater activation in brain regions responsible for focusing on relevant stimuli.
Attention Reset: Brief movement breaks during learning tasks can help children who struggle with attention to “reset” their focus, preventing the attention fatigue that leads to disruptive behavior.
A study published in Pediatrics found that children diagnosed with ADHD who participated in 20 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise showed improvements in attention, inhibitory control, and academic performance comparable to the effects of stimulant medication, though for a shorter duration.
Memory Formation and Consolidation
Movement significantly impacts how we form and retain memories:
Encoding Enhancement: Physical activity before learning new material has been shown to improve initial encoding of information into memory.
Consolidation Support: Exercise after learning helps consolidate memories, making them more resistant to forgetting. A study in Cognitive Systems Research found that students who exercised after learning new vocabulary retained 20% more words after 24 hours compared to non-exercise groups.
Spatial Memory: Movement-based learning appears particularly effective for spatial memory. Research in Cognitive Development demonstrated that children who physically acted out spatial concepts showed better understanding and retention than those who merely observed demonstrations.
Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose of the University of British Columbia summarizes: “Exercise creates optimal conditions for our brains to learn and retain information. It’s like fertilizing the garden before planting seeds—you dramatically increase the likelihood of healthy growth.”
Movement Interventions for Different Learning Needs
Different types of movement benefit various aspects of learning and development, making it possible to target specific challenges:
For Reading and Language Processing
Children with dyslexia and language-based learning disabilities often benefit from:
Cross-Lateral Movements: Activities that cross the body’s midline help integrate the brain hemispheres, supporting the interhemispheric communication needed for reading. Examples include cross-crawls, figure eights, and contralateral movements.
Rhythm and Timing Activities: The phonological processing required for reading depends partly on timing mechanisms in the brain that are strengthened through rhythmic movement. Dancing, drumming, and rhythmic games help develop these neural timing systems.
Vestibular Stimulation: Activities that activate the vestibular system support visual tracking needed for reading. Spinning, swinging, and balance exercises have shown benefits for reading readiness and visual processing.
A two-year study published in the International Journal of Special Education found that students with dyslexia who participated in a movement program focusing on cross-lateral movements and vestibular stimulation showed twice the improvement in reading fluency compared to traditional interventions alone.
For Math and Spatial Reasoning
Mathematical thinking benefits from:
Spatial-Temporal Activities: Movement through space helps children develop mental maps and spatial reasoning. Activities like obstacle courses, navigation games, and spatial problem-solving strengthen neural networks that support mathematical thinking.
Fine Motor Coordination: The same brain regions involved in finger dexterity also activate during mathematical calculation. Manipulative activities, finger plays, and hand games support both fine motor development and neural readiness for math.
Pattern and Sequence Movements: Activities involving patterns, sequences, and rhythmic counting help develop the procedural memory systems that support mathematical operations.
Research from the University of Chicago demonstrated that children who used movement and gesture while learning mathematical concepts showed 30% better retention of those concepts compared to those who learned the same material without movement.
For Attention and Executive Function
Children with ADHD and executive function challenges benefit from:
Cardiovascular Exercise: Aerobic activity providing sustained elevation in heart rate appears most effective for attention enhancement. Running, swimming, cycling, and active games provide this benefit.
Complex Coordination Activities: Movements requiring planning, sequencing, and adapting to changing conditions build executive function skills. Martial arts, dance choreography, and complex playground games are excellent examples.
Proprioceptive Input: Activities that provide feedback about body position can help regulate attention systems. Resistive activities like pushing, pulling, carrying heavy objects, and compression exercises are particularly effective.
A study in the Journal of Attention Disorders found that children with ADHD who participated in a 12-week program of martial arts training showed significant improvements in all areas of executive function, with benefits persisting at a 12-month follow-up assessment.
For Emotional Regulation and Anxiety
Children with anxiety or emotional regulation difficulties benefit from:
Rhythmic, Repetitive Movements: Activities with predictable rhythms help regulate the nervous system. Rocking, swinging, and repetitive locomotion (like walking or swimming) activate self-soothing neural mechanisms.
Breath-Connected Movement: Activities that synchronize movement with breath, such as simplified yoga or tai chi, help children develop self-regulation skills by connecting voluntary movement with autonomic functions.
Expressive Movement: Dance, creative movement, and embodied emotional expression provide outlets for processing emotions through physical pathways, reducing the cognitive load of emotional regulation.
Research published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found that regular participation in dance movement therapy significantly reduced anxiety symptoms and improved emotional regulation in children with anxiety disorders, with effects comparable to cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Movement in Daily Learning: Practical Implementation
Integrating movement into learning doesn’t require expensive equipment or specialized training—simple, consistent approaches yield significant benefits:
Movement Breaks During Academic Work
Brief movement activities during learning sessions can refresh attention and enhance cognitive function:
Brain Breaks: Short (1-3 minute) movement activities between academic tasks help reset attention. Examples include jumping jacks, animal walks, or simple dance movements.
Cognitive Reset Activities: Movements specifically designed to integrate brain hemispheres, such as cross-lateral movements or Brain Gym® exercises, can prepare the brain for challenging cognitive tasks.
Sensory Circuit Activities: A sequence of alerting, organizing, and calming movements helps children achieve an optimal state for learning. This might include jumping or spinning (alerting), balance activities (organizing), and slow rocking or deep pressure (calming).
Research from the University of Illinois found that classrooms implementing regular movement breaks showed a 10% improvement in on-task behavior and an 8% improvement in academic performance compared to control classrooms.
Movement-Integrated Learning Activities
Learning activities that incorporate movement directly into content acquisition:
Embodied Learning: Teaching concepts through physical representation—for example, forming letter shapes with the body, walking through the water cycle, or physically acting out historical events.
Academic Games with Movement: Adding movement components to review activities—like tossing a ball while practicing math facts, spelling hopscotch, or vocabulary charades.
Learning Stations: Organizing content into stations that require students to move between different locations while learning different aspects of a topic.
A study in the Journal of STEM Education found that students who learned scientific concepts through embodied activities showed 40% better conceptual understanding and 35% better retention compared to students who learned the same concepts through traditional sedentary methods.
Movement-Supportive Learning Environments
Creating spaces that encourage beneficial movement throughout the day:
Alternative Seating: Options like therapy balls, wobble stools, standing desks, or floor-sitting areas allow natural movement while learning.
Manipulative Access: Having fidgets, squeeze balls, or other manipulatives available for children who concentrate better with subtle motor activity.
Movement-Permissive Classrooms: Creating classroom norms that allow children to stand, stretch, or change positions as needed rather than enforcing rigid stillness.
Research from Texas A&M University showed that classrooms using alternative seating options saw a 15% increase in time on task and a 17% decrease in behavioral incidents compared to traditional seating.
Implementing Movement at Home: Practical Strategies for Parents
Parents can support movement-enhanced learning through simple, consistent practices:
Creating Movement-Friendly Home Learning Environments
Physical Setup:
- Designate space for movement that’s easily accessible during study times
- Provide alternative seating options like therapy balls, floor cushions, or standing surfaces
- Create a “movement corner” with basic equipment like jump ropes, balance boards, or simple exercise cards
Schedule Considerations:
- Build movement breaks into homework routines (5 minutes of activity for every 20-25 minutes of focused work)
- Consider the timing of physical activities relative to challenging learning tasks, using movement strategically when attention wanes
- Create family routines that incorporate both movement and learning (active educational outings, learning-based scavenger hunts)
Family Culture:
- Model the movement-learning connection by demonstrating your own movement breaks
- Validate and support physical learning styles rather than enforcing stillness
- Celebrate improvements that come through movement integration
Simple Movement Activities for Academic Enhancement
For Reading Development:
- Letter and word hopscotch
- Reading while on a swing or rocking chair
- “Spelling walks” where each step represents a letter
- Tracing letters with large arm movements before writing them
For Mathematical Thinking:
- Counting combined with movements (jumping, clapping, hopping)
- Using the body to form shapes and angles
- Measuring distances by walking, jumping, or reaching
- Creating physical number lines to walk through math problems
For Attention and Focus:
- “Power breaks” with jumping jacks, wall pushes, or animal walks between tasks
- Isometric exercises or heavy work before challenging concentration tasks
- Balance challenges as brief reset activities
- Cross-lateral movements when attention starts to wander
For Memory Enhancement:
- Adding movements to information that needs to be remembered
- Action-based review games for test preparation
- “Walkabout studying” where different locations in a walking route are associated with different information
- Rhythmic movement paired with facts or vocabulary
Movement Across Development: Age-Appropriate Approaches
The relationship between movement and learning evolves as children develop:
Early Childhood (Ages 3-6)
Developmental Movement Needs:
- Fundamental movement pattern development
- Vestibular and proprioceptive system maturation
- Cross-lateral integration
- Fine and gross motor skill development
Effective Approaches:
- Free play in varied environments
- Exploratory movement with minimal instruction
- Songs with movements and fingerplays
- Obstacle courses and sensory exploration
- Basic rhythm activities and dancing
Dr. Rebecca Isbell, early childhood education expert, notes: “Young children learn primarily through movement and sensory experiences. Their cognitive understanding is literally built upon their physical exploration of the world.”
Elementary Years (Ages 7-11)
Developmental Movement Needs:
- Refinement of motor skills
- Development of sequential and coordinated movements
- Integration of reflexes
- Establishment of dominance patterns
Effective Approaches:
- Structured movement games with cognitive components
- Sports that develop specific skills while maintaining enjoyment
- Movement integrated directly with academic content
- Rhythmic activities with increasing complexity
- Adventure-based learning and outdoor education
Research published in Preventive Medicine found that elementary-aged children who received an additional 30 minutes of physical activity daily showed 25% better academic progress over an academic year compared to control groups.
Adolescence (Ages 12-18)
Developmental Movement Needs:
- Adaptation to changing body proportions
- Integration of movement with identity development
- Stress management through movement
- Development of lifelong physical activity habits
Effective Approaches:
- Choice-based physical activities aligned with interests
- Movement as stress regulation and mental health support
- Complex coordination activities that challenge the brain
- Competitive options for those motivated by competition
- Creative movement and expression opportunities
A longitudinal study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that teenagers who maintained regular physical activity showed better academic performance, reduced symptoms of depression, and better executive function compared to those whose activity levels declined during adolescence.
Overcoming Barriers to Movement Integration
Despite the compelling evidence, various obstacles can hinder the implementation of movement-based approaches:
Addressing Common Concerns
“We don’t have time for movement—we’re behind academically already.”
Research consistently shows that time invested in movement pays off with more efficient learning. A study in the Journal of Teaching Physical Education found that schools that reduced academic time by 240 minutes per week to incorporate additional physical activity showed no decrease in test scores, and many showed improvements.
“My child resists physical activity—they say they’re not athletic.”
Movement for learning doesn’t require athletic ability or competitive sports. Focus on enjoyable, success-oriented movement rather than performance or comparison. Start with simple movements directly connected to immediate learning benefits so children can experience the cognitive “boost” firsthand.
“Won’t movement make my hyperactive child more stimulated?”
Properly structured physical activity typically improves rather than worsens hyperactive behavior. Research in the Journal of Attention Disorders demonstrated that children with hyperactivity who engaged in 20 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise showed reduced hyperactive behaviors for up to 2-3 hours afterward.
“Our school has very traditional expectations for student behavior.”
Start small, sharing specific research with teachers about the learning benefits of movement. Propose a trial period with measurable outcomes, or request accommodations based on your child’s specific learning needs. Many traditionally-minded educators change their perspective when they see the concrete academic benefits.
Motivation and Consistency
Maintaining consistent movement practices requires:
Making It Enjoyable:
- Incorporate elements of play and personal interest
- Allow choice within movement options
- Celebrate progress and improvements
- Make it social when possible
Tracking Benefits:
- Keep simple records of focus, mood, or academic performance relative to movement
- Help children notice and articulate how they feel after movement
- Document improvements to maintain motivation during plateaus
- Share patterns and successes with teachers and specialists
Building Sustainable Habits:
- Start small with high-probability-of-success activities
- Attach movement to existing routines (e.g., movement breaks before each subject)
- Create environmental cues and consistent times for movement activities
- Develop family movement traditions that support cognitive development
Conclusion: Movement as a Fundamental Learning Tool
The evidence is clear: movement is not merely beneficial for learning—it is essential. From enhancing brain structure and function to improving specific cognitive processes like attention, memory, and executive function, physical activity offers powerful support for all learners, especially those facing challenges.
For too long, we have approached learning as a primarily sedentary, cognitive process, overlooking the fundamental role of the body in brain development and function. This disconnect has been particularly problematic for children with learning differences, many of whom might benefit significantly from more movement-based approaches.
Dr. John Ratey summarizes the current understanding: “Exercise is not just about physical health and fitness. It’s about growing the brain, improving learning and mental health. The evidence is overwhelming that movement is cognitive candy.”
As parents and educators, we can choose to harness this powerful tool. We can transform our approach from “sit still and learn” to “move and grow.” By integrating appropriate movement into daily learning, we provide children with the neurological support their developing brains need to thrive.
Movement truly is medicine—a natural, accessible, evidence-based intervention that addresses not just the symptoms of learning challenges but their neurological foundations. And unlike many interventions, its side effects are entirely positive: improved physical health, enhanced mood, better social connection, and greater joy in the learning process.
For children struggling with learning, the prescription is clear: move more, learn better.
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Note: This blog post is intended for educational purposes only. While the strategies described are evidence-based, individual children may require different approaches based on their unique needs and circumstances. Always consult with appropriate healthcare and educational professionals when implementing new interventions for children with significant learning challenges.
