Levels increase with exercise. The more exercise, the more BDNF. It
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Transcript Levels increase with exercise. The more exercise, the more BDNF. It
Why Do Children NEED Recess?
Unstructured Play
The American Academy of Pediatrics said in their policy statement, ”The Crucial Roll of Recess in
School” that:
Optimal cognitive processing in a child necessitates a period of interruption after a period of
concentrated instruction.19,20 The benefits of these interruptions are best served by unstructured
breaks rather than by merely shifting from 1 cognitive task to another to diminish stresses and
distractions that interfere with cognitive processing.9,11,15,20 Only recess (particularly
unstructured recess) provides the creative, social, and emotional benefits of play.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/131/1/183.full.pdf
Finland, #1 ranked schools in the world, gives children a 15 min break every hour. East Asia, also
top ranked, gives their children a 10 min break every 40 min. of structure.
http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/06/how-finland-keeps-kids-focused/373544/
Equipment:
Studies suggests kids who felt their recess facilities had a good stock of equipment were more
active during recess time than kids who did not. Providing recess materials encourages kids to
move.
http://breakingmuscle.com/family-kids/fight-for-the-right-to-recess-3-reasons-kids-need-break-time
http://activelivingresearch.org/increasing-physical-activity-through-recess
Neuroscience
Why our brains need a break and
how does exercise makes us smarter?
Muscles
and neurons are similar.
When we stress muscle cells or neurons,
they take in energy and produce waste.
One example is by lifting weights.
One example includes doing a new
math problem.
After working, these cells need a rest
period to mop up the waste.
After resting, the cells fortify themselves
against more stress and become stronger
making us more resilient.
Muscles cells grow bigger allowing
us to pick up heavier things, run
faster, and withstand physical
stress.
Neurons sprout more dendrites or branches,
making more connections or pathways for
information to travel = faster thinking. Their
myelin sheath grows fatter allowing signals to
travel faster. They also gain more receptors
allowing faster intake of energy as well as
producing more enzymes to quickly clean
up the waste. = Resiliency!
If these cells do not get a rest period
and are chronically stressed,
damage occurs.
www.thebrainperformancecenter.com
Chronic Stress cycle
When cells are not given a chance to rest and recuperate, your body will
produce a stress response.
Stress Response: During a stress response, your body releases cortisol,
Frontal Lobe or Prefrontal cortex:
The frontal cortex is a key structure for performing executive function skills
including:
Top-down signals used to retrieve specific information stored in long-term
memory.
The prefrontal cortex sends top-down signals to the posterior cortices to control
information retrieval.
A paired association task is used to examine neural correlates of top-down
signals in the prefrontal cortex.
Pair-selective visual responses may be top-down signals that the prefrontal
cortex provides for memory retrieval.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0928425713000223
initiating the fight or flight response. During this response the frontal cortex of the
brain shuts down and blood supply and glucose are taken away from the
frontal cortex of the brain and directed to muscles, lungs and heart. Why does
this matter?
HOW EXERCISE IMPROVES LEARNING
It optimizes your mind-set to improve alertness, attention and motivation.
It prepares and encourages never cells to bind to one another , which is the cellular
basis for logging in new information.
It spurs the development of new nerve cells from stem cells in the hippocampus
(memory center).
It improves cognitive flexibility, an important executive function that reflects our
ability to shift thinking and to produce a steady flow of creative thoughts and
answers as opposed to a regurgitation of the usual responses.
Exercise fires up the recovery process in our muscles and our neurons. It leaves our
bodies and minds more resilient and better able to handle future challenges, to
think on our feet, to adapt to changes.
Exercise and socializing (tribe) relieves stress= RECESS
Exercise protects the brain from the damage of stress, it raises the stress threshold so
you don’t get a stress response as early as you would if you didn’t exercise.
Info from Spark by John J. Ratey, MD
Conclusion: Recess is crucial
If schools don’t give children
recess/unstructured breaks throughout the
school day, they are setting the children up for
failure, and disciplining the children for the very
problems the schools have created or
perpetuated by not giving them the breaks
that they need. Some of these problems
include: not listening, not staying on task, not
controlling their emotions, not being organized
ect… executive function skills.
If children are put under this stress day after
day, it sets their brain up for the development
of ADHD, Anxiety and Depression because
they are not able to cope with the
environment that they have been put in.
http://education.jhu.edu/PD/newhorizons/strat
egies/topics/Keeping%20Fit%20for%20Learning
/stress.html
Over All parent survey results
The percentages on the following pages are taken from the 68% who said that they were not satisfied with recess..
79% said that their child did not have enough
recess time.
Are you satisfied with recess? 68% said no.
27% were satisfied.
Many parents personally responded that they
did not know the recess policies and
procedures.
Does your child have enough
recess time each day?
K- 100% said that their child did not have enough recess.
1st- 100% wanted more recess time. i.e. adding small 10 min breaks
between subjects for free time, more recesses.
2nd- 95% say their child does not have enough recess time
3rd- 100% wanted more recess. i.e. one their children only get to go
out to recess 2-3 times a week. One wanted a 30-40 min recess.
4th- 100% said that their child did not have enough recess
5th- 100% want more recess. i.e. 3 recesses per day.
6th- 100% wanted more recess time.
Are you satisfied with recess?
K - 87% want to see a change i.e more time, more supervision and
no sitting against the fence as discipline.
1st- 100% wanted to see a change. i.e. too many rules, not enough
equipment.
2nd - 95% want to see a change.
3rd- 95% want to see a change.
4th- 100% wanted to see a change in recess
5th - 100% were not satisfied with recess. i.e. not enough variety or
supervision
6th- Only 2 sixth grader took the survey. One wanted change and
one was not sure what happened during recess.
Are you happy with the way
recess is run?
K- 50/50 split on rules. i.e. better conflict resolution, too many restrictive rules like
banning tag, need movement on bad weather days. Some did not know the
rules and procedures.
1st- 87% said that they wanted to see improvement in recess procedures i.e. Too
many restrictions and rules, poor conflict resolution and bans from normal
games and tag.
2nd- 67% want to see improvement, 33% don’t know the recess policies i.e. one
said their child’s recess is used as a reward and their child feels like they are in
prison.
3rd- 85% said that they weren’t happy with the way recess was run. i.e. don’t
want structures to be off limits, too many restrictions.
4th- 50/50 split on recess procedures
5th- 75% would like to see improvements on how recess is run. i.e. too many rules
and restrictions, ban on tag.
6th- 50% wanted to change recess procedures and 50% didn’t know what they
were.
Do you think that your child has
enough recess equipment?
K- 53% said that they wanted more equipment. i.e. balls, jump ropes
1st- 100% said that they wanted more equipment. i.e. tetherballs, foursquare balls and the ability to run
2nd-68% want more equipment, 15% didn’t know about equipment.
3rd- 90% said that they would like more equipment. i.e. balls, jump ropes,
basketballs, a climbing structure.
4th- 75% said that their child has enough equipment.
5th- 75% said that they would like more equipment. i.e balls, jump ropes.
6th- 50/50 split on if there is enough equipment
There were many comments about not knowing what was available.
End
The following slides are notes and additional information.
Extra
Info
Neurons during exercise
Not only are neurons working, but during exercise, our neurons
ability to clean up waster improves, more mops show up to help.
Our Neuron forms more openings for glucose, taking in more energy
and becoming more efficient.
Levels of neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinerpherine and
dopamine increase, they regulate mood and concentration.
BDNF levels increase, this is like fertilizer for the brain increasing new
neuron cell growth.
There is room in the day for more
recess.
“Several studies demonstrated that recess, whether performed
indoors or outdoors, made children more attentive and more
productive in the classroom.11–13,16,19,21”
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/131/1/183.
full.pdf
There is substantial evidence that physical activity can help improve
academic achievement (including grades and standardized test
scores).
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/health_and_academics/pdf/p
ape_executive_summary.pdf
Ideas Page
Parents volunteer to do indoor recess on bad weather days, lead Just Dance, play active games ect..
Pedometers for all kids and have competitions, can your class make this bench mark, get popsicels at recess, or an extra recess. Use in the data in math and science.
Game of the month taught in PE and put on the news show. Recess team play it at recess
Under the desk bike pedals,
Indoor recess boxes with wheels
One 30 min recess
Teachers need to be in line of sight at all times for each part of the playground
Figure out how to let kids play on all parts of the playground, blacktop and field during recess, even though the blacktop is in a bad location.
Let kids play tag and touch football, foursquare
Add more recess
Get recess aides to streamline equipment distribution and rules and to help guarantee kids get their full recess. Also gives teachers a break
Before school recess using recess aides
Recess team of children to promote games, hand out equipment, help kids who don’t have friends, announce physical fitness tips on the morning news
Set a rule on the temp that get go outside.
Kid need to know they get recess no matter what. They can count on it as a break.
Run the track at recess to get a prize every month or at the end of the year for most laps run (flint hill did this)
Buy more equipment and get a check in check out system
Recess before lunch (cdc studies promote it for less food waster and more pleasant eating atmosphere as well as happier kids)
How many recesses and for how
long?
To maximize cognitive benefits, recess should be scheduled at
regular intervals, providing children sufficient time to regain their
focus before instruction continues.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/131/1/183.
full.pdf
What is our current situation?
Recesses in Fairfax County have no policy but recommend 20 min per
day.
Recess varies: Montgomery county schools do not have an official
policy, but schools typically have one 30 min recess. Loudon county
schools typically offer one 15 min. recess. Arlington County requires 100125 min. per week, that’s 20-25 min per day with kindergarteners getting
more. DC public schools require 15 min. per day.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/dc-parents-pushfor-more-recess/2013/08/30/467e52a0-10c6-11e3-bdf6e4fc677d94a1_story.html?tid=a_inl
Recesses around the nation- kids have 2-3 recesses with a lunch recess
as well. Some have recess before lunch to improve lunch time.
What is our recess?
Teacher ideas page
Real soccer goals
Tether balls
Four Square balls
Outdoor bins that hold recess equipment, one by the field with soccer
balls and frisbees and one by the basketball court with basketballs and
jump ropes.
2 recesses
Need help refereeing games. Not enough teachers to do it and kids
fight over different rules and who was out ect..
Bullying and fights happen out of earshot and when it gets to the
teachers they get two different versions. How do you solve that?
Some students who have a hard time with finding friends sit alone at
recess and won’t join games. What do we do for them?
How can we help?
Speak up, join Facebook page
Join the MRES FitKids committee
Email Dr. Garza
Talk to your child’s teacher so they know recess is important to you
Form a fitkids committee with children to announce on daily news if
there will be recess, fun recess games each month,
Donate to the indoor recess and outdoor recess equpitment funds
(PTA funds)
BDNF
BDNF- MIRACLE GROW FOR YOUR BRAIN. IT SPROUTS NEW DENDRITES OR
CONNECTIONS AND NEW NEURONS. THIS ALLOWS INFORMATION TO FLOW QUICKLY
AND HELPS US REMEMBER STUFF. IT HELPS WITH LONG TERM MEMORY TOO (PG. 52) IT
HELPS WITH THE PRODUCTION OF ANTIOXIDANTS AND PROTECTIVE PROTEINS.
Stress
Chronic stress can lead to mental disorders such as anxiety and depression
Anything that causes cellular activity causes stress, i.e. learning and moving
The way you cope with stress can change not only how you feel, but also how it
transforms the brain.
If there is no way out, stress can be damaging
Stress results from your brain getting locked into the same pattern, typically one
marked by pessimism, fear and retreat, active coping moves you out of this territory.
Stress is like vaccinations, in limited doses it causes the brain to overcompensate and
thus gird themselves against future demands. This is called stress inoculation.
When we move to alleviate stress, we are doing what humans have evolved to do
when the fight or flight response has been initiated.
Exercise and socializing (tribe) relieves stress= RECESS
Exercise protects the brain from damage of stress, it raises the stress threshold so you
don’t get a stress response as early as you would if you didn’t exercise.
ADHD
Norepinephrine arouses attention, Dopamine sharpens focus, an
imbalance of these neurotransmitters is why some people have
ADHD. They have to get stressed to focus. That’s why they
procrastinate. They have to wait until it’s stressful to do it to get the
dump of hormones they need! They can also stir the pot when things
are going well to elicit a stress response.
Evolution
Our bodies are wired to move. Only in the last 100 years have we
been able to easily acquire food without the expenditure of energy.
Stress is 24/7 just by watching the news.
Our lifestyle today is more stressful and more sedentary, increasing
obesity
What kind of exercise do you
need?
Aerobic, like running. This elevates neurotransmitters, creates new
blood vessels that pipe in growth factors and spawn new nerve
cells. Regular aerobic activity calms the body.
Complex motor skills with skill acquisition, like balance beams,
jumping, rope ladders and sports. This type of movement put all of
these materials to use by strengthening and expanding the neuron
networks. Stronger neural pathways are used not only for muscle
movements but also thinking processes.
Both increase neurogenesis (neuron birth) and growth, but much
more when both are done rather than one or the other.
When to exercise and How much?
Blood flow and learning are at peak learning levels right after
exercise. Not during.
Environment Enrichement- causes more connections,
stronger myelin sheaths and fires signals more
efficiently.
Exercise
Learning
through different games,
toys, books
Social contact
Keeps new neurons from dying.