Brain Science: The Importance of Brain Fitness and Play

Educators are struggling to meet No Child Left Behind (NCLB) mandates and are searching for new ways to help students achieve the grade level proficiencies by 2014. Two ideas that can help educators reach these NCLB goals, are the old fashioned concept of unstructured play and new brain plasticity research.

Recent neuroscience research from Dr. Michael Merzenich highlights the theory of brain plasticity.  This is the concept that the brain responds to circumstances, to new learning and it is not static. It was once believed that our memory was fixed. Through brain plasticity research it has been proven that the brain changes with learning and students and adults can experience significant learning gains.

Brain Plasticity theories can help to accelerate student learning.   New approaches are needed, especially for students who may be struggling learners and need to make 2-3 years gains in learning in 1 year’s time.  Brain plasticity strategies can help students rewire the connections in their brain.  An analogy to help describe this theory is to imagine your brain using set of weights each day. If you work out and use the weights each day your brain will be stronger and stronger. This approach can also help adults maintain brain fitness and reduce forgetfulness. (Merzenich, 2008)

Over 30,000 schools have eliminated recess to extend academic classes to meet NCLB Mandates. Childhood obesity climbs, even though the number of students registered in youth sports has doubled. (Elkind, 2008)

Unstructured play is instrumental to both behavioral growth but to brain growth.  A large body of research demonstrates the value of play for academic, social and emotional learning.  Pre-schools that were academically focused verses play focused did not have significant gains in student achievement. Students in the academically focused pre-school often had greater levels of test anxiety and weaker problem solving skills.  (Elkind, 2008)

Brain fitness and play can help increase student achievement and create life-long learners who will be happier and know how to have fun along the way.

Resources

Elkind, David. (2008, June 9). Cognitive and emotional development through play. Greater Good Magazine, Retrieved from http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/06/09/cognitive-and-emotional-development-through-play/

Merzenich, Michael. (2008, April 16). About brain plasticity. On the Brain, Retrieved from http://merzenich.positscience.com/?page_id=143