May22

Mens Sana in Corpore Sano: Summer Camps

summer camp

Science is full of evidence that demonstrates how important physical activity is for our brains, and this also applies to our children. Summer is the perfect time to take advantage of the great weather and exercise outdoors. Children need to move, burn calories, sweat, and feel the amazing benefits of endorphins, just like any adult. We live in a society where it has become a challenge to get children to move their bodies as much as they need to.

Summer camps are a great option for them to reap the benefits of physical exercise. They don’t have to be elite athletic competitions or even focused on a specific sport. They can simply be outdoor activities where they need to work as a team, play, and laugh.

Children spend a lot of time sitting down whether it’s at school, at home, or in the car. Despite the success of initiatives such as running a mile daily, which has been launched in a multitude of schools, children walk less, move less, and sit more. Doing exercise makes them more flexible, helps to maintain their ideal weight, and also aids in important neural connections. Barbara Oakley explains this in Coursera’s most popular MOOC: “Learning How to Learn.” The engineer and professor stresses how important it is to stay focused on a task for 25-minute periods and then take a walk or do some sort of exercise. That way, what is learned can be fixed into your brain by the neurons entering ”diffuse” mode, which is when they are more creative. Of course, this also applies to children, which is why it is so important that they get a good night’s sleep.

Encouraging and pushing them to do physical activity is the best thing summer camps can offer your child, which is exactly what Activate Camps do. By combining sports and activities they create a safe, fun, and engaging atmosphere that inspires children to be at their best. Children need to experience physical fatigue, attempt new challenges, work effectively with a team and have the satisfaction of completing a task (while having fun at the same time!).

Does that mean that you have to forget about nourishing your brain? Not at all. The dog days of summer are long and there is time for a bit of everything. They should read often, and with pleasure. They should also practice mathematics – with Smartick it’s adaptable, online, gamified, and only 15 minutes a day. There is nothing better than facing your Smartick session with activated neurons after some exercise.

Incorporating both physical and mental challenges into vacation ensures that your children will head back to school fresh and ready-to-go.

Learn More:

Fun is our brain’s favorite way of learning

Diane Ackerman

Smartick is a fun way to learn math