Research and links

There is a great deal of research behind brain-based movement. If you’d like to know more, here are some resources to get you started.

Aerobic Fitness Boosts Memory and Learning:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265900.php
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0072666
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130911184716.htm

Movement & Learning:
http://movementandlearning.wordpress.com/about/
http://moveplaythrive.com/images/pdf/Link_Movement_Learning.pdf

Eric Jensen on Movement & Learning:
http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/104013/chapters/Movement-and-Learning.aspx

Eric Jensen, Carla Hannaford, & More
http://www.peopleoffaith.com/children-learning-fitness.htm

Carla Hannaford (“Smart Moves”) – The Importance of Moving:
http://www.teachingvalues.com/whymovement.html

Physical activity before trying to learn new material (“ideal” – Wikipedia):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movement_in_learning

Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development (American Academy of Pediatrics):
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/119/1/182.full

Play and Developmental Stages (Child Developmental Institute):
http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-development/play-work-of-children/pl2/

Nutrition games & activities

Other sources

Theory and research

Here is a listing of the theorists and researchers upon which the “brain-based,” guided movements in our fitness resources are based:
  • Harald Blomberg, M.D. Rhythmic Movement Training, Levels 1, 2 & 3. Stockholm, Sweden, 2012  www.blombergrmt.com
  • Carol Ann Erickson. Movement Exploration Series, Parts 1&2. Ventura, California: Educational Kinesiology Foundation, 2005
  • Daniel Amen. Change Your Brain, Change Your Life. New York: Random House, 1998
  • Carla Hannaford. Smart Moves: Why Learning Is Not All in Your Head. Arlington, VA: Great Ocean Publishers, 1995
  • Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. Sensing, Feeling & Action. Northhampton: contact Editions, 1993
  • Paul and Gail Dennison, Brain Gym® Teacher’s Edition. Ventura California: Educational Kinesiology Foundation, 1989  www.braingym.org 
Kids need to move a lot to be healthy and happy. Kids-Move “brain-based” fitness resources focus very deliberately on basic developmental movement patterns that are so important for integrating brain and body and providing a foundation for stress-free living and learning.

Somewhere along the path of a child’s development, the integration of a basic movement pattern may have been skipped or not completed. Participation in our energizing Kids-Move activities provides the opportunity to revisit these movement patterns – in an intentional and sequential way – to support their development and maturation.

At the same time, we want to be helping kids gain the important benefits of increased physical fitness with our guided workouts, which research strongly suggests can also help make learning easier. Finally, because of the critically important connection between regular, quality physical activity and healthy nutrition for achieving and maintaining health and well-being, we don’t miss the opportunity in our overall program to include motivating content encouraging wise food choices – in a FUN way.