Physical+Fitness-Health

=Physical Fitness-Health=

Mind body link -- why PE 5 days a week is good

 * [|Edutopia article] (June 2009)
 * [|Exercise optimizes brain for learning] -- video of putting kids in exercise before struggling classes, promotes growth of new brain cells, even work on vocabulary while standing on balance boards, exercise equipment in class, brain breaks -- slap count go up to 30

Recess

 * NASP-ListServ: School Psychology Quarterly" (fall 2003, pp. 253-268) - As in previous studies "results showed that levels of inappropriate behavior were consistently higher on days when participants did not have recess and progressively increased over multiple days w/o recess. This was particularly true of students with ADHD.

The Importance of Play

 * [|Polar Bear and Husky] slide show, [|see YouTube alternative]
 * Scientific American -- [|The Serious Need for Play]. Key point:
 * Child play (best is free, unstructured play) is needed for social, emotional, and cognitive development.
 * Stuart Brown: 26 murderers came from abusive families and did not participate in child play.
 * Free play challenges developing brain more than sports, games, music.
 * Play fighting releases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)—a protein that stimulates the growth of new neurons; also appears to improve problem solving.
 * Play reduces anxiety and stress.
 * [|Speaking of Faith interview] with Stuart Brown ([|National Institute for Play])
 * He says that play "establishes the earliest sense of self; sustains trust; provides increased enthusiasm for effectiveness in learning; prevents violence; invigorates the body; lessens the consequences of stress; contributes directly to the capacity to approach and solve complex life problems; and rewards and directs the living of life in accord with innate talents." Also in the article and interview -- empathy, boundaries, ability to adapt to environment. We are "hard-wired to learn and grow, by way of play and pleasure."
 * It is across animal species (including humans). Mother-infant bonding process. Signal want to play (especially juvenile), wrestle. Purpose: socialize, recognize friend from foe.
 * Life cycle of play: mother-infant smiles, put objects in mouth, play with toys, parallel play with other children.
 * When people deprived - rigid, don't respond to external stimuli well, unable to adapt, depression, don't seek novelty/newness.
 * Don't be too quick to end play that looks violent.
 * Learn about self and grows talent (who you are and what you are, what gives you joy): strong, fast, cagey, verbal, imaginative.
 * Taboos of violence in home broken -- may need to remove bully from normal play.
 * Contest - stronger handicaps weaker. Go for mutual participation, love of game, personal best.
 * Jane Goodall - chimpanzees. Bob Fagen - bears. Mark Bekoff - coyotes. Watching play is good for us.
 * Need to balance risk, safety, challenge (keep bodies safe, endanger souls).
 * Movement accelerates learning.
 * Culture - adults serious/not play (probably not healthy).
 * Expand: Reading, hiking, music, dancing, conversation (find your bliss & follow it).

Medical Stuff

 * [|Colorado Dept of Education - Flu page]