Why movement education is so important for kids

Most of us are aware of the general health benefits of exercise such as; improved strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and cardiovascular health; but there are many additional far-reaching benefits that are often overlooked, particularly in gymnastics and parkour.

When children are young, especially before the age of about 12, their brains have a high degree of neuroplasticity (the brain's ability to change and reorganise itself). This means that the neural connections, and specifically the motor neurons, are built much more efficiently, as well as stronger and longer lasting than they are when we are adults. I've know many people who have done gymnastics as a child, even for short periods, that are able to pick it up again quite easily as adults and can also adapt much faster to new forms of movement than adults with no experience. The same time spent learning gymnastics as an adult, though still very possible, takes longer and the muscle memory doesn't last as long.

There is also the opinion that time for exercise should only be allocated after all the more serious and important academic work is completed. However, this greatly underestimates the benefits of exercise in enhancing focus, attention, memory, and learning retention. Exercise significantly benefits the brain by increasing blood flow; enhancing neural connectivity and plasticity; and stimulating the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which supports memory formation and cognitive processes. Physical activity also boosts dopamine and norepinephrine levels (neurotransmitters that regulate attention and impulse control) potentially reducing conditions like ADHD that often hinder academic learning. Additional benefits to the brain include growth in the hippocampus (a region vital for memory and synaptic plasticity) facilitating the formation and recall of associations. Furthermore, exercise reduces stress and anxiety by lowering cortisol levels and increasing endorphins which improves mood and emotional regulation, and enables children to tackle academic challenges with greater confidence.

There are also other benefits. One of the very important aspects within parkour specifically is risk management. There are many aspects that go into assessing and managing risk that have many life lessons in them. When we decide if we should perform a new and difficult jump, there are factors we have to consider. Do we have the physical ability to make the jump? Have we measured ourselves doing larger jumps in easier surroundings? Have we assessed the take off and landing point to know if they are safe? Do we have sufficient trust and mental focus to commit to the jump? Are we allowing our ego to take over in trying to impress people? All these decisions can help us make much more valuable assessments that can maximise progress while also minimising risk, and can teach kids that risk is part of life, but we can still achieve great things without exposing ourselves to unnecessary risk.

There are also other life lessons that can be learned like the importance of patience and consistent commitment. Improvements in anything don't happen overnight, and even if they do, it's only because of patient and consistent effort over a period of time that has allowed a breakthrough to be accomplished. I'm sure everyone has heard of the Marshmallow Test where a child is given a choice of having one marshmallow immediately, or wait 15 minutes and get 2 marshmallows instead. This test in delayed gratification was linked with more positive outcomes in self control and academic success in later life. These attributes can be trained when we work towards acquiring new movement skills. Managing expectations, dealing with defeat and maintaining self belief, can all be learned and ultimately reinforced when skills are finally achieved.

At Gymnest, we have put together a program that will challenge and develop all these skills and attributes and will also allow kids to develop a wide range of movement skills that can act as a very good foundation for any other sports or physical activities they want to do in the future.