by Dr. Jeremy Fritz
Remember the days when kids would walk to school, ride their bikes to play with friends, and spend the day exploring outside? They would make up games using nature and movement as the only ingredients.
Those days seem so distant, being replaced by sedentary play that is focused around gaming and other computer technology. Although technology has allowed for a constant flow of knowledge at just the click of a button, it has also replaced one of the fundamental building blocks of learning-movement. Often looked at as just kids having fun, play serves a central role in brain development and learning whether it is academic or behavioral in origin.
How is it that something as basic as movement could impact learning? The answer is quite simple. Movement acts as a generator to the brain and the brain is involved in all learning. An area of the brain called the cerebellum plays an intricate role in learning. The cerebellum makes up only 10% of the brain, but accounts for up to half of the neurons in the entire brain. This fact reveals the complexity and importance of this magnificent structure.
So, what is the function of the cerebellum? The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating the timing of both thoughts and movements, as well as signaling to the brain where the body is in time and space. The cerebellum also works in tandem with other areas of the brain to maintain baseline postural control. To provide and example of how the cerebellum works in everyday life, let’s look at it’s role in catching and throwing a ball. It’s halftime on Football Sunday and Dad gets an invite from his boy to go outside and throw the football around. The boy gets instructions from his dad to go deep. As the boy hears the word “hike”, the cerebellum gives the brain feedback as to the length, tension, and readiness of all the muscles that will be utilized. The boy darts off the line running as fast as he can toward the end zone. Without any conscious awareness, the cerebellum is coordinating the timing of every step while it is providing the brain with continual information as to where and what the muscles are doing. With a perfectly thrown pass, the boy reaches out to catch the ball with his fingertips and cheers his way into the end zone.
The cerebellum has been noted to play a significant role in motor planning, coordination, and execution for some time, yet until recently it’s role in higher cognitive learning has been less than well understood. Current research has been exploring the cerebellum’s relationship with more advanced executive brain functions like that of attention, resisting impulses, coordinating thoughts, planning for the future, and goal setting to name a few. It has also been noted that academic learning of all types include the cerebellum in the process. Again, without our awareness, this sophisticated area of the brain allows for systematic timing and synchronization of large amounts of information. This information is then effortlessly refined into useable memory bits to be accessed from higher centers as needed.
Noting the above importance in learning, it would be a wise investment of all parents and teachers to include specific attention to activities that will enhance and strengthen the cerebellum. With an understanding of neuroplasticity, all areas of the brain are capable of continual growth and development if trained appropriately. By targeting exercises and activities that will utilize the cerebellum, one can surmise that all functions of the cerebellum will improve to varying degrees. Some of these improvements may be easily observed, like improved coordination and athletic ability. However, other functions of higher cognition, like processing of visual and auditory information may be less noticeable purely because of the difficulty in measuring progress. Understanding the role of the cerebellum in learning should be the impetus to include regular movement in the classroom setting.
As parents and educators, it is my hope that all of you will not only grasp the importance of the cerebellum in learning, but rather make appropriate time within your child’s curriculum to perform activities to exercise this most exceptional area of the brain. With that being said, here is a short list of easy movements to include into the classroom:
1.) March in Place- Have your child stand tall and march in place. Try to have them touch the right hand to the left knee and vice versa during the march. Perform this in an alternating fashion (right arm/ left leg then left arm/ right leg and so on). To provide a little more challenge, add a metronome and have your child march to various beats.
2.) Eye movements- Have your child stand tall and place playing cards on a wall in the positions of 2,3,4,6,8,9,10 and12. Space the cards equally to simulate a clock at a distance of 2-4 ft. Have your child look in various directions, targeting the different numbers on the cards. Start further away and work your child closer over time.
3.) One leg balance- Have your child stand tall with good posture and practice balancing on one leg at a time. Over time, have them close their eyes. To increase the challenge, have them recite recently learned information like math facts, spelling, and the like.
Dr. Jeremy Fritz is a board eligible Chiropractic Neurologist with the American Chiropractic Neurology Board, certified as a Clinical Nutritionist by the International and American Associations of Clinical Nutrition, and functional medicine practitioner with an emphasis on Childhood Neurobehavioral and Developmental Disorders. Dr. Fritz is also the Executive Director of the Brain Balance Achievement Centers of Vernon Hills, IL & Mequon WI.
The Brain Balance Program® is an individualized and comprehensive approach to helping children with neuro-behavioral and learning difficulties surmount their unique challenges. This proprietary, non-medical program has been successful in helping hundreds of children reach their physical, social/behavioral health and academic potential. We work with children who suffer with ADD/ADHD, Dyslexia, Learning Disabilities, Asperger’s and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
For more information, please visit www.BrainBalanceVH.com.
Remember the days when kids would walk to school, ride their bikes to play with friends, and spend the day exploring outside? They would make up games using nature and movement as the only ingredients.
Those days seem so distant, being replaced by sedentary play that is focused around gaming and other computer technology. Although technology has allowed for a constant flow of knowledge at just the click of a button, it has also replaced one of the fundamental building blocks of learning-movement. Often looked at as just kids having fun, play serves a central role in brain development and learning whether it is academic or behavioral in origin.
How is it that something as basic as movement could impact learning? The answer is quite simple. Movement acts as a generator to the brain and the brain is involved in all learning. An area of the brain called the cerebellum plays an intricate role in learning. The cerebellum makes up only 10% of the brain, but accounts for up to half of the neurons in the entire brain. This fact reveals the complexity and importance of this magnificent structure.
So, what is the function of the cerebellum? The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating the timing of both thoughts and movements, as well as signaling to the brain where the body is in time and space. The cerebellum also works in tandem with other areas of the brain to maintain baseline postural control. To provide and example of how the cerebellum works in everyday life, let’s look at it’s role in catching and throwing a ball. It’s halftime on Football Sunday and Dad gets an invite from his boy to go outside and throw the football around. The boy gets instructions from his dad to go deep. As the boy hears the word “hike”, the cerebellum gives the brain feedback as to the length, tension, and readiness of all the muscles that will be utilized. The boy darts off the line running as fast as he can toward the end zone. Without any conscious awareness, the cerebellum is coordinating the timing of every step while it is providing the brain with continual information as to where and what the muscles are doing. With a perfectly thrown pass, the boy reaches out to catch the ball with his fingertips and cheers his way into the end zone.
The cerebellum has been noted to play a significant role in motor planning, coordination, and execution for some time, yet until recently it’s role in higher cognitive learning has been less than well understood. Current research has been exploring the cerebellum’s relationship with more advanced executive brain functions like that of attention, resisting impulses, coordinating thoughts, planning for the future, and goal setting to name a few. It has also been noted that academic learning of all types include the cerebellum in the process. Again, without our awareness, this sophisticated area of the brain allows for systematic timing and synchronization of large amounts of information. This information is then effortlessly refined into useable memory bits to be accessed from higher centers as needed.
Noting the above importance in learning, it would be a wise investment of all parents and teachers to include specific attention to activities that will enhance and strengthen the cerebellum. With an understanding of neuroplasticity, all areas of the brain are capable of continual growth and development if trained appropriately. By targeting exercises and activities that will utilize the cerebellum, one can surmise that all functions of the cerebellum will improve to varying degrees. Some of these improvements may be easily observed, like improved coordination and athletic ability. However, other functions of higher cognition, like processing of visual and auditory information may be less noticeable purely because of the difficulty in measuring progress. Understanding the role of the cerebellum in learning should be the impetus to include regular movement in the classroom setting.
As parents and educators, it is my hope that all of you will not only grasp the importance of the cerebellum in learning, but rather make appropriate time within your child’s curriculum to perform activities to exercise this most exceptional area of the brain. With that being said, here is a short list of easy movements to include into the classroom:
1.) March in Place- Have your child stand tall and march in place. Try to have them touch the right hand to the left knee and vice versa during the march. Perform this in an alternating fashion (right arm/ left leg then left arm/ right leg and so on). To provide a little more challenge, add a metronome and have your child march to various beats.
2.) Eye movements- Have your child stand tall and place playing cards on a wall in the positions of 2,3,4,6,8,9,10 and12. Space the cards equally to simulate a clock at a distance of 2-4 ft. Have your child look in various directions, targeting the different numbers on the cards. Start further away and work your child closer over time.
3.) One leg balance- Have your child stand tall with good posture and practice balancing on one leg at a time. Over time, have them close their eyes. To increase the challenge, have them recite recently learned information like math facts, spelling, and the like.
Dr. Jeremy Fritz is a board eligible Chiropractic Neurologist with the American Chiropractic Neurology Board, certified as a Clinical Nutritionist by the International and American Associations of Clinical Nutrition, and functional medicine practitioner with an emphasis on Childhood Neurobehavioral and Developmental Disorders. Dr. Fritz is also the Executive Director of the Brain Balance Achievement Centers of Vernon Hills, IL & Mequon WI.
The Brain Balance Program® is an individualized and comprehensive approach to helping children with neuro-behavioral and learning difficulties surmount their unique challenges. This proprietary, non-medical program has been successful in helping hundreds of children reach their physical, social/behavioral health and academic potential. We work with children who suffer with ADD/ADHD, Dyslexia, Learning Disabilities, Asperger’s and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
For more information, please visit www.BrainBalanceVH.com.
