A child will not feel comfortable playing field on a cold winter’s day. But school sport helps children in their academic studies in years to come. The researchers said other activities such as music or religious activities were not as beneficial for attention as taking part in a games lesson. The difference in academic ability was noticeable even at age ten, with those who had taken in sports since the start of junior school faring better than those who hadn’t.
The Canadian study looked at children aged six and then ten. Professor Linda Pagani said: “We worked with information provided by parents and teachers to compare kindergarteners' activities with their classroom activities as they grew up. By the time they reached the fourth grade, kids who played structured sports were clearly better at following instructions and remaining focused in the classroom. There is something special to the sporting environment - perhaps the sense of belonging to a team to a special group with a common goal - that appears to help kids understand the importance of respecting the rules and honouring responsibilities.”
Researchers began studying 2,694 Canadian children around the age of six, with teachers filled in questionnaires about their behaviour in school. Meanwhile, the children’s parents were interviewed by phone or in person about their home life. The exercise was the repeated four years later to test what effect the behaviour had.
Prof Pagani said: “We found children who had better behaviour in the kindergarten class were more likely to be involved in sport by age ten. Nonetheless, we found those children who were specifically involved in team sports at kindergarten scored higher by the time they reached the fourth grade.” The researchers believe sporting activities and attention skills go hand in hand. Prof Pagani added: “The results should be encouraging for schools looking to cut childhood obesity rates and low attainment in schools.”
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