Boredom, lack of motivation, and learning difficulties are all factors that can push a student to drop out of school. While exercise can’t fix everything, there’s no denying that physical activity is a fabulous way to stimulate motivation and promote academic success.
Practising a sport—especially in a school setting—is a wonderful way for kids to stay motivated and chart their own path to success. Why? Because for children and teens, a sport can be many things:
In Quebec, there are more than 600 Sport-Études programs (French only).
Group sports allow students to bond with their classmates. These friendships have a positive effect on their academic achievement. What’s more, practising a sport allows students to develop social skills that help them nurture these relationships. For example, they learn to do the following:
Absenteeism (or unexcused absences) is often a sign that something is wrong. The student may lack motivation, have troubled relationships, or believe that school has no purpose. In short, there can be many different causes. To help your child stay the course, you can enroll them in an afterschool sports program or encourage them to participate in team sports during breaks. Being active at school can have many benefits:
In addition, your child may forge a trusting relationship with their sports coach. So, if you find that your child’s unexcused absences are accumulating, you can ask their coach to intervene.
It’s not uncommon for a child experiencing difficulties at school to have low self-confidence. Fortunately, sports are a great way for kids to build self-esteem. For instance, kids get to do the following:
Doing exercise several times a week or playing sports on a regular basis is an excellent way to improve your focus. By encouraging your child to be active, you’re also helping them do the following:
In addition to doing physical activity several times a week, your child can do easy exercises between tasks during homework time. You’ll quickly see how much it improves their focus!
Writing : The Alloprof Parents' team