Improving the quality of PE lessons and adding activities like dance and martial arts can boost brain power and academic skills in children

According to a pooled data analysis of available evidence, improving the quality of Physical Education classes boosts brain power and academic skills in children and teenagers, particularly in mathematics.

The analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine is the first systematically reviewed analysis of the effects of specific PE interventions on academic prowess. The review of 19 studies involved 8676 children and teens in 11 different countries, UK, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Italy, USA, Sweden, Switzerland and The Netherlands.

The activities found to boost brain power and academic skills included cognitively challenging activities like dance and martial arts led by PE specialists and high intensity activities, sports and team games. Interestingly just increasing the number from 2-4 a week or the length of PE lessons had a small and insignificant effect on academic performance.