Bikes beat the bus for brain gains

You don’t want to stunt your child’s mental development, so you might be interested to know that riding bikes improves focus, memory, and learning.

A couple of times a year, schools across the country participate in Walk & Roll to School Day. What if kids riding bikes was normal on every school day? Or even just the days with decent weather? Not for some political or social statement, but simply because riding bikes is good for childhood development.

Anyone would agree that regular physical activity creates long-lasting benefits, but the current cultural norm is to haul kids around like packages instead of letting them be active.

Physical activity helps the brain work better. When people move more, their brains get stronger in ways that support thinking, memory, and learning.

One important change is a rise in a protein called BDNF. BDNF works like fertilizer for brain cells. It helps those cells stay healthy, grow new branches, and form stronger connections so messages travel more easily inside the brain. Higher BDNF makes it easier for the brain to learn and remember new things.

Moving also sends more blood and oxygen to the brain. This helps the front part of the brain, which handles focus and decision-making. At the same time, the body releases chemicals that make it easier to pay attention and ignore distractions. Kids score higher on reading comprehension after 20 minutes of moderate activity versus sitting.

Even a short amount of activity can help right away.

One study with kids showed that 20 minutes of walking improved their ability to focus and do better on a school test. Other research finds that a single bout of moderate exercise boosts working memory, self-control, and the ability to switch between tasks. The benefits to the brain show up soon after the physical activity ends.

Researchers have found that exercise programs for kids and teens improved their general intelligence, equal to about four points on an IQ test. School programs that add movement tend to raise achievement, especially when the activity is moderate and happens often. Kids also stay on task longer after moving, which helps them learn more during class.

People who are more physically active tend to have better focus, memory, and learning. The brain of a child or teen responds especially well. Isn’t that we all want for our kids?

Keep up the Walk & Roll to School Day events. Those are great. But treat them as the foot-in-the-door to regular walking and rolling to school. Don’t wait for high school. Some of the studies show the strongest brain gains happen between ages 6 and 11. Start easy — if it’s not pouring rain or bitter cold, get the bikes out.