Recent studies have shown that improved physical fitness can have positive effects on academic performance in mathematics, reading, and writing.
BALANCE AND CORE STRENGTH
It doesn’t seem hard to believe that more physical exercise is beneficial for kids in many ways. What if we told you that strengthing a child’s balance and core strength, specifically, can translate to improved classroom experience? You might think, “you’re a bike company, what do you know?” Well, every single day we get to see all kinds of amazing things happen when kids ride bikes! This is what we do and love.
Teachers often struggle with kiddos who fidget or don’t sit up in their desks. Some kids have a hard time focusing and paying attention. Many kids struggle with handwriting, copying notes from the board, or following a line of text when reading. This can make learning and test-taking very difficult. Teachers, parents, and kids alike can get very frustrated. The solution, many times, is simpler than hiring tutors, restrictive diets, or even medications. Experts are discovering just how important balance and core strength is to all aspects of a child’s life.
An article from Integrated Learning Strategies states, “Another problem kids often struggle with is attention and focus in the classroom. Usually, they are clumsy, they run into walls or furniture, they fidget in their chairs, lean over their desks, and they can’t process what their teacher is saying because they are focused on other distractions in the classroom. These can all be issues related to their vestibular system, which is their balance and coordination. When we see these issues, we know the child isn’t getting the movement they need to help improve their inner ear and core muscle (3).”
Improving a child’s balance and core strength can help with:
- Gross and fine motor skills (handwriting, using scissors, tying shoes, etc.)
- Develop strong sitting posture (able to hold themselves steady for longer periods)
- Improved visual perception (taking notes from the board)
How can you help your child improve their balance and core strength, hence their performance in school? Go for a bike ride! Riding a bike, especially starting on a Strider Bike, helps kids develop the very strength and coordination that will help them with hand-writing and sitting in a desk for long periods. It also gives them more physical activity, which we now know helps them focus. Riding a bike also gives them tons of fun, freedom, and bonding with other kids or the family. Um, WINNING!
CONFIDENCE
The benefits of riding a bike don’t stop there; they go beyond the physical. Learning to ride a bike and eventually using that bike to gain more independence is a way to build the confidence children need, not only for their academic success but success in life. Riding a Strider Bike gives children a taste of success and freedom at a very young age. They begin to learn to trust their ability and take calculated risks. They learn to deal with failure and are motivated to try again. As children grow, riding a bike continues to help them build fortitude and belief in themselves. The article, Building Grit in Girls Through Mountain Biking, published in The New York Times, talks about just that. In it, Annika Peacock, who was 15 at the time, says about mountain biking, “There’s a certain work ethic you have to have to be a mountain biker. If there’s a section of the trail that’s really hard for me, I’ll go try it five more times. I say to myself, yes, yes, yes, I can do this.” And then the next day? “I go back and do it again.”
Riding a Strider Bike gives children a taste of success and freedom at a very young age. They begin to learn to trust their ability and take calculated risks. They learn to deal with failure and are motivated to try again. As children grow, riding a bike continues to help them build fortitude and belief in themselves.
