Train Your Brain!
No one today needs to be told that exercise is good for us. But, beyond the physical benefits, the latest research is indicating that it can also build the brain by boosting memory, alleviating stress, enhancing intelligence and allaying aggression. For example, scientists from Yale University reported last year in the journal Nature Medicine that regular exertion affects the hippocampus, the area of the brain responsible for mood. And physical activity boosts the flow of blood to the part of the brain that is responsible for memory and learning, promoting the production of new brain cells.
If you want to read more about this phenomenal topic, you can turn to a new book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J. Ratey, M.D. and Eric Hagerman. The authors state that exercise stimulates our grey matter to produce what he calls "Miracle-Gro" for the brain. You can get a preview at
http://www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/books/56/0316113506/index.html
But even before you delve into the area, you can put the ideas to use right away. One of the best places to start is when your child comes home from school. Parents regularly report that their children are "wiped out" at the end of the school day. That, in turn, leads them to allow the kids to "veg out" with TV or video games before starting homework.
Those activities, unfortunately, often do the opposite of what was hoped. It is far more effective to have your children do something physical for about 20 to 30 minutes. It can be riding a bike, jumping on a trampoline, shooting balls into a basket, or whatever activity suits your children's interests and level. One great idea is to take a walk together. Then both of you will benefit and you can even get some good communication going
