Research that Benefits Children and Families: The Research That I Imagine I Could Conduct

This weekend and next are filled with end of school year activities for my two high school aged teenagers, one of whom is graduating. The National Honors Society Recognition Banquet and the Music Recognition Banquet were last week. The Athletic Recognitions and Senior Class Recognition banquets are this week. I know all of the parents who attend. They have been the same who have attended all of the games and concerts for the past several years for their children who are marching band members and athletes, and who are also academic leaders. There seems to be a connection between athletics, marching band, and high academic achievement, a connection that transcends socio-economic class, because this successful group is diverse. I imagine conducting research that attempts to answer the question, "What connections exist between team sports and academic achievement?" I am including marching band in the description of team sports, as it involves marching (and playing a sometimes heavy instrument) in formation relative to all the other members of the band. If indeed a connection can be implied based on a good research study, then physical activity, play, and marching band and related activities would receive a new level of serious attention and funding to produce greater academic success for students. What a turn-around in our public school system this would create! No more cuts to athletic programs, intramural sports, and music programs. In fact, school funders may even provide additional dollars to expand physical education programs from preschool to graduation in an effort to raise test scores. What a much-needed  transformation our schools would make! I am sure, even before such research is conducted, that the positive impact made by enriching school children's physical activity programs would raise the standard of living for all in the community. Smarter graduates benefit everyone. An active child is a higher achiever. This would be a life-changing study for everyone who works with children, or who will benefit from their academic success.

My Personal Research Journey

The older I get, the more theories I formulate about early childhood development, most of them based on my own parenting experience, personal reading, and job-related activities. The one I have chosen to follow through this class is that children's cognitive development is directly impacted by vigorous physical activity. I would not be surprised if research could show a quantitative relationship between vigorous activity and test scores. Just imagine what funding early childhood programs would receive if there was enough convincing research that linked running with logic, or dancing with math. Consider the amount of play that would make a re-entry into childhood if adults were convinced that it improved grades. Until recently, play was rich in childrens' lives. Now we are seeing a decline in academic performance in the United States, where childhood is more about being seated and paying attention to the teacher than it is about climbing trees and roller skating. I believe there is enough evidence already to justify increasing physical education and recess time and experience increased academic performance, but that even educators are not convinced. This will be the focus of my simulated research experience, so that perhaps I can conduct serious research that may convince the general public as well as educators and policy-makers that  active play really does have great value in the civilization and advancement of society.