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.