How Parkour Can Help Kids Focus In School

In today's age, several distractions can pull your child’s focus away from their schoolwork. From screen time to heavy schedules, it is often tough for children to stay focused on what is important. When searching for extracurricular activities for your kids, it is important that you find something that can not only keep your child engaged but also improve their cognitive development. One exciting option is parkour. 

Parkour is an urban sport that utilizes natural movements to get from one point to another most efficiently. This sport consists of jumping, running, vaulting, and flipping over, under, and through different obstacles. Parkour teaches body awareness and self-discipline, while engaging one’s creative problem-solving skills in the moment, nourishing both athletic and mental growth. 

At Vortex Freerunning, we use parkour as a tool to help kids grow as both athletes and people. Each coach-led class is designed to push your child beyond their limits while also sharpening their focus, problem-solving skills, and self-confidence. Using parkour, we aim to equip children with the mindset and skills they need to thrive not only when training, but in their everyday lives. 

If you are ready to get started, we invite you to sign up for a free trial class! If you have any questions or want to learn more about our classes, we encourage you to submit our online contact form.

How Physical Activity Boosts Academic Success

Research has consistently shown that placing your child in sports and other physical activities can benefit their cognitive development. Exercise helps increase blood flow to the brain, which is necessary for optimal brain functioning. Studies have found that children ages 4-18 had better cognitive performance during development. Participants in this study showed improvements in their perceptual skills, IQ, achievement, verbal tests, mathematics tests, academic readiness, and more. It was also found that when physical activity was used as a break from learning, children demonstrated enhanced attention, increased on-task behavior, as well as overall improved academic performance. (Harold and Cook) Placing your child in parkour classes can allow them to experience each of these benefits, especially if they have not shown interest in traditional sports. 

How Parkour Builds Mental Focus

Parkour is known for its positive impact on cognitive development. Each movement requires concentration, whether it is landing a vault, flip, or jump. Any breaks in focus can mean missing steps or losing your balance. By practicing parkour, children can learn to focus on tackling new tasks and challenges while blocking out distractions. It has also been found in various studies that participating in individual sports, such as parkour, can benefit classroom behavior beyond the overall benefits of participating in sports. This is due to the focus required, as there are no teammates to rely on. These reasons are also why individual sports are highly recommended for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. (Watson, et al.) 

These benefits can translate into the classroom, helping your child maintain their focus for longer periods of time. Just like learning how to focus on building new tricks and skillsets, your children can learn to focus on solving math problems, reading book chapters, or listening in class. Over time, your child can experience improvements in their mental endurance, enhancing their ability to stay focused for longer periods of time. 

Developing Discipline With Movement

Mastering skillsets in parkour does not happen overnight, but over time. Parkour athletes train in increments, building their way up to bigger obstacles. In each of our classes, our trainers teach your kids that progress is achieved through small steps. Fundamental movement skills and basic tricks are taught before progressing to more complex variations, allowing your child to develop a greater sense of discipline. 

This can improve your child’s study habits, allowing them to stay on top of their homework, even when their assignments feel difficult or overwhelming. Children who practice parkour already have experience setting short-term and long-term goals, as well as working through new challenges. Children's sports participation also improves self-control, emotional regulation, and school functioning overall. (Watson, et al.) Each of these skills can help your child approach their schoolwork with the same discipline practiced during their training.

Reducing Stress for Improved Grades

Academic stress can make it harder for your child to concentrate and focus on learning. Parkour offers a healthy outlet for relieving that stress. Exercise has been shown to aid the release of dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins, which can reduce stress, improve your child’s mood, as well as boost their motivation, allowing your child to approach their work with a clearer and calmer mind. (Schultchen, et al.)

 It was also found in a study amongst high school students that participating in sports was associated with a higher grade point average, regardless of the amount of exercise performed each week. (Watson, et al.) Parkour can serve as a fun and physically engaging activity for your child outside of the classroom that helps them reset emotionally. This emotional balance can improve their GPA and approach learning with a more open mind. 

Building Confidence Inside and Outside the Classroom

At Vortex Freerunning, we use parkour as a tool to instill a greater sense of confidence in each child. With each new trick and milestone, children can attain a greater sense of self and self-belief. It has also been found that children who practice parkour have lower levels of anxiety and greater levels of self-confidence, traits can shine in the classroom. (Rabaglietti, et al.)

Having higher self-confidence can improve your child’s participation in the classroom. They may be more willing to answer questions, try solving harder problems, and ask for help when they need it. When kids believe in themselves, they are more likely to continue trying until they succeed.

References

Rabaglietti, Emanuela, et al. “Parkour vs Artistic Gymnastics among Pre-Adolescents: A Multidimensional Study on the Psychological Adjustment in the Sport Activities.” Advances in Physical Education, vol. 11, no. 01, 2021, pp. 47–60, https://doi.org/10.4236/ape.2021.111004. Accessed 19 Feb. 2021. 

Schultchen, Dana, et al. “Bidirectional Relationship of Stress and Affect with Physical Activity and Healthy Eating.” British Journal of Health Psychology, vol. 24, no. 2, 22 Jan. 2019, pp. 315–333, https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12355. 

W, Harold, and Heather D Cook. “Physical Activity, Fitness, and Physical Education: Effects on Academic Performance.” National Library of Medicine, National Academies Press (US), 30 Oct. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK201501/. 

Watson, Amanda, et al. “Associations between Organised Sport Participation and Classroom Behaviour Outcomes among Primary School-Aged Children.” PLOS ONE, vol. 14, no. 1, 2 Jan. 2019, p. e0209354, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6314636/, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0209354.