{"id":23556,"date":"2020-01-15T05:10:37","date_gmt":"2020-01-15T13:10:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/?p=23556"},"modified":"2021-11-16T02:12:33","modified_gmt":"2021-11-16T10:12:33","slug":"neuroscience-in-the-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/neuroscience-in-the-park\/","title":{"rendered":"Neuroscience in the Park"},"content":{"rendered":"

The importance of childhood play has had anecdotal value for ages. In the 1960s, however, studies on rodents and brain development encouraged neuroscientists to formally explore the importance of play in childhood development. Their efforts have paved the way for programs like Start2Finish that improve childhood academic performance through physical activity.<\/p>\n

Acknowledging multi-dimensional complexity<\/strong><\/p>\n

When it comes to academic success, literacy takes center stage. The ability to read improves academic performance in mathematics and other areas of study. But the benefits of education do not stop in the classroom. Multiple studies note the correlation between a nation\u2019s literacy skills and the well-being of its inhabitants.<\/p>\n

Improving literacy depends on consistent exposure to literature. For Canada\u2019s 1 million children living in poverty, exposure is inconsistent at best: limited access to libraries, few books at home, and single-parent households with tight resources are just a few contributing factors to childhood illiteracy.<\/p>\n

In public schools, governments fail to adequately and equally equip all school with resources. Teachers spend $143 million of their own money to buy reading materials for their students yet the gap remains. As a result, children living in poverty are about 4.5 times behind their peers in vocabulary development. The lack of literacy development then creates a snowball effect in other areas of study.<\/p>\n

A sedentary lifestyle adds to the complexity of children\u2019s developmental hurdles. Children in low-income homes are twice as likely as children from middle class homes to live in a neighborhood where violence and drug-trafficking are everyday occurrences. Impoverished areas also have fewer parks.<\/a> Neighborhood dangers and a lack of access to green spaces minimize youths\u2019 exposure to natural environments and safe places to play.<\/p>\n

Low literacy and physical activity contribute to an under-stimulated hippocampus in children\u2019s brains. Executive function, learning, and concentration are all adversely affected.<\/p>\n

Overcoming invisibility to promote change<\/strong><\/p>\n

When playing for the Canadian Football League, Brian Warren would often participate in meet-and-greets with kids from area of complexity. The kids would watch a game, hear a few words of inspiration, receive an autographed ball, and then return home. Mr. Warren felt like it was not enough.<\/p>\n

He soon founded Start2Finish, a nonprofit organization that uses neuroscience techniques favored by athletic and business professionals to help children excel in school. Karen Pessoa-Warren, director of operations, explains the inspiration behind the organization.<\/p>\n

\u201cAthletes get exclusive \"\"training in the connection between mind and body. Why couldn\u2019t this work with the kid struggling in school and at home?\u201d proposes Pessoa-Warren. \u201cWe find the kids are most vulnerable in the areas of executive control and focus, things athletes are trained in. We\u2019ve married these very unlikely concepts, to stimulate the hippocampus with books and physical activity. A snowball effect then happens. Not only are they reading better, which even helps with math, but they\u2019re better able to multi-task, stay focused, and manipulate thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though the research was in place, it would take a change of perspective for the organization to succeed throughout the country. The Warrens first endeavoured to shine light on local childhood poverty, a topic that went largely unrecognized.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Canada, people don\u2019t think we have childhood poverty,\u201d reflects Pessoa-Warren. \u201cWe don\u2019t have an index for poverty, but one out of five kids live at or below the poverty line. We needed to let people know that poverty exists.\u201d<\/p>\n

Secondly, they found themselves battling the notion that poverty and poor academic performance were character flaws rather than systemic problems. She adds, \u201cWe have a strong social net here, but kids still fall through. Without understanding of the data or the complexity surrounding their lives, people thought those who struggled in school weren\u2019t bright or that it was a family issue.\u201d<\/p>\n

Public education continues to be a part of the work at Start2Finish.<\/p>\n

Read, play, excel<\/strong><\/p>\n

Children living in areas of complexity are facing an uphill battle. The team at Start2Finish has developed a creative plan to give kids the tools needed to succeed. The organization offers the five-step program “Pathway of Hope” program<\/a> that helps kids close the achievement gap on literacy and wellness<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Through the Pathway of Hope, students are empowered with:<\/p>\n