Physical activity as a tool for enhancing learning

Physical activity offers numerous benefits for our overall health and well-being. In the last two decades, physical activity has also gained recognition for its utility in enhancing cognitive functioning. This chapter examines the evidence for this claim, with a focus on the association between physical activity on cognitive functioning and academic performance in the early to middle childhood and adolescent age groups. The review will include a discussion on some of the mechanisms that are postulated to underlie the effects of physical activity on cognition. The chapter will also examine physical activity in the Singapore context, providing an overview of the policies and practices that have emerged and how they have evolved over the last few years. The chapter concludes by highlighting some of the limitations that are present in this area of research and with some recommendation for future research and practice.