Brain Boost Through Movement

Skilled gross motor activities - like sports, dance, climbing, or coordinated games - do more than develop strength and coordination. These activities have profound effects on brain development, supporting memory, learning, emotional regulation, and overall cognitive function.

Evidence Base

High-level research demonstrates that participation in youth sports and structured gross motor activities provides multiple benefits beyond physical fitness. Engaging in these activities supports social skills, executive function, and, importantly, long-term brain health.

How Gross Motor Skills Shape the Brain

Regular skilled gross motor activity leads to measurable changes in brain structure:

🧠 Increased hippocampal volume – supporting memory formation and spatial navigation

🧠 Larger cerebellar volume – enhancing motor coordination, timing, and cognitive processing

🧠 Increased grey matter – which improves information processing and neural efficiency

🧠 Enhanced cortico-differentiation – supporting the development of specialized neural pathways for both movement and higher-order cognitive functions

Neurochemical Benefits

Skilled gross motor activity also positively affects brain chemistry:

♦️ Decreases cortisol – lowering stress and its negative impact on learning and memory

♦️ Increases serotonin and dopamine – improving mood, motivation, and reward-based learning

♦️ Boosts norepinephrine, glutamate, and acetylcholine – supporting attention, learning, memory consolidation, and synaptic plasticity

Bringing Gross Motor Activity Into Daily Life

Encouraging children to engage in structured or playful movement activities daily can stimulate multiple brain regions simultaneously. 

Activities can include:

🔶 Team sports like soccer, basketball, or gymnastics

🔶 Obstacle courses, climbing, or parkour

🔶 Dance, martial arts, or rhythmic movement activities

🔶 Playground games that involve coordination, balance, and strategy

Even simple, structured movement challenges can enhance brain development, strengthen emotional regulation, and improve cognitive function.

Movement Shapes the Brain

Skilled gross motor activities are powerful tools for brain development. By stimulating structural growth, enhancing neural pathways, and balancing neurochemistry, these activities support memory, learning, and emotional wellbeing - making movement a cornerstone of healthy brain development.