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Preschoolers with better fitness have sharper brains, study finds

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11 months ago

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Preschoolers with better fitness have sharper brains, study finds

New research reveals that preschoolers who jump, run, and play more develop stronger memory and problem-solving skills—highlighting the critical role of movement in early learning.

​​​​​​​Study: Associations between physical fitness, physical activity, sedentary behavior and executive function in preschoolers. ​​​​​​​Image Credit: Lopolo / Shutterstock

Could a child’s ability to jump, run, or hold a grip predict their future cognitive skills? In a recent study published in the journal Pediatric Research, a research team in Spain reported that preschoolers with better physical fitness perform significantly better on tasks requiring working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility. These findings highlighted the need to integrate movement-based activities into early education to foster both physical and cognitive development.

Physical Activity and Cognition

Growing evidence from research on childhood obesity and metabolic disorders has emphasized the importance of optimal levels of physical activity in children. However, emerging studies indicate that physical activity is also important for developing cognitive function.

Executive function (EF) includes essential cognitive abilities such as working memory, inhibitory control (resisting distractions), and cognitive flexibility (adapting to new rules). These skills help children plan, follow instructions, and manage tasks. Prior research shows that physical activity positively impacts EF in school-aged children and adolescents, but studies on preschoolers remain limited.

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However, the exact relationship between different physical fitness components, sedentary time, and EF is still debated. Some studies suggest that cardiovascular fitness profoundly impacts cognitive development, while others emphasize muscular strength or agility. Additionally, the effects of reducing sedentary behavior on cognitive performance have not been thoroughly explored in young children. The present study aims to bridge this knowledge gap by examining how physical fitness and activity influence specific EF domains in preschoolers.

Investigating the Association

The study examined the associations between physical fitness, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and four EF domains in preschoolers aged 3–5. The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study involving 241 children from two schools in Pamplona, Spain.

The PREFIT battery was used to assess physical fitness levels. This battery is a standardized test that measures muscular strength (via handgrip strength and standing long jump), speed/agility (using a 4×10 m shuttle run), and cardiorespiratory fitness (through a 20 m shuttle run). Each child’s test performance was adjusted for age and sex and combined into an overall fitness score.

Executive function was measured using the Early Years Toolbox, an iPad-based cognitive assessment that evaluates visual-spatial working memory, phonological working memory, inhibition (via a “Go/No-Go” task), and cognitive shifting (via a card-sorting task). Children wore a GENEActiv accelerometer to measure activity levels for six consecutive days, recording physical activity and sedentary time. The researchers then analyzed the relationships between these variables while controlling for confounding factors such as sex and age.

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Major Findings

The research suggested that preschoolers with higher overall fitness levels performed significantly better on all EF tasks. Specifically, better physical fitness was associated with stronger visual-spatial and phonological working memory, improved inhibition, and enhanced cognitive shifting. Speed/agility and muscular strength showed the strongest associations with EF among individual fitness components, while cardiorespiratory fitness had a moderate but positive impact.

Additionally, greater engagement in total physical activity (light, moderate, and vigorous combined) correlated with better working memory and inhibitory control. Conversely, higher sedentary time was linked to lower performance in phonological working memory and inhibition, though no significant association was found with cognitive shifting. The results suggested that reducing prolonged sitting and increasing movement-based activities in early childhood may significantly enhance specific aspects of cognitive function. However, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels did not correlate strongly with EF, indicating that total movement volume, rather than exercise intensity alone, may be more important at this developmental stage.

Limitations and Future Research

Despite these compelling findings, the study has some limitations. As a cross-sectional study, it could not establish causality between fitness levels and cognitive performance. The researchers believe that longitudinal research is needed to confirm whether improving fitness directly enhances EF. Additionally, while accelerometer-based measurements provide objective data, they might not capture all aspects of physical movement, such as unstructured play. The sample’s limited diversity (two schools in one region) may also affect generalizability.

Conclusions

In summary, the study emphasized the importance of physical activity and fitness in shaping specific cognitive skills in preschoolers. The results showed that encouraging movement and limiting sedentary behavior can positively impact working memory and inhibition and indicated that educators and parents should prioritize active play, structured exercise, and movement-friendly learning environments to support children’s cognitive growth. Further research, particularly longitudinal studies, is also needed to determine the long-term effects of these associations.

Journal reference:

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  • García-Alonso, Y., Ramírez-Vélez, R., Legarra-Gorgoñon, G. et al. (2025). Associations between physical fitness, physical activity, sedentary behavior and executive function in preschoolers. Pediatric Research, DOI:10.1038/s41390-025-03946-w, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41390-025-03946-w
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Fitness

How to get started at the gym – and keep going

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4 hours ago

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January 8, 2026

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How to get started at the gym – and keep going
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It’s important to have goals in mind as you set out on your fitness journey, whether you’re trying to lose weight, gain muscle or train for a race.skynesher/Supplied

January is notoriously the busiest time of year at the gym. A survey from Ipsos reported that a third of Canadians made exercise-based resolutions for the new year, with many folks working out for the first time or returning to fitness after some time away. If you’re new to exercise, the gym can feel like an intimidating place. But it doesn’t need to be. Below we’ve put together a few suggestions to help you get started.

Have a plan going in

For success at the gym, it’s crucial to have a plan. Before you start, it’s important to identify your goals. Are you looking to get stronger? Training for a race or competition? Do you want to improve body composition? While almost any consistent exercise is going to improve your overall health, specific results require specific training.

Following a workout program can help you stay committed – here’s how to write your own

Those completely new to working out may want to invest in a few sessions with a personal trainer. A reputable trainer will be able to put together a plan based on your preferences and skill level, while walking you through the proper form for each exercise. If cost is an issue, many gyms offer a free intro training session as a sign-up perk. There are also hundreds of different workout programs you can find online and video tutorials outlining proper form.

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If you’re intimidated to exercise on your own, a fitness class allows you to follow along with an instructor while getting some quick pointers on how to properly perform the workout. Many gyms offer discounted or free classes to first-time visitors.

Trying to do too much, too fast will burn you out, leave you injured or both

When you’re motivated by a new year’s resolution, it’s tempting to pencil in long gym sessions multiple times a week. But that kind of regime is rarely sustainable. If you’d like to make exercising a habit beyond January – and you’ll need to for any kind of lasting results – it’s best to think about what you can do in the long term.

“You can either do an hour of weightlifting a few days a week, and actually do it, or you have these imaginary 10-hour training sessions you’ll never actually have time for,” said Dan John, strength coach and author. “I try to focus on [programs that are] doable, repeatable and reasonable.”

Want to focus on healthy aging in 2026? Here are 10 nutrition tips to start the new year

Similarly, trying to immediately push beyond your physical limitations is a great way to get injured. For weightlifting, it’s important to consider proper warm-ups, active mobility exercises and learning the right techniques before trying to lift anything too heavy. For cardio, Canada Running Series offers a Couch to 5K plan that eases newcomers into jogging by starting small and gradually increasing the length/difficulty of each run.

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Follow basic gym etiquette

The gym is a shared public space. Everyone there is trying to get in a good workout. That’s harder to do when people are having phone conversations, listening to videos without using headphones and refusing to wipe down their equipment after use.

In March, fitness trainer Paul Landini wrote an article explaining some unofficial rules to follow when going to the gym, including being mindful of other people’s space and making sure you’re not monopolizing equipment during busy hours.

Try to find what you like about the gym

Changes in body composition, strength and overall health take time. They also need upkeep over the long term. Building a consistent fitness habit is something that will help with all those goals. One of the best ways to do that is finding something at the gym you genuinely enjoy doing. That can be working out with a friend to add a social aspect to exercise and accountability to show up. It can entail learning a new fitness-adjacent skill such as boxing or training for a competition like Hyrox. It can be rooted in the sense of accomplishment that comes with getting stronger. Whatever the reason, finding the joy in exercise is going to be key if you want to move beyond short-term motivation.

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Fitness

New workout makes fitness more accessible for moms

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17 hours ago

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January 8, 2026

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New workout makes fitness more accessible for moms

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Finding time to work out as a mom with young kids can be a challenge in itself, especially when you’re new to an area and don’t know where to start. However, a new fitness option strolled into Sioux Falls today. iStroll offers moms the chance to work out and meet other moms all while their kids can play or even join alongside them.

iStroll is a national organization that has more than 35 locations in the country but this is the first time one opened in South Dakota. It’s a full body workout that incorporates dumbbells, body weight, and jogging strollers when the weather’s nice.

“I found iStroll in Oklahoma and fell in love,” said Kelsi Supek who started the affiliate in Sioux Falls. “We made friends. It became our entire social network. The kids loved it and then we moved to Arizona during COVID. And all the moms were stuck at home. They were inside with our kids and lonely, honestly. And we were like, why can’t we start an iStroll and be out at the parks with the kids every day? And it took off.”

When Supek moved to Sioux Falls, she was encouraged by her family to start an affiliate and own it herself.

“Gym daycares did not work out for my children,” said Supek. “I would get 10 minutes into a class and then I’d have that person trying to knock outside the yoga studio going, Can I have Kelsey and her kids screaming in daycare? And it just didn’t work for us. So at iStroll they could be with me or I could be breastfeeding the baby as I was teaching in class.”

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Classes are planned to continue each Wednesday and Friday at We Rock the Spectrum and First Presbyterian Church. For a full schedule for January and February, you can look at their Facebook. The first class is also free and memberships are for the whole family.

“Letting the kids see you work out is, it’s similar to homeschooling where like, you know, how are they going to love working out if they don’t see you working out,” said Kelly Jardeleza, a stay-at-home mom of three kids. “Whereas at other gyms they put them in a room and they don’t get to watch you. And how are you going to inspire them if they’re not watching you do it?”

Copyright 2026 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.

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Fitness

Share your health and fitness questions for Devi Sridhar, Mariella Frostrup, and Joel Snape

Published

1 day ago

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January 7, 2026

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Share your health and fitness questions for Devi Sridhar, Mariella Frostrup, and Joel Snape

There’s no bad time to take a more active interest in your health, but the new year, for lots of us, feels like a fresh start. Maybe you’re planning to sign up for a 10k or finally have a go at bouldering, eat a bit better or learn to swing a kettlebell. Maybe you want to keep up with your grandkids — or just be a little bit more physically prepared for whatever life throws at you.

To help things along, Guardian Live invites you to a special event with public health expert Devi Sridhar, journalist and author Mariella Frostrup, and health and fitness columnist Joel Snape. They’ll be joining the Guardian’s Today in Focus presenter Annie Kelly to discuss simple, actionable ways to stay fit and healthy as you move through the second half of life: whether that means staying strong and mobile or stressing less and sleeping better.

To make the whole event as helpful as possible, we’d love to hear from you about what you find most challenging — or confusing — when it comes to health and exercise. What should you actually be eating, and how are you going to find the time to make it? What sort of exercise is best, and how often should you be doing it? Is Pilates worth the effort — and should we really all be drinking mugfuls of piping hot creatine?

Whether your question is about exercise, eating, or general wellness, post it below and we’ll put a selection to our panel on the night.

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Share your experience

You can post your question to the panel using this form.

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