Five local students demonstrated memory feats and focus for a national Presidents Day video contest. They quickly recited from memory all 44 U.S. presidents in order, while performing other tasks and blocking out intense distractions. The contest is designed to encourage kids across the country to create videos that demonstrate the memory and focus skills they improved with LearningRx brain training.
"This is one of the first things we have students master in our brain training programs," says Michelle Hecker Davis of LearningRx Chattanooga. "It quickly strengthens long-term memory, attention and other cognitive skills, and it also gives a big boost of self-confidence. Many of these kids have struggled in school for years, so when they can quickly learn all the presidents they feel smart and confident, often for the first time ever."
Ten-year-old Kevin Fryar of Cleveland is one of five locals who competed. He performed a Karate Kata while reciting the presidents and dodging soccer balls. Kevin’s mom Kellye says the brain training helped her son improve his focus. “He’s more focused, he’s keeping to himself more (showing impulse control), he doesn’t fight with us over homework, and we’re getting school work done much faster than before.”
The national winner of this year’s Presidents Day contest is nine-year-old Tillie Hogenson of Plymouth, Minn. She recited all 44 presidents while hula hooping and shooting baskets – all with music on in the background. You can watch her video, along with the other 34 incredible entries, here: www.learningrx.com/presidents-day-video-contest.