Children averaging 5,000 to more than 12,000 steps per day day had fewer mental health symptoms than those taking less than 5,000. Mental health symptoms were progressively lower across higher step counts with no apparent plateau, even at 12,000+ steps per day. Brain scans also linked higher step counts to greater thickness in two specific regions of the cortex, the brain’s outer layer. Daily movement deserves much more attention as a potential way to support kids’ mental health. That's especially clear when you consider that modern-day digital and urban environments provide little opportunity for movement throughout the day.