Effects of a physical activity programme in the school setting on physical fitness in preschool children

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 10-week aerobic games programme on physical fitness.

Methods: One hundred eleven children, aged 3 to 6 years, participated in this study; 60 children were male (age: 4.28 ± 0.61 years old), and 51 were female (age 4.59 ± 0.49 years old). Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG; n = 56) and a control group (CG; n = 55). A fitness test battery previously validated for preschoolers was used. The children in the EG performed 3 weekly training sessions of physical activity in a classroom during a 10-week period. Every EG session lasted about 30 min.

Results: There were no significant differences in any variable in the pretest between groups. In the posttest, the EG achieved better results in horizontal jump and sprint. In relation to posttest-pretest differences, the EG showed a greater increase in horizontal jump, sprint, and endurance.

Conclusion: An aerobic games programme in the school setting improved physical fitness in preschool children.

Keywords: cognitive; fitness; performance; physical activity; preschoolers.