OUT to IN: an Outdoor Body-oriented Intervention Program
Condition: Children With Typical Development
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The goal of this randomized trial is to examine the effects of a body-oriented intervention
      program on preschoolers' social-emotional competence.

      The main question it aims to answer are: does OUT to IN effectively promotes preschoolers'
      self-awareness, self-regulation, relationship skills and motor competence? Participants are
      children between 3 and 6 years from portuguese preschools. The inclusion criteria are (a)
      participants' age between 3 and 6 years, (b) do not have participated in a similar
      intervention program within the last 6 months, and (c) do not have a physical condition that
      can affect the participation in the program. Children will be randomly allocated to the
      experimental group (who will participate in a 10-week intervention program with biweekly
      sessions of psychomotricity implemented outdoors) and to the control group (who will maintain
      their usual routines).
    

Detailed description: 
      Main aim: Examine the effects of a body-mind intervention program developed in outer space on
      motor competence and socio-emotional competence (emotional awareness, self-regulation,
      relationship skills) of preschool aged children.

      Participants: Children attending pre-school education. Inclusion criteria are: a) attending
      regular pre-school education; b) not having limitations (e.g. physical limitations;
      intellectual deficits) to take the assessment tests; c) not having limitations to participate
      in the intervention sessions; d) not using drugs that can influence the dependent variables;
      f) not participating in a similar intervention program for at least 2 months. 250-300
      children are expected to be enrolled in this study.

      Children will be randomly allocated to the experimental group (who will participate in a
      10-week intervention program with biweekly sessions of psychomotricity implemented outdoors)
      and to the control group (who will maintain their usual routines). Children will be tested
      before and after the intervention period.

      Outcome measures:

      Motor competence will be assessed through the Test of Gross Motor Development II.

      Social-emotional competence will be assessed through the Study on Social and Emotional Skills
      questionnaire reported by parents and teachers. Parents will also fill in the Emotional
      Expression Questionnaire. Children will be individually tested through the recognition,
      identification and emotional understanding tests, the Heads Toes Knees and Shoulders test,
      the Day and Night test and the interoceptive accuracy test.

      Stress biomarkers will also be analysed through salivary analysis. Saliva collections will be
      made, in a non-stimulated way, asking each child to rinse their mouth with water for about 10
      seconds, swallow it and wait 30 seconds. From that moment on, all the saliva produced will be
      accumulated in the mouth and placed in a tube kept on ice at regular intervals. Participants
      will remain in a comfortable position and not speak during the collection period.

      Statistical analysis: Mann-Whitney test will be used to study differences at baseline between
      the OUT to IN group and the control group, and to study differences in the 10- week changes
      between both groups. Wilcoxon Test will be used for intragroup comparisons.
    

Intervention name(s): OUT to IN
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): OUT to IN comprises 20 body-oriented biweekly 40-minute sessions facilitated by a psychomotor therapist in a pedagogical partnership with the preschool teacher. Sessions are implemented outdoors. All sessions are framed in a context of freedom and self and mutual bodily resonance, according to the following structure: First, children are invited to engage in exercise play activities. Second, children engage in ludic relaxation proposals. Finally, children are asked to reflect on their bodily experiences and express themselves through different expressive mediators. Preschool teachers also participate in a 25-hour training focused on the underlying principles of OUT to In and participate in 20 body-oriented biweekly 20-minute relaxation sessions, facilitated by a psychomotor therapist.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: social-emotional development; mental health; preschool; preventive care; body-oriented interventions; play; relaxation