Effects of a Physical Education Programme in Preschool Children

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Unlike other European countries, Italian kindergartens do not include the physical education teacher in the school organic personnel. This is frequently associated with the lack of opportunities to perform physical education by preschool children. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of a specific 16-week-long physical education programme (PEP) of 16-week length on the development of locomotor and object control skills in preschool children.

Detailed Description
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We conducted a school-based non-randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effect of a specific 16-week-long physical education program (PEP) on the quotient of gross motor development (QGMD) in preschool children. This study involved 119 children who were clustered in a control group (CG, n= 29, age: 52.1±8.65 months; height: 1.1±0.07 m, body weight: 19.2±5.55 Kg, BMI: 16.9±3.16) and an intervention group (IG, n= 90, age: 57.4±9.42 months; height: 1.1±0.06 m, body weight: 19.3±3.65 Kg, BMI: 16±1.75). Participants were assessed for locomotor ability and object control skills using the Italian version of gross motor development test, before and after the experimental period.

Official Title
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The Development of Motor Skills by a Physical Education Programme in Preschool Children: a Preschool-based Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Motor Activity, Child Development

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: physical activity


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria preschool children Exclusion Criteria: Age < 40 months Age > 67 months

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 40 Months
Maximum Age: 67 Months

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Intervention<br>Physical activity intervention | Other: physical activity<br>* Physical education program (PEP) of 16-week length<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>Keep usual activities in kindergarten | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quotient of gross motor development change | Quotient of gross motor development | Change from Baseline at 16 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BMI | Body mass index | Change from Baseline at 16 weeks | 
| Weight | Weight | Change from Baseline at 16 weeks | 
| Height | Height | Change from Baseline at 16 weeks | 
| Object control skills change | Object control | Change from Baseline at 16 weeks | 
| Locomotion skills change | locomotion | Change from Baseline at 16 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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sport, physical activity, education, fundamental motor skills, childhood, exercise, health, training, intervention, gross motor development