Pregledni rad
Impact of Preschool Children's Morning Exercise on Changes in Motor and Functional Abilities
Bonita Žagar Kavran
Biljana Trajkovski
; Učiteljski fakultet u Rijeci
Zvonimir Tomac
; Fakultet za odgojne i obrazovne znanosti, Osijek
Sažetak
Morning physical exercise has a very positive impact on the physical and mental status of preschool children and brings positive atmosphere. According to the existing legislation it should be implemented in all kindergartens, but previous research suggests that physical exercise is not sufficiently present in Croatian kindergartens. Therefore, the aim of the paper was to analyse the impact of morning exercise on changes in a child's motor and functional abilities.
The research was conducted with 42 children, with average age of 5 years. The experimental group consisted of 23 and the control group of 19 children. The system of 6 variables was applied, with five of them relating to motor abilities and one variable to functional abilities.
The measurement results were analysed in the standard statistical procedure and three hypotheses have been proposed. It is evident that the experimental group achieved better results in the final measurements than the control group. Therefore, the first hypothesis can be partially accepted, because the motor skills of children who participated in the program were improved. The second hypothesis assumed improvement in functional abilities, but was rejected because there was no statistically significant difference between the experimental and control group. The third hypothesis was also rejected because it was assumed that the program would produce significant differences between the groups in motor and functional abilities, which did not happen.
At the beginning of the research it was assumed that the program would produce greater differences, but the analysis of the results suggests that it is necessary to keep the program going for a longer period (at least nine months), and implement the program in continuity (3-4 years). The results of this study can serve as a basis for further (longitudinal) research. Results also imply that apart from anthropological characteristics some other parameters, such as children's motivation, habits and changes in appetite should be monitored in future research.
Ključne riječi
morning physical exercise; preschool children; children's motor and functional abilities research; kinanthropometric characteristics
Hrčak ID:
152307
URI
Datum izdavanja:
19.6.2015.
Posjeta: 5.893 *