Healthy, Motor Activity
Conditions
Keywords
Physical Activity, Mobile Applications, Child, Behavior, Motor Skills
Brief summary
The objective of this trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile app-based motor skills intervention (DigiKids RCT) on motor competence, physical activity, and perceived motor competence compared with standard school practices in primary school children. In addition, the study will examine other factors such as child-specific and family-related factors that might influence the findings.
Detailed description
This study will be conducted between August 2026 and January 2027 in Tampere, Finland. The target sample size will be 314 children enrolled from 22 classrooms across 18 primary schools, along with one caregiver from each participating family. In a cluster randomized controlled trial design, nine of the 27 primary schools are randomly allocated to an intervention group and nine to a control group. Randomization has been conducted prior to study initiation in the fall of 2025. The intervention group will receive a 12-week mobile app-based intervention which will be delivered in classrooms by teachers with homework tasks supported by guardians. A total estimated activity time of the intervention is 900 minutes (approximately 75 minutes per week over 12 weeks). The control group will continue the standard school practices. Data will be collected at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1, 3 months post-baseline), and follow-up (T2, 7 months post-baseline). The primary outcome is motor competence, and the secondary outcomes include physical activity and perceived motor competence. The first results are anticipated to be available and published between 2027 and 2028.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALApp-based Motor Skills Intervention
The DigiKids intervention will be delivered over 12 weeks as part of the school curriculum using the Geego Kids application. Intervention includes two main components delivered via Geego Kids application: (1) Teacher interface. Two 3-minute structured movement breaks each school day and 18 weekly homework assignments including monitoring of completition. (2) User interface for children and guardians. Guardians are instructed to support homework assignments. The total activity time with the intervention during the school hours is approximately 6 minutes per day, corresponding to 30 minutes per week. At home, the estimated minimum activity time is approximately 45 minutes per week. A total estimated activity time of the intervention is 900 minutes (approximately 75 minutes per week over 12 weeks). In addition, teachers and children with guardians are permitted free use of the application.
OTHERStandard school practices
Control schools will continue standard school practices as usual. After the 7-month follow-up, the waitlist control group will be offered one-year access to the application and will receive the intervention materials as described for the intervention group below. During this period, teachers in these schools may decide how to use the intervention materials and the application in their teaching practices.
Sponsors
Tampere University
Juho Vainio Foundation
UKK Institute
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Research assistants conducting the data collection will remain blinded to group allocation throughout the study.
Intervention model description
To evaluate the effectiveness of the DigiKids intervention, the study employs a cluster randomized controlled trial design, with schools serving as the unit of randomization and a 1:1 allocation ratio. Schools assigned to the intervention group receive a mobile app-based motor skills intervention during the study period and retain free access to the app until the 7-month follow-up. Schools assigned to the waitlist control group continue usual practices during the study period and receive the intervention materials and app access after the follow-up measurements.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
6 Years to 8 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Children enrolled in the first grade of primary school * Sufficient Finnish language proficiency * Written informed consent from the guardian and written assent from the child
Exclusion criteria
* Age under 6 or over 8 years * Medical or physical conditions preventing participation in the assessments (including severe musculoskeletal complaints or concussions within the preceding 3 months) * Refusal to participate in baseline assessments
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in raw scores for each subtest and the total raw score on the Test of Gross Motor Development Third Edition (TGMD-3) | From baseline to week 12 and at the 7-month follow-up. | A validated and widely used assessment tool for evaluating fundamental movement skills in children aged 3-10 years. Maximum scores for locomotor skills are 46, ball skills 54, and total gross motor skills 100. In addition, the gross motor index (GMI) scores will be reported. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in the device-assessed physical activity using the UKK RM42 accelerometer | From baseline to week 12 and at the 7-month follow-up. | The UKK RM42 provides high-resolution data on movement intensity, frequency, and duration, enabling the assessment of total physical activity, time spent in different intensity zones (e.g., light, moderate, vigorous), and sedentary behavior. Accelerometer will be worn on the hip for seven consecutive days during waking hours. |
| Change in the perceived motor competence measured using the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence (PMSC) | From baseline to week 12 and at the 7-month follow-up. | A validated instrument for children aged 4-8 years. The instrument includes pictorial items aligned with TGMD-3 fundamental movement skills. The maximum score for locomotor skills is 24 points (6 × 4), for ball skills 28 points (7 × 4), and the maximum total score is 52 points. |
Countries
Finland
Contacts
STUDY_DIRECTORPilvikki Absetz, Professor
Tampere University
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORJenny H Gustafsson, Doctoral researcher
Tampere University
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOREero A Haapala, Docent
South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORMari H Leppänen, Docent
UKK Institute
Outcome results
None listed