Healthy Preschoolers
Conditions
Keywords
Fundamental Movement Skills, Executive Functions, Preschoolers, Randomized Controlled Trial, Inhibitory Control, Working Memory, Cognitive Flexibility, Physical Activity
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of a 12-week structured fundamental movement skills (FMS) training program on executive functions in 34 healthy preschoolers aged 5-6 years. Participants were randomly assigned to an FMS training group (n = 17) or a regular physical activity control group (n = 17). The FMS group participated in two 35-minute sessions per week for 12 weeks, while the control group engaged in free play. Executive functions were assessed using the Go/No-Go, Mr. Ant, and Card Sorting tasks from the Early Years Toolbox at baseline and after the intervention.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALFundamental Movement Skills Training
Structured FMS training program including locomotor, object control, and stability skills, 2 sessions per week, 35 minutes per session for 12 weeks.
BEHAVIORALRegular Physical Activity
Regular physical activities including free play and simple exercises (e.g., rope jumping, ball bouncing, musical chairs), 2 sessions per week, 35 minutes per session.
Sponsors
Xi'an Physical Education University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
5 Years to 6 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Age between 5 and 6 years 2. Good physical health without severe cognitive or motor impairments 3. Parental or guardian consent to participate
Exclusion criteria
1. Severe cognitive impairment or neurodevelopmental disorders 2. Physical conditions unsuitable for moderate-intensity physical activity 3. Severe motor developmental delay or impairment
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Working Memory - Mr. Ant Task | Baseline and 12 weeks post-intervention | Children were required to remember the locations of colored stickers on a cartoon ant ("Mr. Ant") and reposition them after the stickers disappeared. The task consisted of 8 levels with progressively increasing difficulty. The score was the number of levels correctly completed (range: 0-8). |
| Inhibitory Control - Go/No-Go Task | Baseline and 12 weeks post-intervention | Children were instructed to tap the screen when a clownfish appeared (Go trials) and to refrain from tapping when a shark appeared (No-Go trials). The task comprised 75 trials (60 Go, 15 No-Go). The score was calculated as the product of accuracy rates on Go and No-Go trials. |
| Cognitive Flexibility - Card Sorting Task | Baseline and 12 weeks post-intervention | Children were required to sort patterns (boats or rabbits) according to color or shape rules. The task comprised three phases: color sorting, shape sorting, and mixed sorting, with 6 trials per phase, totaling 18 trials. The score was the total number of correct sorts (range: 0-18). |
Countries
China
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORYing Lu
Xi'an Physical Education University
Outcome results
None listed