TITLE:
The Effect of Physical Activity Classes on Motor Skill in 12 - 24-Month-Old Children
AUTHORS:
Ajmol Ali, Deborah Pigou, Linda Clarke, Claire McLachlan
KEYWORDS:
Pre-School, Cognitive Skill, Safety Skills, Physical Literacy, Fundamental Movement Skills
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Physical Education,
Vol.9 No.4,
November
7,
2019
ABSTRACT: Background: Children with enhanced fundamental movement skills may benefit from improved physical, social and psychological development, resulting in an increased likelihood of an active lifestyle in later years.Aim: We investigated the effects of a nine-week, child-centred, physical activity programmeon cognitive and motor skills in typically developing 12 - 24-month-old toddlers. Methods: In a randomised control trial, 90 toddlers (age 17.0 ± 2.6 months; 52.2% male) were split into two groups stratified by age and sex. The intervention completed was either nine weeks of one-hour per week physical activity classes (n = 45; EXP) or normal physical activity (n = 45; control). Prior to and following the intervention period, safety skills (nine-skill test battery), anthropometric measures (mass and height), motor and cognitive development (Bayley Scales of Infant Development) were assessed. Results: EXP improved overall safety skills score (P = 0.04), toddlers’ abilities to climb over a small-runged A-frame while using a cylinder grip and safe face-the-slope dismount (P = 0.001), and the execution of a safety roll down a foam wedge (P = 0.02). Improvements in development as measured by the Bayley’s Scales were attributed to typical development rather than the intervention. Conclusions: A 9-week, physical activity programme improved toddlers’ safety skills but not overall cognitive or motor development.