Effects of a Fundamental Motor Skill-Based Afterschool Program on Children’s Physical and Cognitive Health Outcomes
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Alan Chu, Associate Professor (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Abstract: Globally, more than half of school-aged children do not engage in the recommended 60 minutesof daily moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Given that developing sufficientfundamental motor skills (FMS) competence during early elementary school years is important fora child’s physical and cognitive development, the purpose of this study was to examine the effectsof an 8-week FMS-based afterschool program on physical and cognitive health outcomes amongelementary children. Participants were 31 K–2 students (19 girls, 12 boys; Mage = 6.65 ± 0.98)from three public elementary schools in the southwestern United States who were assigned to theintervention group (FMS-based afterschool program; n = 20) or the control group (traditionalafterschool program; n = 11). A 2 × 2 repeated measures MANOVA showed significant changes inFMS competence and MVPA between the intervention and the control group over time. However,no significant changes were found in cognitive functioning. The 8-week FMS-based afterschoolprogram showed significant improvements in FMS competence and MVPA, compared to atraditional afterschool program. This finding suggests that structured FMS-focused strategies (e.g.,fun games and goal setting) can be a critical component when implementing a physical activityprogram to enhance children’s motor skills and physical activity behavior.
Effects of a Fundamental Motor Skill-Based Afterschool Program on Children’s Physical and Cognitive Health Outcomes
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Created on 9/21/2023
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Additional Information
- Publication
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(3)
- Language: English
- Date: 2020
- Keywords
- motor skill performance, moderate to vigorous physical activity, cognitive
functioning, school-aged children, afterschool program