The effect of the CHAMP intervention on fundamental motor skills and outdoor physical activity in preschoolers

Purpose: Physical activity (PA) and fundamental motor skills are important components of current and future trajectories of health in young children. This study examined the effects of a 5-week motor skill intervention on preschoolers’ motor skill competence and their PA behaviors while participatin...

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Main Authors: Kara K. Palmer, Katherine M. Chinn, Leah E. Robinson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2019-03-01
Series:Journal of Sport and Health Science
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254618301212
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author Kara K. Palmer
Katherine M. Chinn
Leah E. Robinson
author_facet Kara K. Palmer
Katherine M. Chinn
Leah E. Robinson
author_sort Kara K. Palmer
collection DOAJ
description Purpose: Physical activity (PA) and fundamental motor skills are important components of current and future trajectories of health in young children. This study examined the effects of a 5-week motor skill intervention on preschoolers’ motor skill competence and their PA behaviors while participating in the motor skill intervention or outdoor free play (recess). Methods: A total of 102 preschoolers served as participants and were part of a motor skill intervention group (n = 64) or a control/outdoor free play group (n = 38). Children's motor skills were assessed before and after the intervention using the Test of Gross Motor Development-3rd edition. PA during the motor skill intervention and outdoor free play was assessed using accelerometers both immediately before the start (baseline, Week 0 or Week 1) and end (late, Week 5 or Week 6) of the intervention. Results: All children significantly improved their motor skills from baseline to late assessment (p < 0.05). Children in the motor skill intervention demonstrated greater rates of change (p < 0.001) and scored higher on all motor skills at the late assessment compared with the control group (p < 0.001). There was no effect of group (control vs. intervention), but there was a significant effect of sex on children's PA during outdoor free play at baseline (p < 0.05). Similarly, there was no effect of group on PA during days with the movement program (intervention vs. outdoor free play) at either time point, but boys were more active than girls at the late assessment (p < 0.05). Last, children in the intervention engaged in more PA while participating in the intervention toward the end of the intervention than at the beginning. Conclusion: The 5-week motor skill intervention was effective at improving preschoolers’ motor skills and rates of change in motor skills were higher for children who completed the intervention compared with children in the control group. Preschoolers in the intervention did demonstrate PA changes while participating in the intervention, but these changes did not translate outside of the intervention setting. Keywords: Gross motor skills, Intervention, Motor development, Pediatrics, Physical activity
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spelling doaj.art-87b6779e8c1c45ecbc351222b291ff8a2022-12-22T03:46:17ZengElsevierJournal of Sport and Health Science2095-25462019-03-018298105The effect of the CHAMP intervention on fundamental motor skills and outdoor physical activity in preschoolersKara K. Palmer0Katherine M. Chinn1Leah E. Robinson2Child Movement, Activity, and Developmental Health Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2214, USAChild Movement, Activity, and Developmental Health Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2214, USAChild Movement, Activity, and Developmental Health Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2214, USA; Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2214, USA; Corresponding author.Purpose: Physical activity (PA) and fundamental motor skills are important components of current and future trajectories of health in young children. This study examined the effects of a 5-week motor skill intervention on preschoolers’ motor skill competence and their PA behaviors while participating in the motor skill intervention or outdoor free play (recess). Methods: A total of 102 preschoolers served as participants and were part of a motor skill intervention group (n = 64) or a control/outdoor free play group (n = 38). Children's motor skills were assessed before and after the intervention using the Test of Gross Motor Development-3rd edition. PA during the motor skill intervention and outdoor free play was assessed using accelerometers both immediately before the start (baseline, Week 0 or Week 1) and end (late, Week 5 or Week 6) of the intervention. Results: All children significantly improved their motor skills from baseline to late assessment (p < 0.05). Children in the motor skill intervention demonstrated greater rates of change (p < 0.001) and scored higher on all motor skills at the late assessment compared with the control group (p < 0.001). There was no effect of group (control vs. intervention), but there was a significant effect of sex on children's PA during outdoor free play at baseline (p < 0.05). Similarly, there was no effect of group on PA during days with the movement program (intervention vs. outdoor free play) at either time point, but boys were more active than girls at the late assessment (p < 0.05). Last, children in the intervention engaged in more PA while participating in the intervention toward the end of the intervention than at the beginning. Conclusion: The 5-week motor skill intervention was effective at improving preschoolers’ motor skills and rates of change in motor skills were higher for children who completed the intervention compared with children in the control group. Preschoolers in the intervention did demonstrate PA changes while participating in the intervention, but these changes did not translate outside of the intervention setting. Keywords: Gross motor skills, Intervention, Motor development, Pediatrics, Physical activityhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254618301212
spellingShingle Kara K. Palmer
Katherine M. Chinn
Leah E. Robinson
The effect of the CHAMP intervention on fundamental motor skills and outdoor physical activity in preschoolers
Journal of Sport and Health Science
title The effect of the CHAMP intervention on fundamental motor skills and outdoor physical activity in preschoolers
title_full The effect of the CHAMP intervention on fundamental motor skills and outdoor physical activity in preschoolers
title_fullStr The effect of the CHAMP intervention on fundamental motor skills and outdoor physical activity in preschoolers
title_full_unstemmed The effect of the CHAMP intervention on fundamental motor skills and outdoor physical activity in preschoolers
title_short The effect of the CHAMP intervention on fundamental motor skills and outdoor physical activity in preschoolers
title_sort effect of the champ intervention on fundamental motor skills and outdoor physical activity in preschoolers
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254618301212
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