Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
Published on: July 27, 2022
Development and evaluation of a basic physical and sports activity program for preschool children in nursery schools
Ramin Kordi1, Ruhollah Nourian, Mahboubeh Ghayour
1Sports Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
A 10-week physical activity program significantly improved fundamental movement skills in Iranian preschool children. The program, delivered by trained instructors, enhanced gross motor development, including locomotor and object control skills.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Sports Science
- Early Childhood Education
Background:
- Fundamental movement skills are crucial for children's physical and cognitive development.
- Preschool-aged children require targeted programs to enhance gross motor skills.
- Limited research exists on the effectiveness of structured physical activity interventions in Iranian nursery schools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a physical activity program for nursery schools in Iran.
- To evaluate the impact of this program on the fundamental movement skills of preschool children.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental study involving 147 preschool children from five nursery schools in Iran.
- A 10-week physical activity program was implemented by trained instructors.
- The Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2) was used to assess gross motor development before and after the intervention.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements were observed in all TGMD-2 components, including locomotor skills, object control, and overall gross motor quotient (P<0.001).
- The proportion of children with superior/very superior Gross Motor Quotients increased from 11.5% to 49.7% after the 10-week intervention.
- The mean age of participants was 4.95 (0.83) years.
Conclusions:
- The developed physical activity program is an effective and practical method for enhancing fundamental movement skills in preschool children.
- Trained nursery physical activity instructors can successfully implement such programs.
- This intervention shows promise for improving gross motor development in early childhood settings in Iran.
Objective:
The objectives of this study were a) to develop a physical activity program for nursery schools, and b) to evaluate the effects of this program on fundamental movement skills of preschool age children in Iran.
Methods:
In this quasi-experimental study 147 children from five nursery schools in five different cities in Iran were enrolled. A physical activity program was developed for nursery children. Trained nursery physical activity instructors conducted the program for 10 weeks for all subjects. The levels of gross motor development of all subjects were measured before intervention and after 10 weeks physical activity program employing the Test of Gross Motor Development-edition 2 (TGMD-2).
Findings:
The participants in this study had a mean (SD) age of 4.95 (0.83) years. At the end of the study, scores of subjects at all components of TGMD-2 (including locomotor, object control, sum of standard scores and gross motor quotient) were significantly improved compared to the baseline scores (P<0.001). Based on descriptive rating of the "Gross Motor Quotient" in the base line, 11.5% of subjects were superior/very superior (GMQ >120) and after 10 weeks intervention this rate was increased to 49.7% of all subjects.
Conclusion:
It seems that the developed physical activity program conducted by trained nursery physical activity instructors could be an effective and practical way of increasing levels of fundamental movement skills of preschool children in Iran.
