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Intellectual maturity and physical fitness in preschool children

Pedro Á Latorre-Román1, David Mora-López2, Felipe García-Pinillos1

  • 1Department of Corporal Expression, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain.

Pediatrics International : Official Journal of the Japan Pediatric Society
|December 31, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Physical fitness and motor skills in preschool children are linked to intellectual maturity. Early physical education can enhance cognitive development in young children.

Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Sports Science
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • A link exists between physical fitness, growth, and cognition.
  • Research on physical fitness and cognitive function is growing.
  • The relationship between motor skills and intellectual maturity in preschoolers is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the association between intellectual maturity and physical/motor fitness in preschool children.
  • To investigate early indicators of cognitive development through physical assessments.

Main Methods:

  • 1012 children aged 3-6 years participated.
  • Utilized a fitness test battery and the Goodenough-Harris drawing test (GHDT).

Main Results:

  • Boys excelled in the broad jump and sprint; girls scored higher on the GHDT.
  • Significant age-related differences were observed across all fitness and GHDT measures.
  • A significant correlation was found between GHDT scores and fitness variables.

Conclusions:

  • Physical-motor performance and intellectual maturity are interconnected from an early age.
  • Fitness levels can predict intellectual maturity in young children.
  • Increased physical education time may foster cognitive benefits in preschoolers.
Abstract

Keywords:
childrencognitiveperformancephysical fitness

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