School Physical Activity Programming and Gross Motor Skills in Children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Motor Development
• School-Based Interventions

Background:

• Gross motor skills are crucial for children's physical health and development.
• Limited research exists on the impact of structured school physical activity programs on these skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) on children's gross motor skills.
• To investigate if age and sex modify the program's impact.

Main Methods:

• A year-long CSPAP intervention was implemented in 5 low-income elementary schools.
• 959 children (1st-6th grade) were assessed using the Test for Gross Motor Development (TGMD-3) at baseline and 36-week follow-up.
• Multi-level mixed effects models analyzed changes in TGMD-3 scores, controlling for covariates.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in overall gross motor skills (TGMD-3 scores) were observed after the 36-week intervention.
• Locomotor skills and ball skills sub-scores also showed significant gains.
• An age-by-time interaction indicated that younger children benefited more than older children.

Conclusions:

• The CSPAP effectively enhanced gross motor skills in elementary school children.
• Age is a significant factor, with younger children demonstrating more substantial improvements.
• These findings support the integration of comprehensive physical activity programs in schools.