Preschoolers exhibit greater on-task behavior following physically active lessons on the approximate number system

To determine how the dual-task nature of incorporating physical activity with instructional activities immediately impacts acuity of the approximate number system and on-task behavior in preschoolers.

Using a randomized within-participants repeated-measures crossover design, 51 children completed an approximate number system task before and after either 20-min of physically active instruction corresponding to 38% heart rate reserve (HRR; light-to-moderate intensity) or conventional sedentary instruction at corresponding to 21% HRR (very light intensity).

Findings revealed that preschool-aged children exhibited similar learning and greater on-task behavior following a single bout of physically active instruction relative to conventional sedentary instruction. Overall, preschoolers accrued 931.3 ± 8.2 more steps and an additional 9 minutes at or above light-intensity activity during the physically active instruction.

Accordingly, these findings suggest that the dual-task nature of physically active learning does not compromise learning, reduces the need for redirecting off-task behavior, and ultimately allows children to avoid sedentary behavior in educational contexts.