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Effects of the Animal Fun Program on Motor Performance in Brazilian Children: A Control Trial
Thailane Fiuza Mendes1, Juliana Barbosa Goulardins2, Cristina Dos Santos Cardoso de Sá1,3
1Programa Interdisciplinar em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, Brazil.
Insights
The Animal Fun Program significantly improved motor skills in Brazilian children aged 4-6. This low-cost intervention enhances manual dexterity, aiming/catching, and balance, offering a scalable solution for early childhood development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Motor Development
Background:
- Early childhood motor interventions are crucial for development.
- Evidence from developing countries is limited.
- The Animal Fun Program is a potential intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the Brazilian Animal Fun Program's impact on motor performance.
- Targeting children aged 4 to 6 years.
- Assessing effects in a developing country context.
Main Methods:
- Non-randomized controlled clinical trial with 100 children (4-6 years).
- Intervention group (n=51) received the Animal Fun Program for 10 weeks.
- Control group (n=49) followed the regular curriculum; motor skills assessed using MABC-2.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in the intervention group post-10 weeks.
- Enhanced manual dexterity (mean difference = -2.20; p < 0.001).
- Improved aiming and catching (mean difference = -2.45; p < 0.001) and balance (mean difference = -2.53; p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- The Animal Fun Program effectively improves motor performance in Brazilian children.
- It's a relevant, scalable, low-cost strategy for motor development.
- Addresses limited structured movement opportunities in developing countries' schools.
Abstract:
BackgroundEarly childhood motor interventions are essential for supporting child development, yet evidence is scarce in developing countries. This study aimed to assess the effects of the Brazilian version of the Animal Fun Program on motor performance in children aged 4 to 6 years.MethodIn this non-randomized controlled clinical trial, 100 children were assigned according to school enrollment, without random allocation, to an intervention group (n = 51, 26 girls) or a control group (n = 49, 23 girls). The intervention group participated in the Animal Fun Program for 10 weeks, while the control group followed the regular school curriculum. Motor performance was assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children - Second Edition (MABC-2).ResultsAfter 10 weeks, the intervention group showed significant improvements compared to the control group in manual dexterity (mean difference = -2.20; p < 0.001), aiming and catching (mean difference = -2.45; p < 0.001), and balance (mean difference = -2.53; p < 0.001).ConclusionThe Animal Fun Program is an effective intervention for improving motor performance in Brazilian children aged 4 to 6 years, highlighting its relevance as a scalable, low-cost strategy for promoting motor development in developing countries, where structured movement opportunities in schools remain limited.
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