Effects of before-school physical activity programs on preschool and school children: a systematic review

Given that several preschools and schoolchildren do not meet physical activity (PA) guidelines, the interest in including short activity breaks during school hours has become a popular trend among professionals in educational settings. Among them, before-school PA breaks have been highlighted as a suitable alternative. This systematic review aims to analyze the effects of before-school PA breaks on preschool-aged and school-aged children.

Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, five databases were searched for articles published before September 11, 2025. The PICOS framework (population; intervention; control; outcomes and study design) targeted children up to 12 years of age who had participated in before-school PA programs. Study quality was evaluated using different scales depending on the type of study.

Of the 526 studies identified, 16 met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 2,361 children. PA intervention before class can improve physical fitness and academic performance. However, some variables, such as attention and concentration; physical characteristics, such as BMI; and social aspects, such as quality of life and physical and verbal school bullying, depend on how much physical improvement children achieve.

This review suggests incorporating before-school-based interventions that consider PA performance can constitute an important strategy for children's development and growth.

PROSPERO CRD420251240838.