Análisis comparativo de la evolución de la condición física en el segundo ciclo de educación infantil según la edad
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction: The assessment of physical fitness in preschool children is crucial for promoting overall development, preventing diseases, and establishing healthy habits. Objective: The main objective of this research is to evaluate the physical fitness of children in three groups from the second cycle of preschool education, categorized by age, in order to determine if there are significant variations in specific aspects of physical fitness related to age. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 59 children divided into three age groups: 3-4, 4-5, and 5-6 years. The PREFIT battery was used along with a crawling test. The variables assessed included body mass index (BMI), long jump, running agility (4x10 meters), right unipedal balance, cardiorespiratory endurance (Course Navette), and crawling. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman correlations. Results: Significant age-related differences were found in several tests: older children (5-6 years) achieved better results in agility (15.36 ± 1.61 sec.), right unipedal balance (22.50 ± 25.09 sec.), endurance (2.37 ± 0.93 stages), and crawling (8.39 ± 1.18 sec.). BMI was higher in younger children (3-4 years) (17.82 ± 2.58 kg/m²), while the correlation between BMI and jump was negative (r = -0.258). These results highlight the progressive development of motor and neuromuscular skills with age. Conclusion: The general conclusion of this study is that there are significant differences in the physical fitness of children in the second cycle of preschool education based on age.
Source: JUMP
Authors: Noelia Segura-Martínez, Gema Díaz-Quesada, Daniel García-Martínez, Laura García-Pérez
Institutions: Universidad de Granada, Universidad de Jaén
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4412037592
