Guided play and free play in an enriched environment: Impact on motor development

Authors

  • Míriam Stock Palma Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS
  • Beatriz Oliveira Pereira University of Minho
  • Nádia Cristina Valentini Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5016/7672

Keywords:

Preschool childhood. Motor skill development. Physical education.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of guided play and free play in an enriched environment intervention programs using motor skill development in kindergarten children. Seventy-one children attending kindergarten classes were assigned to two experimental groups and one control group. Participants performed the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 before and after the intervention period. Results revealed that both boys and girls in the guided play group showed motor skill improvement, whereas no changes were observed in motor development in the boys and girls assigned to the free play in enriched environment group, nor in those in the control group. These findings indicate that the teacher’s role in the guided play intervention was crucial to help preschool children to improve their performance.

Author Biographies

Míriam Stock Palma, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS

PhD. in Child Studies at University of Minho (Portugal) and Master in Human Movement Sciences at Federal University of do Rio Grande do Sul and undergraduate in Physical Education at Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). Is a Professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. The main focus of her research is the Physical Education in educational environments. She is author of articles and chapters about play, infancy motor development and Physical Education in Childhood Education. http://lattes.cnpq.br/6947989955632969

Beatriz Oliveira Pereira, University of Minho

Beatriz Pereira is Full Professor of the University of Minho, Institute of Education, Portugal and is member of the Research Centre on Child Studies. She is author or co-author of articles, books and chapters about bullying, play, leisure and physical activity. She had supervised PhD tessis and master degree dissertations. http://lattes.cnpq.br/6143064143846471

Nádia Cristina Valentini, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Post-Doctor at School of Public Health- University of Maryland - EUA and PhD. and Master in Health and Human Performance - focus on Motor Behavior at Auburn University - EUA and Physical Education bachelor. Is a Professor at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul teaching classes at the Undergraduate and Graduate courses (Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências do Movimento Humano) advising master and doctoral students. The main focus of her research is the motor development of at risk children specifically the ones from families in social economic vulnerability.

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Published

2014-06-27

Issue

V. 20, N. 2 (2014)

Section

Original Articles

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