The effect of active brain-breaks on fundamental movement skills and executive functioning of Grade one children in Cape Town, South Africa

ABSTRACT

Developing children’s FMS and executive function is a critical aspect of early childhood. The aim was to evaluate the fundamental movement skills (FMS) and executive function. The objectives were to investigate the locomotor and object control skills as well as inhibitory control and working memory of the selected children. Grade 1 (6–8-years-old) learners (N = 157) in Cape Town, South Africa were assessed with the Test for Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2) and Head Toes Knees and Shoulder task, before and after a 6-week active brain-break intervention. Participants were divided into a control (n = 53) and an experimental (n = 104) group. The results indicated an overall statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) for pre- and post-testing in both groups for FMS executive functioning (p < 0.01).The results highlight the importance of exposing Grade 1 learners to FMS and physical activity bouts during academic lessons to create opportunities for movement, development of FMS and enhancement of executive functioning.

KEYWORDS:

• Movement patterns
• classroom-based interventions
• cognitive performance
• physical activity

Acknowledgements

The author(s) would like to express their gratitude to the Grade ones who participated in the study; without the children this study would not have been possible. The author(s) would also like to thank the statistician for his valuable input.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Kinderkinetics is a profession that aims to develop and enhance the total well-being of children between 0 and 12 years of age, by stimulation, rectifying and the promotion of age specific motor and physical development. The word KINDER refers to the specialization area and KINESES refers to rectifying the child’s movements (Pienaar, 2009).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Odelia van Stryp

Odelia van Stryp I completed my PhD in Sport Science (Kinderkinetics) in 2020 through Stellenbosch University and Coventry University in the UK, I was the first Stellenbosch University student to complete a co-tutelle doctorate program with Coventry University. I have supervised 6 honours projects from Kinderkinetics students. I have presented research at 4 national conferences, and I have published 4 articles in peer reviewed journals. I am a member of the International Motor Development Research Consortium and the head of the ethics committee of the South African Professional Institute for Kinderkinetics. I am also a member of the International Motor Behaviour Society (IMBS) as well as an executive committee member of the post doctorate society committee. I have a passion for the gross motor development of children as well as working with children in the aquatic environment.

Michael J. Duncan

Mike J. Duncan is a BASES-accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist with research interests in the field of children, physical activity, exercise and obesity. As of July 2013 he has published over 200 peer reviewed journal papers, 20 books or chapters in edited books and over 250 peer reviewer conference presentations. He is a member of the European College of Sports Science, American College of Sports Medicine, United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association and a Fellow of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences. He has experience in wokring with elite athletes in prescribing exercise programmes and evaluating performance and also has worked extensively with community groups on topics such as physical activity interventions in children and adolescents and the effects of nutritional manipulation on cognitive and functional performance in older adults.

Eileen Africa

Eileen Africa At the end of 2021, 109 students have successfully completed their Honours degree specialising in Kinderkinetics at Stellenbosch University. I have supervised most of these graduates' research projects and have supervised over 12 MSc projects. I have initiated an international programme involving a co-tutelle with Coventry University in the UK and have successfully graduated our first doctorate student. I was recently recognised by Coventry University where I was asked to accept an appointment as Honorary Research Fellow. I have presented research at 15 international and 13 national conferences, and I have published 2 abstracts and 14 articles in peer reviewed journals. I am a member of the International Motor Development Research Consortium and the head of the training committee of the South African Professional Institute for Kinderkinetics. I am also the co-founder and -president of the International Motor Behaviour Society (IMBS). I am the panel expert for paediatric exercise science for Virgin Active South Africa and recently nominated and selected to serve on the board of directors of the Stiftung-Kinder-Foerdern foundation (Germany). In addition, I have 5 social impact projects servicing over 400 children in the traditionally underserved communities in and around Stellenbosch, South Africa.