‘Let them play’ the effect of active play on motor proficiency and social maturity of children

ABSTRACT

Predominantly, childhood provides a window of opportunity for the promotion and development of social maturation and fundamental movement skills. The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of active play on the motor proficiency and social maturity of children. Thirty participants (age range: seven to nine years old) were randomly assigned to either an active play (n = 15) or a control (n = 15) groups. The intervention was 60 min/day, three days/week for four weeks for the active play group, while the control group did not participate in a specific training programme. All outcome variables (motor proficiency and social maturity) were measured twice (before and after the intervention). The significant results revealed that at the end of the intervention, the active play group showed improvement regarding outcome variables and had higher social maturity and motor proficiency, compared to the control group (p < .0001).

KEYWORDS:

• Active play
• motor proficiency
• fundamental movement skills
• children

Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate all of the participants due to their participation and cooperation.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sadegh Feleihi

Sadegh Feleihi is a graduate student of motor behaviour who recently defended her thesis on Active Games.

Rasool Abedanzadeh

Rasool Abedanzadeh is an Assistant Professor at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. His research interest focuses on motor learning and development and also, sport and exercise psychology.

Esmaeel Saemi

Esmaeel Saemi is also an Assistant Professor at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz.