Playful Physical Activity Program and Executive Function in Preschool Children

Monira Aldhahi

Status: Completed

Conditions: School Readiness; Executive Function

Treatments: Behavioral: Standard Physical Education Group; Behavioral: Playful Physical Activities

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07488286

PNU-13

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized controlled trial evaluates the effects of an 8-week cognitively enriched playful physical activity program on executive functions and school readiness in preschool children. Participants are assigned to either an experimental group receiving structured cognitively engaging movement activities or a control group receiving standard physical education.

Full description

This single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial investigates the effects of a structured Playful Physical Activities (PPA) program on executive functions and school readiness in preschool children aged 5 years. Participants are randomly assigned to an experimental group receiving cognitively enriched physical activity sessions or a control group receiving standard physical education with equivalent frequency and duration. The intervention is conducted over 8 weeks (3 sessions/week, 60 minutes/session). Outcomes include inhibitory control, visuospatial memory, planning, and school readiness domains (mathematical, linguistic, and social competence), assessed at baseline and post-intervention.

Enrollment: 48 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 4 to 6 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Enrolled in preschool
• No physical/intellectual disability
• Parental consent

Exclusion criteria

• Neurological or developmental disorders

• Sensory impairments

  • medications affecting Neurological system

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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48 participants in 2 patient groups

Playful Physical Activities (PPA) Program

Experimental group

Description:

A structured program integrating cognitive challenges (inhibition, working memory, planning) into movement-based activities delivered 3 times per week for 8 weeks (60 minutes/session).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Playful Physical Activities

Standard Physical Education

Other group

Description:

Regular preschool physical education consisting of free play and age-appropriate activities without structured cognitive engagement, matched for frequency and duration.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Standard Physical Education Group