Document Type : Original research study
Authors
1 department of sport science. Ferdowsi university of mashhad.phd student
2 motor behavior department. physical education and sport science of ferdowsi university of Mashhad. Mashhad. iran
3 department of sport science of ferdowsi university of mashhad
Abstract
The main goal of this study was to compare the effect of gymnastic exercises and free play on social skills and behavior problems of children aged 3-6 years. In this causal – comparative research, 200 subjects attending gymnastics and free-play classes were selected using targeted random sampling. Data was collected using preschool and kindergarten behavior scale. Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for data analysis. The results revealed that there was not any significant different between the two groups in terms of social skills. However, the free-play group reported more behavioral problems in two subscales of self-centeredness and nervousness. These two types of exercises do not have an identical effect on alleviating the behavioral problems of children. Thus, a trainer with indirect supervision is necessary in children’s plays to mitigate their behavioral problems.
Keywords
Main Subjects
- Aj Benjamin, J., & Fort, S. (2016). Aggression. Encyclopedia of Mental Health, 1, 33 – 39.
- Alpert, B., Field, T., Goldstein, S., & Perry, S. (1990). Aerobicsenhances cardiovascular fitness and agility in preschoolers. Health Psychol, 9, 48-56.
- Armstrong, C. F. (1984). The lessons of sports: Class socialization in British and American boarding schools. Sociology of Sport Journal, 1, 314-331.
- Bar-Haim, Y., & Bart, O. (2006). Motor function and social participation in kindergarten children. Blackwell, social Development, 15(2), 296-310.
- Cimen, N., & Kocygit, S. (2010). A study on the achievement level of social skill objectives and outcomes in preschool curriculum for six – years – olds. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Science, 2, 5612-5618.
- Comer, J., Chow, C., Chan, P., Vince, C., & Wilson, L. (2013). Psychosocial treatment efficacy for disruptive behavior problems in very young children: A Meta-Analytic examination. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(1), 26 – 36.
- Corredor, G., Arraez, A., Lopez, M., & Nieto, A. (2017). Longitudinal study of the effect of social competence on behavioral problems. Procedia–Social and Behavioral Science, 237, 479-485.
- Donaldson, S.J., & Ronan, K. R. (2006). The effects of sports participation on young adolescents’ emotional well-being. Adolescence, 41, 369-389.
- Ekeland, E., Heian, F., Hagen, K. B., Abbott, J., & Nordheim, L. (2004). Exercise to improve self-esteem in children and young people. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (1), 1-31.
- Essa, E. (2007). Introduction to early childhood education (5th Ed) : Thomson Delmar Learning.
- Ghashghaee, S. (2016). Effectiveness of storytelling on depression and aggression of preschooler children. Journal of Mental Health, 18(4), 234 – 238. (In Persian).
- Gregoriadis, A., Granmatikopoulos, V., & Zachopoulou, E. (2013). Evaluating preschoolers’ social skills: the impact pf a physical education program from the parents’ perspective. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 3(10), 40 – 51.
- Gruber, J. (1986). Physical activity and self-esteem development in children: a meta-analysis. In G. S. A. H. Eckern. (Eds.), Effects of physical activity on children. Human Kinetics.: Champaign, III.
- Heimi, Y., & Bart, D. (2006). Motor function and social participation in kindergarten children. Social Development Journal, 15(2), 296-310.
- Heirring, M., Johnson, K., & O’cnnor, P. (2016). Exercise training and health relate quality of life in generalized anxiety disorder. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 27, 138-141.
- Jakob, S. G., & Dickerscheid, J. ,D. (1976). Social Competence: A Developmental Approach, ERIC Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education.
- Lob. Y. B., & Winsler, A. (2006). The effect of creative dance and movement program on the social competence of head start preschoolers: Blackwell Ltd.
- Littleton, L. Y., & Engebretson, J. (2002). Maternal, neonatal, and women's health nursing. Cengage Learning, P. 211.
- Liu, M., Karp, G., & Davis, D. (2013). Teaching learning related social skill in kindergarten physical education. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, 81(6), 38-44.
- Mohammad, N., & Chalmeh, R. (2006). Investigation of aggression assessment model and its relationship with behavioral problems in children. Quarterly Psychology Journal of Tabriz University, 1(2-3), 216-228. (In Persian).
- Piaget, J. (1962). Play, dreams and imitation in childhood. New York: W.W. Norton.
- Rasmissen, M., & Laumann, K. (2013). The academic and psychological benefits of exercise in healthy children and adolescents. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 28, 945-962.
- Rajabi, Z., Najafi, M., & Rezaee, A. (2013). Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for reducing of children aggression. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 10(3), 55-71. (In Persian).
- Sendil, C., & Erden, F. (2016). Preschool teachers’ strategies to enhance social preschoolers’ children during plat time. Journal of Psychology, 47, 918-923.
- Sette, S. Baumgartner, E., & Mackinnon, D. (2015). Assessing social competence and behavioral problems in a sample of Italian preschoolers using the social competence and behavior evaluation scale. Early Education and Development Journal, 18(4), 234-238.
- Shamshiri, S., Bagheri, S., Hashemy, M., Doostan, M., & Yazdani, S. (2013). The effect of gymnastic activities on social skill and behavior problems among 3 – 6 years old children. Applied Science Reports, 3(1), 95-99.
- Singer, D., Sinder, J., Dagostino, H., & Delong, R. (2009). Children’s pastime and play in sixteen nations. Is free play declining? American Journal of Play, 4, 283-312.
- Sutterby, J. (2012). What kids don’t get to do anymore and why? Childhood Education, 85(5), 289-292.
- Tahmores. A. (2011). Role of play in social skills and intelligence of children. Social and Behavioral Sciences, 30, 2272-2279.
- Trulson, M. E. (1986). Martial arts training: A novel “cure” for juvenile delinquency. Human Relations, 39, 1131-1140.
- Zachopoulou, E., Pickup, I., Tsangaridou, N., & Liukkonen, J. (2010).Early steps physical education curriculum: Theory and practice for children under 8. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.