The Effects of Specific Exercise Program on Anthropometric Characteristics and Motor Abilities of Preschool Children

Abstract

In order to determine the effects of specific exercise program on anthropometric characteristics and motor abilities of preschool children, a battery of eight anthropometric measures and 7 motor tests were applied. The current study was conducted on a sample of 60 preschoolers (31 in the experimental and 29 in the control group), aged 4 to 5. They were the respondents in the project implemented by the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education in Novi Sad. The obtained data was analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). It can be concluded that the application of experimental and control models of exercise resulted in substantial improvement of certain motor skills in the experimental group compared to the control group. In regard to the anthropometry there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. In fact, the practical value of this work is to analyze the model of kinetic activities, which as such can be applied to all clubs and schools that work with children of preschool and early school age.