The Effects of a 4-Week After-School Program on Motor Skills and Fitness of Kindergarten and First-Grade Students

Abstract

Purpose.

To examine the effects of an after-school NutriActive program on anthropometric measurements, motor skills, and fitness levels of young children.

Design.

In this quasi-experimental study, anthropometric, motor skill, and fitness measurements were compared between intervention and control students at baseline, following a 4-week intervention, and after a summer break (4 months).

Setting.

Two intervention and two control microurban elementary schools.

Subjects.

Forty-two intervention and 28 control kindergarten and first-grade students (50% boys, 82% Caucasian).

Intervention.

A 4-week program consisted daily of a morning walk and an after-school physical activity lesson with an emphasis on motor skill development, nutrition/health lesson, snack, and nonstructured active play.

Measures.

Body mass index, waist circumference, and fitness and motor skill levels.

Analysis.

Repeated-measures analysis of variance, t-test, and stepwise regression.

Results.

The intervention group scored significantly better on some fitness and all motor skill tests at 4 weeks. The improvements in fitness and skill levels ranged from 30% to 270%. At 4 months, differences between the groups diminished but remained significant, with better scores for the intervention group on some tests. Skill levels emerged as predictors of cardiovascular fitness at 4 months. Anthropometric measurements did not differ between the groups at any time point.

Conclusion.

A short, intense after-school program can produce significant, sustainable improvements in motor skill and fitness levels of young children.