The effect of a motor education programme on the development of certain motor skills (balance, reaction time, motor coordination) and cognitive skills (spatial awareness) in primary school pupils (aged 6–8)

Abstract

This study aimed to propose a motor education program to improve certain motor and cognitive abilities in elementary school children aged 6–9. The program comprised 15 instructional units, reviewed by expert teachers, and was implemented during the second semester with 40 pupils assigned to experimental and control groups (n = 20 per group). An experimental design was employed, using four tests to assess motor response, motor coordination, static balance, and directional sense: the Nelson Motor Response Test, Numbered Circles Test, Toe-Stand Test, and Field and Directions Test. After analyzing the data, we concluded that the motor education program helped develop the motor and cognitive abilities under study in elementary school students in the first stage (ages 6–8)