The Effect of Movement Education in Preschool Period to Motor Development

Aim: The goal of this study is to analyze the effect of movement education in preschool years to motor development. Method: The focus group of this study is made up of 20 children, 10 of which are boys and 10 of which are girls, between the ages 4 and 6 and who are going to school in a private kindergarten in Kocaeli that allowed this study to be made in the institution where the study is made. The study lasted for eight weeks, three days a week and forty minutes a day. The content of the study program is created properly for the age and fitness level of the children and integrated with fun games consisting of locomotor, manipulative and balancing movements. Before and after the 8-week study program, the 6 test parameters of balance, bouncing with a ball, 9-meter running, catching, jumping and skipping were measured and the effect of the study program is analyzed. The data were analyzed by SPSS 21.0 package program. Descriptive statistics of the data were calculated and normality test was applied. As the result of Shapiro-Wilk showed normal distribution, Paired Samples Test and Independent Samples Test were applied for parametric tests. The data were analyzed at 95% confidence interval, p<0.05 significance level. Findings: A statistically significant difference was detected in the balance and bouncing with a ball preliminary and final test parameters (p<0.05). A statistically significant difference was detected in the balance, bouncing with a ball, 9-meter running, jumping and skipping preliminary and final test parameters (p<0.05). Results: As a result, the use of balance bikes in games was more effective on balance development and a statistically significant difference was found in tab and equilibrium parameters.