The Effects of the Creative Movement Teaching Method and the Traditional Teaching Method on Elementary School Children's Self-esteem

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of two physical education teaching methods, the creative movement teaching method and the traditional teaching method, on self-esteem components. Specifically, the target of the study was to examine if the teaching of creative movement in physical education classes could influence a child's self-esteem. One hundred and seven (N=107) fifth and sixth grade children (aged 11-12 years) were used from an elementary school in Athens, Greece. Teaching methods were systematically applied for three months (24 teaching hours). The Self-Perception Profile for Children was used to measure children's self-esteem on two occasions, before and after the experimental conditions. A 2 2 2 (groups 2 pre-post measure) analysis showed a significant relationship between the five subscales (scholastic competence, social acceptance, athletic competence, physical appearance, and behavioral conduct) and an overall sense of self-worth (global self-worth). Both teaching methods should influence children's self-esteem from pre- to post-test. However, the teaching method of creative movement was most effective in improving the pupils' general self-esteem and also specific areas of self-esteem such as the cognitive, the social and the physical.