A Study of Young Children’s Coordinated Movement—The Effects of a Rhythmic-Play Exercise Program on Physical-Expression Ability

Abstract

The current study examined young children’s physical-expression ability—defined here as social development that enables communication with other children through the experience of an exercise program—by observing movement changes before and after the exercise program. The study participants were 29 three-year-old children, 44 four-year-old children, and 33 five-year-old children, for a total of 106 people. During the exercise intervention period, the children took part in a coordinated movement program focusing on rhythmic play for six minutes a day. The results of a motor skills test showed that those of the four-and five-year-old children improved, while those of the three-year-old children partially improved. In relation to physical-expression ability, the evaluation scores for motion, space, dynamics, and time significantly increased in all age groups. The current study shows that the exercise program experience led to social development that transcended age difference via movement-based communication, in addition to improving young children’s motor skills and physical-expression ability.