Author(s): Sandeepkumar PS, Pranitha C and Yasir K

Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of directive play activities on the cognitive and motor development of primary school children. Cognitive variables such as concentration and executive function, and motor development variables such as locomotor skills and object control skills were selected as dependent variables. Three hundred (N = 300) school children from Kannur District, India, were selected as subjects. The Experimental Group (Directive Play Activity Group – DPAG) consisted of 150 students (equal numbers of boys and girls) who underwent an ten-week Directive Play Activity Program, while the Control Group (CG) comprised 150 students (equal numbers of boys and girls) who followed their regular school schedule without additional intervention. The participants were aged between 5 and 8 years. Pre-test and post-test data on all dependent variables were collected before and after the ten-week experimental period. Standardized instruments: the Concentration Grid Test, Trail Making Test (TMT), and the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2) were employed to assess cognitive and motor variables. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) revealed significant improvements in the motor variables (locomotor and object control skills) and in the cognitive variable of executive function. However, improvement in concentration was not statistically significant. The findings indicate that directive play activities effectively enhance both motor coordination and executive function among primary school children.

Pages: 529-532  |  29 Views  17 Downloads

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