Additional physical training for children over five years old

Abstract

Research aim is to test and evaluate the effectiveness of fitball aerobics program used as an element of additional physical education for children over five. Materials and methods. 40 children aged 6-7 attending a preschool educational institution in Chelyabinsk (Russia) took part in the research. Before and after the pedagogical experiment, the children of both groups were measured body weight, evaluated the physical and functional abilities of the body. Compulsory physical education classes in the control and experimental groups were conducted 3 times a week for 30 minutes according to the «Rainbow» program. For the children of the experimental group, additional classes were conducted according to the proposed comprehensive training program «Fitball-aerobics for children aged 6-7» in the gym in the afternoon 2 times a week for 30 minutes, outside the mandatory training hours grid for physical culture in a preschool educational establishment. The proposed fitball aerobics program is designed taking into account the children's age and motion experience and contains a set of physical exercises with the ball and on the ball, corrective gymnastics, dancing, active and musical games, and a relay race. Research results. At the end of the experiment, the girls and boys of the experimental group had a significant increase in the indicated values in all motor tests and in all functional ones. The increase in the values of motor and functional tests in children of the experimental group was higher than in the children of the control group. The largest increase in the children's motor qualities values was observed in the experimental group in tests for speed and strength endurance of the trunk flexor muscles and spine and hip joints active flexibility. The highest increase in the functional indicators values was observed when testing girls and boys of the experimental group for statokinetic stability (Romberg test) and physical performance (Rufier index). Conclusions. The results of the additional physical education program for over-five-year-old children tested by the authors showed its effectiveness. The choice of the tools and pedagogical technologies offered in this program allowed us to increase significantly the children's conditioned and functional indicators before entering school. To improve conditioned abilities of children aged 6-7 and adapt them to school, preschool teachers should actively search for means and methods of additional physical education.