Reference Values for Fitness Level and Gross Motor Skills of 4–6-Year-Old Chilean Children

Abstract

In childhood, fitness level is considered an important indicator of health, while gross motor skills are the basis of future motor competence. So far, no reference values have been found for the Chilean population. Therefore, this study aims to provide fitness level and gross motor skill reference values by gender and age of Chilean children aged 4–6 years. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted that included 728 children between 4 and 6 years old from the La Araucanía region of Chile. To assess the fitness level, the 20-m shuttle run test, standing long jump, handgrip dynamometry, 4x10m shuttle run, and Sit and Reach tests were used. Gross motor skills were assessed by five tests including aiming and catching and balance motor tasks. For fitness level, boys have better values in the long jump and dynamometry test, while girls have better values in flexibility. For estimated maximum volume of oxygen, at 5 years old there are significant differences in favour of boys, while at 6 years old in favour of girls. No statistically significant differences in speed/agility by gender were found. For gross motor skills, boys obtain higher values for catching and aiming tests, and girls for balance. The reference values for fitness level and gross motor skills shown in this study could aid physical education and health professionals in identifying children with low reference values, as well as in establishing objectives that will help to improve their health.

Field-based physical fitness assessment in preschool children: A scoping review

“…Bibliometric statistics were carried out according to the country of origin (Table 2 ) and the year of publication ( Figure 2 ), respectively. As shown in Table 2 , of the 76 literatures examined, 54 (71.1%) were from Europe ( 14 , 20 – 72 ), 16 (21.0%) from Asia ( 73 – 88 ), and 6 (7.9%) from the Americas ( 89 – 94 ). As shown in Figure 2 , most studies on the physical fitness of preschool children were published after 2011 and accounted for 68 (89.5%) of the total inclusions, especially after 2015, there are more than six publications per year.…”

“…Assessing FITness in PREschoolers (PREFIT) ( 14 ) includes seven test items covering three health-related (body composition, cardiovascular fitness, and muscular strength) and three skill-related components (agility-speed, power, and balance). PREFIT is widely used in eight countries: Spain (n = 11) ( 14 , 20 – 28 , 72 ), Sweden (n = 6) ( 29 – 32 , 65 , 66 ), China (n = 1) ( 73 ), Estonia (n = 1) ( 36 ), Norway (n = 1) ( 33 ), Italy (n = 1) ( 37 ), Chile (n = 1) ( 89 ), Turkey (n=1) ( 88 ), and Serbia (n = 1) ( 38 ).…”

An Intervention Pattern of Family Parent-Child Physical Activity Based on a Smartphone App for Preschool Children during COVID-19

“…However, it should be noted that this intervention did not improve flexibility in preschool children, which was similar to the findings of Macak et al [ 26 ]. Studies showed that flexibility decreased with age, and this decline was caused not only by aging-related changes but also by a lack of training in this flexibility, which can be maintained or improved by training in specific ways [ 29 , 30 ]. Therefore, this study did not report that the possible reason for the improvement in preschool children's flexibility was due to the inclusion of less relevant exercises while designing the activities, which also needs to be improved in future research.…”

Physical fitness of Latin America children and adolescents: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…[14][15][16][17][18][19][20] In Latin America, Brazil developed a fit-for-purpose PF test battery 21 that has thus far only been used to assess Brazilian youth. In other Latin American countries, PF has been reported using different test protocols, [22][23][24][25][26][27] which makes between-country comparisons challenging. Furthermore, international surveillance efforts such as Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance's Global Matrix 3.0 initiative, has identified the paucity of available data, and the need for up-to-date information on the PF levels of Latin American youth.…”