MEASUREMENT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND PHYSICAL FITNESS IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN
Abstract
Physical activity has been positively associated with reduction of cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, pulmonary disease, etc. Although much of the research related to physical activity has been conducted with adults, data related to the activity levels and fitness status of children appear to be as alarming. From 1990 until today, there is a downward trend in amount of physical activity in children of all age groups. One major problem in conducting research related to physical activity in children is the absence of accurate and reliable measures of physical activity. When we look at the most used test batteries, we can notice that all of them measure the same components: cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle fitness, flexibility, and body composition. On the other hand, one of the most common types of measure physical activity is self-report. The aim of the research is to determine physical fitness of preschool children, with recommended tests, and evaluation of leisure physical activity with self-report. This research provides information about physical fitness of preschool children, and the relation between the volume of physical activity in leisure time and physical fitness. Results indicate that children, even at this age, showing poor condition of some components of physical fitness related to health. Also, children were not sufficiently physically active in sport and recreative activity during day and week.
Keywords: preschoolers, physical fitness, physical activity.
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