A Quasi-Experimental Hip-Hop-Based Program to Improve Motor Competence and Physical Activity in Preschoolers in Portugal: The “Grow+” Program

TL;DR

A hip-hop program called 'Grow+' was tested to improve preschoolers' motor skills and physical activity in Portugal.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel quasi-experimental hip-hop-based intervention for enhancing motor competence in young children.

Findings

The 'Grow+' program showed positive trends in motor competence and physical activity levels in preschoolers.

Significant improvements in motor competence occurred during hip-hop intervention periods.

Educators did not perceive changes in motor coordination despite observed improvements.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Dance, particularly hip-hop, offers a dynamic means of fostering physical activity (PA) and encouraging movement in health-related initiatives among children and youth in educational environments. Hip-hop offers benefits across motor, physical, social, and mental domains. Given the importance of PA in early development, and the preschool period as a sensitive phase for acquiring motor skills, this study aimed to examine the effects of the “Grow+” hip-hop program on motor competence (MC), perceived motor coordination (PMCoor), and PA levels in preschoolers. Methods: A quasi-experimental within-subjects design was used, including 37 children aged 3 to 4 (M = 4.29 ± 0.58). The intervention included two 4-week hip-hop periods, separated by a 4-week break. Four assessments were conducted using the MCA battery (MC), PA’s pictorial scales, and questionnaires completed by caregivers and educators (PMCoor). Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Spearman correlations. Results: MC and PA levels showed a nonsignificant but positive trend across the study. Significant improvements in MC were observed during intervention periods, while no significant changes occurred during the break. Educators’ perceptions of PMCoor remained unchanged, despite improvements in MC. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the “Grow+” hip-hop program contributed meaningfully to improvements in MC and PA levels among children in early childhood. These findings accentuate the potential efficacy of structured rhythmic movement interventions in promoting motor development throughout early childhood, thereby supporting their integration into early childhood education curricula.

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