Motor Skills

The proposed study uses a mHealth application "app" to help parents teach their preschool-age child motor skill (FMS) activities in the home environment. This app guides families to participate in 10-min activity breaks, 7 days/week for 12 weeks and the app includes weekly instructional lessons, peer modeling videos, behavioral scaffolding, and structured activities. This study builds on prior work by assessing whether improvements in FMS generalize to cognitive domains, including executive function skills such as working memory, attention, and inhibitory control. By examining both motor and cognitive outcomes, the project will provide essential evidence on whether enhanced FMS uniquely contributes to cognitive development. Based on findings from the proposed study, there may be a need to develop additional modules that address diverse needs of children or that contribute to broader, multifaceted improvement in both motor competence and cognitive function. Findings will inform the potential of technology-based motor skill interventions to support broader aspects of child development in diverse populations, guiding future practice and policy in education, health, and early intervention.

When learning a new skill, much of the improvement comes from small alterations the brain makes with each repetition during practice, but this isn't the only time that improvements are made during the learning process. Individuals also get better at the motor skills during the time between practices, through a process called "consolidation." It is known that an area of the brain called the primary motor cortex is involved in learning during active practice, but the investigators want to study if the primary motor cortex is important for consolidation. The investigators will examine how lowering the activity in this brain region affects your ability to consolidate learning to play a song on the videogame Guitar Hero.

Objective of the study: The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of a proposed intervention designed to support the daily movement practices and fostering joy of movement in Danish kindergartens, as well as the implementation strategies intended to facilitate adoption. Additionally, the feasibility of the planned measurement and procedures for a future effectiveness study will be examined. Methods: The study uses a mixed-methods design to examine the feasibility of the intervention and the future evaluation design. The planned duration of the intervention period is 10 weeks. The intervention consists of multiple integrated components co-designed with pedagogical staff, leaders, experts in kindergarten movement culture, and a team of researchers, to collectively support the daily movement practice in kindergartens. Alongside the intervention components, tailored strategies are developed to facilitate adoption and implementation. The intervention elements are categorized into four main types: 1) Formal establishment of the project; 2) Components of physical activity integrated in existing structures in the kindergarten; 3) Organizational and staff training; 4) Inspirational materials, tools and exemplary plans. The use of a co-design approach in close collaboration between kindergartens, experts, and a team of researchers will ensure contextual relevance and shared ownership. This approach is expected to enhance acceptability, feasibility, and sustainability of the intervention. The mixed-methods evaluation design, use of theoretical implementation frameworks, and tailored strategies further strengthen the study. The findings from this feasibility study will inform the refinement of the final intervention and guide the planning of a forthcoming effectiveness study.

This study will test whether a structured motor-focused exercise program can improve both brain function and gross motor skills in preschool children. About 110 children aged 4 to 6 years will be recruited from kindergartens in Changsha, China. Classes will be randomly assigned to receive either (1) motor-focused physical education three times per week for 16 weeks, or (2) ordinary physical education of the same frequency and duration. The motor-focused program includes playful, game-based activities designed to strengthen locomotor skills (such as running and hopping) and object-control skills (such as throwing and catching). The main outcome will be changes in children's gross motor skills, measured with a standardized motor test (TGMD-3). Brain activity will also be assessed using portable electroencephalography (EEG) during rest and simple tasks related to attention and memory. Parents and teachers will complete short questionnaires about children's behavior and executive function. The results of this study may provide new insights into how physical education influences both movement skills and brain development in early childhood.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a home-based mHealth intervention can improve adherence to the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines in preschool-aged children (3-4 years old) who currently meet 0 or 1 of the guidelines for physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can the intervention increase the proportion of children meeting all three 24-Hour Movement Guidelines (physical activity, screen-time, and sleep)? * Is the intervention feasible for parents to implement, as measured by a parent feedback survey? Researchers will compare an intervention group to a waitlist control group to assess whether the intervention leads to increased guideline adherence. Parents and Participants: * Children will wear an accelerometer to track physical activity and sleep patterns. * Parents will use a mobile app that delivers weekly lessons and behavior-related goals to encourage healthy movement behaviors in their children. * Parents will complete questionnaires on their child's movement behaviors and development at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. * Additionally, children will undergo motor skills assessments, and parents will provide feedback on cognitive development and behavioral changes.