Effect of HTKS-R–inspired visual reversal motor play on self-regulation and motor skills in preschoolers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v73.117771Keywords:
Balance, executive functions, HTKS-R, jumping, motor growth in the preschool stageAbstract
Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the effect of intervention through cognitively enhanced motor play, based on visual reversal principles, using the modified Head-Shoulders-Knees-Toes Test (HTKS-R), on the behavioral self-regulation and basic motor skills for preschool children.
Design: In this study, sixty children with typical growth whose ages are 5 to 6 years. The experimental group and a control group. The experimental group participated in an intervention program that involved eighteen sessions during six weeks. These sessions included motor play stations that require inhibitory responses to the visual signals (like the response to a different color or shape that is different from the stimulus). The control group practiced ordinary physical activities.
Methods: In the methodological phase, the self-regulation was evaluated using the HTKS-R scale, while the motor performance was measured by the test of the standing long jump and the balance tasks. Statistical analysis included the t-test for the correlated samples and the covariance analysis (ANCOVA) and the calculation of the impact volumes.
Results: Importantly, the results showed a statistically significant improvement in the experimental group through all variables with big impact sizes. Also, the posttest comparisons and the covariance analysis showed a remarkable superiority in the self-regulation, balancing and jump in favor of the experimental group.
Conclusions: The results assert the effectiveness of the activities that integrate the executive functions with the motor play to support the behavioral self-regulation and the skills of jumping and balancing in the stage of early childhood.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Abdelrahman Ibrahim, Ayad Ghani Jasim, Ali Burhan Hawar, Yasameen Fawzi Ghaeb, Mohammed Saleh Khalee Alsamarae
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