The effect of free play on preschoolers' physical activity level and motor, cognitive, and socioemotional competences: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

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Title: The effect of free play on preschoolers' physical activity level and motor, cognitive, and socioemotional competences: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
Authors: Martín-García, Alaitz1, Rico-González, Markel1 markel.rico@ehu.eus
Source: European Early Childhood Education Research Journal. Jun2024, Vol. 32 Issue 3, p429-447. 19p.
Subject Terms: *Motor ability in children, *Cognitive ability, *Teaching methods, *Preschool education, Physical activity
Abstract: The present article aims to systematically summarize the effects of free-play (FP) on preschool-aged children's physical activity (PA) level, and motor (MC), cognitive (CC), and socioemotional competence evaluated through randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. A systematic review of relevant articles was carried out using two electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science) until 19 October 2022. From a total of 674 studies initially found, 16 were included in the qualitative synthesis. The general outcomes suggest that FP, together other methodologies, may foster MC rather than FP by itself. However, other methodologies have shown greater positive effects than FP for improving PA level, CC, and socioemotional competence. Therefore, the implementation of FP methodology rather than others (e.g. structured play) is not supported by published RCT, at least, when it is not implemented with another methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of European Early Childhood Education Research Journal is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: The effect of free play on preschoolers' physical activity level and motor, cognitive, and socioemotional competences: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Martín-García%2C+Alaitz%22">Martín-García, Alaitz</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rico-González%2C+Markel%22">Rico-González, Markel</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> markel.rico@ehu.eus</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22European+Early+Childhood+Education+Research+Journal%22">European Early Childhood Education Research Journal</searchLink>. Jun2024, Vol. 32 Issue 3, p429-447. 19p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Motor+ability+in+children%22">Motor ability in children</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+ability%22">Cognitive ability</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teaching+methods%22">Teaching methods</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+education%22">Preschool education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physical+activity%22">Physical activity</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The present article aims to systematically summarize the effects of free-play (FP) on preschool-aged children's physical activity (PA) level, and motor (MC), cognitive (CC), and socioemotional competence evaluated through randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. A systematic review of relevant articles was carried out using two electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science) until 19 October 2022. From a total of 674 studies initially found, 16 were included in the qualitative synthesis. The general outcomes suggest that FP, together other methodologies, may foster MC rather than FP by itself. However, other methodologies have shown greater positive effects than FP for improving PA level, CC, and socioemotional competence. Therefore, the implementation of FP methodology rather than others (e.g. structured play) is not supported by published RCT, at least, when it is not implemented with another methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
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  Data: <i>Copyright of European Early Childhood Education Research Journal is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/1350293X.2023.2259641
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        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Motor ability in children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cognitive ability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teaching methods
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preschool education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Physical activity
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              Text: Jun2024
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