Playful Physical Activity for Executive Functions and School Readiness in Preschool Children

This study was designed as a completed, two‐arm randomized controlled trial conducted inpreschool children. The purpose of the study was to examine whether a cognitivelyenriched playful physical activity program could improve executive functions and schoolreadiness compared with the regular physical education curriculum.The experimental intervention consisted of an 8‐week Playful Physical Activities program.The program included structured movement games designed to engage both motor andcognitive processes. Activities targeted gross and fine motor skills while incorporatingexecutive‐function demands such as selective attention, inhibitory control, workingmemory, planning, rule maintenance, and cooperative problem solving. Sessions includedplayful tasks related to language, mathematics, and social interaction, with the aim ofsupporting both cognitive development and school readiness in an age‐appropriateeducational setting.Children in the control group continued to receive the conventional physical educationcurriculum over the same intervention period. The control condition involved regularage‐appropriate physical education activities without the systematic integration ofstructured executive‐function challenges or cognitive‐motor dual‐task components.Participants were preschool children aged approximately 55 to 64 months. Eligiblechildren were enrolled in participating preschool settings and were able to take part inphysical activity sessions. Children with motor or mental disorders that could interferewith participation or outcome assessment were excluded.The primary focus of the study was school readiness, including mathematical, linguistic,and social competence. Secondary outcomes included executive‐function measures related toattention, inhibition, visuospatial memory, and planning/visuospatial organization.Assessments were conducted before and after the intervention period.The study was conducted in accordance with ethical approval from the Local ResearchEthics Committee at the High Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Ksar Said. Thestudy has been completed.