Traduzione e Validazione Italiana Del Protocollo di Esercizi Animal Fun

Rationale and Background:

Motor skills and physical activity are strongly related to the cognitive, physical, social and psychological development of children. They are also crucial in the prevention of cardiovascular or metabolic diseases, such as obesity or diabetes. There is growing evidence indicating that children with poor motor coordination may be at significant risk for psychosocial and internalizing problems. Other research has found significant levels of anxiety and depression even in 4-5-years-old-children.

Due to fear of failure, or of peer bullying, children with motor difficulties often limit their opportunity to practice motor activities, thus creating a vicious cycle. In this continuous negative loop, the child has low motor competency, develops low fitness training and tends towards hypo-activity. In contrast, if children are confident with their motor skills, they are more likely to participate in activities such as sports or dancing. Literature also relates the motor ability of preschool children to their scholastic adaptation and to the social adjustment in the first year of school.

Preschool is an essential period in a child's life because Fundamental Movement Skills are developing at this stage, for both gross and fine motor tasks.

Some investigators have demonstrated that most pre-schoolers don't practice the recommended amount of daily physical activity. Unfortunately, there is a lack of movement programs to engage pre-school children in motor activities. In 2010, the Curtin University developed the "Animal Fun" program. This program was designed to provide developmentally appropriate activities that would be fun and engaging for all children aged 3-6 years whilst targeting specific areas of development. They created a protocol, which will benefit all children in the group - those with and without motor difficulties. By referring to all the members of a class, Animal Fun avoids the stigma associated with "special programs". This is an ecological program for use in schools during the ordinary activities. Animal Fun is an imaginative program of movement, in which the children imitate animals' movements. It is flexible and doesn't provide a rigid structure to follow, but it adapts to children's interests and abilities. Evidence demonstrates, that Animal Fun supports the development of overall motor ability, particularly throwing and balance skills, and significantly improves social skills in young children.