SYSTEM OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO STRENGTHEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF GROSS MOTOR SKILLS IN CHILDREN AGED 3 TO 4 YEARS

Abstract

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46296/yc.v10i18.0861

Abstract

This research analyzes the development of gross motor skills in 3- to 4-year-old children at the Miguel Riofrío School in Loja, Ecuador, with the objective of developing a system of recreational activities that strengthen essential motor skills such as balance, coordination, muscle strength, and locomotion. The methodology employed was a mixed descriptive-experimental quasi-experimental approach. Two teachers were interviewed, and a checklist was administered to 20 children to evaluate their coordination, strength, balance, and participation. The results revealed the existence of sporadic activities, such as simple obstacle courses and jumping, where locomotion skills stood out with an 80% success rate. However, significant weaknesses were found in single-leg balance, bilateral jumping, and hand-eye coordination. These limitations were attributed to limited space and a lack of appropriate materials. Therefore, a proposal of five structured play activities was developed, which received 95.66% validation from specialists. In conclusion, it is confirmed that current recreational practices are insufficient for comprehensive motor development, justifying the proposed system as a systematic pedagogical tool. This system overcomes institutional limitations through sequential planning, evaluative portfolios, and an adapted play-based approach. This intervention not only enhances physical skills and socio-emotional autonomy but also combats childhood sedentary behavior, contributing significantly to local early childhood education curricula with motor experiences that are both assessable and transformative.

Keywords: gross motor skills, recreational activities, child development, play, motor coordination.