Organized and non-organized physical activity of 7-10 year-old children

Abstract

Aim. The aim of the study was to acquire knowledge on the contribution of younger school children in organized and nonorganized physical activity. Basic procedures. The main research method was a diagnostic survey. The level of physical activity was determined on the basis of the frequency (number of days per week) and volume (number of hours per week) of organized and non-organized activity. The SPSS 21 (IBM Corp., 2012) programme was used for statistical analysis of the results. Results. The highest percentage values among the subjects in each age group were recorded in the range of the average level of physical activity. Approximately 2/3 of the subjects in each age group participated in organized physical activity. Almost every third child exercised once a week, the activity lasted one hour. Among the forms of organized physical activity in which children are most likely to participate, those which dominate include: corrective gymnastics, dance and swimming. The vast majority of subjects preferred non-organized physical activity. Daily contact with such activity occurred in the case of about 1/4 of the subjects. Over 1/3 of the participants spent more than 4 hours a week on such activity. Only a few performed this type for 1 hour, and with age, this duration gradually decreased. A typical form of non-organized physical activity was cycling. Games using a ball, other various games, football, roller-skating and swimming were also popular. Conclusions. The studied participants were more likely to perform non-organized forms of movement than those organized. In addition to physical activity, quite a large percentage of the surveyed children spent their free time in front of the TV or playing computer games. Along with the increase in age, there was a rise in the interest in tennis, football and computer games, and there was less interest in skiing or playing games.