Fitness In Preschool Children Research Articles

Relationship between Gross Motor Coordination and Health-Related Fitness in Serbian Preschool Children.

The relationship between motor coordination and physical fitness in preschool children is of significant interest due to its implications for overall health and development. This study aims to investigate the correlation between gross motor coordination, as assessed by the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK), and health-related physical fitness components. A cross-sectional study, involving 139 preschool-aged children, was conducted. Physical fitness was assessed using the PREFIT fitness test battery, which includes measures of flexibility, muscular strength, speed/agility, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Motor coordination was evaluated using the KTK test, comprising four subtests. Pearson correlation analysis revealed weak to strong positive and negative correlations between motor coordination and various physical fitness measures, including flexibility (r = 0.402; p = 0.01), muscular strength (r = 0.178; r = 0.487; r = 0.601; p < 0.05), speed/agility (r = -0.742; p = 0.01), and endurance (r = 0.539; p = 0.01). Additionally, hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated significant influence of motor coordination on physical fitness, explaining a notable percentage of the variance across different fitness components (3.2-55%). The findings underscore the importance of motor coordination in shaping physical fitness levels in preschool children. Promoting motor coordination skills early in childhood may have long-term benefits for overall health and fitness.

Effects of Structured Physical Activity on Motor Fitness in Preschool Children.

The aim was to investigate the impact of a specific structured movement activities (SMA) program compared to free play activity (FRP) on the strength, speed, agility, coordination, and balance of motor fitness (MF) in 6-year-old boys and girls. A total of 53 children (24 boys, 29 girls) were randomly allocated to either the SMA group or the FRP group. Both group activities were administered three times a week over a 6-month period. MF variables were assessed before (pre-) and after (post-) using tests: the flamingo balance (FLA), the standing long jump (SLJ), plate tapping (PTT), the obstacle course backwards (OCB), and the shuttle run 4 × 5 m (SRT). At the post-test, the SMA program resulted in significant (p < 0.05) improvements in OCB, PTT, SLJ, and SRT tasks. For FRP, a noteworthy improvement was observed only in OCB (ES = 0.45, p < 0.05). An ANCOVA revealed a significant group × time interaction (F = 21.71-52.41, η2 = 0.258-0.512, p < 0.01) for OCB, PTT, and SRT, favoring SMA over FRP. The present findings suggest that SMA may be more effective than FRP when aiming to develop motor coordination, agility, and speed of movement in children.

Cardiovascular fitness is associated with child adiposity at 5 years of age: findings from the ROLO longitudinal birth cohort study

BackgroundCardiovascular fitness is strongly linked with metabolic risk; however, research is limited in preschool children. Although there is currently no simple validated measure of fitness in preschool children, heart rate recovery has been highlighted as an easily accessible and non-invasive predictor of cardiovascular risk in school-aged children and adolescents. We aimed to investigate whether heart rate recovery was associated with adiposity and blood pressure in 5-year-olds.Study designThis is a secondary analysis of 272 5-year-olds from the ROLO (Randomised cOntrol trial of LOw glycaemic index diet in pregnancy to prevent recurrence of macrosomia) Kids study. Three-minute step tests were completed by 272 participants to determine heart rate recovery duration. Body mass index (BMI), circumferences, skinfold thickness, heart rate, and blood pressure were collected. Independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney U, and Chi-square tests were used to compare participants. Linear regression models examined associations between heart rate recovery and child adiposity. Confounders included child sex, age at study visit, breastfeeding, and perceived effort in the step test.ResultsThe median (IQR) age at the study visit was 5.13 (0.16) years. 16.2% (n = 44) had overweight and 4.4% (n = 12) had obesity based on their BMI centile. Boys had a quicker mean (SD) heart rate recovery after the step test than girls (112.5 (47.7) seconds vs. 128.8 (62.5) seconds, p = 0.02). Participants with a slower recovery time (> 105 s) had higher median (IQR) sum of skinfolds (35.5 (11.8) mm vs. 34.0 (10.0) mm, p = 0.02) and median (IQR) sum of subscapular and triceps skinfold (15.6 (4.4) mm vs. 14.4 (4.0) mm, p = 0.02) compared to participants with a quicker recovery time. After adjusting for confounders (child sex, age at study visit, breastfeeding, effort in the step test), linear regression analyses revealed heart rate recovery time after stepping was positively associated with sum of skinfolds (B = 0.034, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.06, p = 0.007).ConclusionChild adiposity was positively associated with heart rate recovery time after the step test. A simple stepping test could be used as a non-invasive and inexpensive fitness tool in 5-year-olds. Additional research is needed to validate the ROLO Kids step test in preschool children.

Physical Fitness in Preschool Children

Introduction. The level of mental and motor development as well as physical fitness and perceptual-motor performance should guarantee success in adapting to the new school environment.&#x0D; The aim of the research. The aim of the research was to determine physical fitness in preschool children of both genders aged from 4 to 7 years.&#x0D; Material and methods. The study included 275 children at the chronological age of 4 to 7 years including 134 girls and 141 boys. In order to assess physical fitness, the authors used the Wrocław Physical Fitness Test for preschool children completed by the endurance test&#x0D; Results. Final physical fitness results showed that six-year-old boys were the fittest and less fit were girls at the age of seven. The least fit were boys and girls at the age of four. &#x0D; Conclusions&#x0D; The Wrocław Physical Fitness Test and the endurance test revealed that the experimental group of children aged between four and seven years from the Western Pomerania region represented a satisfactory physical fitness level. It should be noted that this level was significantly lower than the ones obtained in tests conducted by other authors in 2006, 1996, 1972, and 1967.&#x0D; The represented fitness level, especially the level of endurance, may result in adaptation disorders during the school shock period.&#x0D; The phenomenon of sexual dimorphism at preschool age is demonstrated by significantly better physical fitness in boys at the age of five and six and balanced fitness at the age of seven.&#x0D; Positive development of physical fitness is not supported by ongoing lifestyle pre-orientation. It is recommended to complete primary school admission criteria for the first form by physical fitness standards, including endurance.

The effects of daily physical activity intervention on physical fitness in preschool children

ABSTRACT The study aimed to determine the effects of 6 months daily physical activity on physical fitness in preschool children. A total of 72 children (36 boys) and 92 children (47 boys) composed the experimental (EG) and control group (CG), respectively. We used the PREFIT battery access physical fitness. In EG, participants had 45 minutes of organized physical activity 5 days per week. The CG continued their usual routine with 30 minutes of structured physical activity two times per week. The EG improved the mean performance of grip strength (η=0.08) and sit-ups in the 30s (=0.16) to a significantly greater extent as compared to the CG. In boys, the improvements of mean performance of handgrip strength (η=0.13), 4x10m shuttle run η=0.09), standing long jump (η=0.05), sit-ups in 30s (η=0.17) were significantly greater in EG than in the CG. However, girls in EG only had significant improvements in the sit-ups in the 30 s test compared to CG (η=0.14). Overall, our study shows that after 6 months of daily exercise programme, preschool children improved muscular strength compared to those peers allocated in the control group. No significant differences between groups were found in the remaining fitness components analysed.

Associations Between Executive Functions and Physical Fitness in Preschool Children.

Considering the current agreement on the significance of executive functions, there is growing interest in determining factors that contribute to the development of these skills, especially during the preschool period. Although multiple studies have been focusing on links between physical activity, physical fitness and executive functions, this topic was more investigated in schoolchildren and adults than in preschoolers. The aim of the current study was to identify different levels of physical fitness among pre-schoolers, followed by an analysis of differences in their executive functions. Participants were 261 5–6-years old children. Inhibitory control and working memory were positively linked with physical fitness. Cognitive flexibility was not associated with physical fitness. The research findings are considered from neuropsychological grounds, Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, and the cultural-historical approach.

Beneficial effects of an intergenerational exercise intervention on health-related physical and psychosocial outcomes in Swiss preschool children and residential seniors: a clinical trial.

BackgroundIntergenerational exercise possesses the potential to becoming an innovative strategy for promoting physical activity in seniors and children. Although this approach has gained attraction within the last decade, controlled trials on physical and psychosocial effects have not been performed yet.MethodsSixty-eight healthy preschool children (age: 4.9 y (SD 0.7)) and 47 residential seniors (age: 81.7 y (7.1)) participated in this five-armed intervention study. All participants were assigned to either an intergenerational (IG), peer (PG) or a control group (CON). Children were tested on gross motor skills (TGMD-2), jump performance and handgrip strength. Social-emotional skills questionnaires (KOMPIK) were assessed by kindergarten teachers. Seniors performed the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), including gait speed. Arterial stiffness parameters were also examined. Questionnaires assessing psychosocial wellbeing were filled in with staff. IG and PG received one comparable exercise session a week lasting 45 minutes for 25-weeks. CON received no intervention. Measurements were performed before and after the intervention.ResultsIn children: IG improved all measured physical parameters. When adjusted for baseline values, large effects were observed in favor of IG compared to CON in TGMD-2 (Cohen’s d=0.78 [0.33;1.24]) and in handgrip strength (d = 1.07 [0.63;1.51]). No relevant differences were found in KOMPIK between groups (−0.38<d≤0.14). In seniors: IG showed moderate to very large improvements in all main physical performance (0.61<d≤2.53) and psychosocial parameters (0.89<d≤1.20) compared to CON.ConclusionIG children showed large benefits in motor skills compared to CON while IG seniors benefit especially in psychosocial wellbeing and functional mobility necessary for everyday life. Intergenerational exercise is comparable and in certain dimensions superior to peer group exercise and a promising strategy to integratively improve mental health as well as physical fitness in preschool children and residential seniors.

Physical fitness in preschool children in relation to later body composition at first grade in school.

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate whether better physical fitness in kindergarten predicts later healthier body composition in first grade at school.MethodsBody composition was assessed by skinfold thickness measurements. Physical fitness tests included 20 m shuttle run test, handgrip strength test, standing long jump test, 4x10 m shuttle run test as part of PREFIT fitness test battery, and one-leg stance test from EUROFIT test battery. The participants of this study were 147 Estonian children (51% boys) aged 6–8 years, who were measured in the transition from kindergarten to school.ResultsAfter adjusting for maternal body mass index, educational attainment, child’s sex, age at the measurements, greater cardiovascular and motor fitness, relative lower body strength, static balance at 6.6 yr were associated with lower fat mass index, fat mass percentage at 12-month follow-up. The relative lower body strength above the median at 6.6 yr were related to lower fat mass index and fat mass percentage at 12-month follow-up, while the static balance test results demonstrated the opposite associations. Improvements in the 4x10 m shuttle run test results during the 12-month follow-up period were associated with the most beneficial changes in body composition status, such as increases in fat-free mass index and decreases in fat mass index, fat mass percentage, waist-to-height ratio after adjusting for maternal body mass index, educational attainment, child’s sex, age, at the measurements and baseline values of exposures.ConclusionBetter physical fitness tests results at 6.6 yr in kindergarten generally predicted lower body fat parameters in children at 7.6 yr in first grade at school.

Developmental parameters and physical fitness in preschool children with Minor Neurological Dysfunction.

The preschool years constitute a critical period during which significant changes are experienced in the acquisition of locomotor skills due to maturation of the nervous system. Our aim was to investigate the developmental parameters and physical fitness in preschool children with Minor Neurological Dysfunction (MND). The study was carried out in 212 preschool children without any known health problems. Sociodemographic characteristics of children were recorded. Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) II, Touwen Neurological Examination, and Preschool Physical Fitness (PREFIT) test battery were used to assess developmental parameters, neurological status, and physical fitness, respectively. There was a statistical difference in the physical fitness and developmental parameters in preschool children with MND compared with healthy peers (p < 0.05). There was also a relationship between physical fitness and developmental parameters (p < 0.05). Early identification of problems in developmental parameters and physical fitness in preschool children with MND might help to implement early supportive physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

Relationship Between Different Bouts Of Physical Activity And Physical Fitness In Preschool Children

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between bouts of physical activity and physical fitness in preschool children. METHOD: Sporadic sessions (2-4 seconds) of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), short bouts (5-9 seconds) of MVPA; and medium-to-long bouts (≥10 seconds) of MVPA were measured over 7 days using ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers. Physical fitness was assessed by a 20-meter multistage shuttle run test (cardiorespiratory fitness), handgrip and standing long jump tests (musculoskeletal fitness), and the 2×10-meter shuttle run test (speed/agility). A composite score of physical fitness was created from the mean of the standardized values of all physical fitness tests. The bouts of physical activity and composite scores were categorized into quartiles (Q1-Q4 group) by sex; the highest quartile (Q4) of composite scores were assigned as high healthy fitness (HPF). Logistic and linear regression were used to investigate the relationship between bouts of MVPA and HPF. RESULTS: A total of 265 participants were included in the final statistical analysis (boys, 149; girls, 116; 57.19 ± 5.33 months). After adjusting for confounding factors, relative to Q1, the odds ratios (OR) for a HPF in Q4 were 11.72 (95% CI=2.27- 60.53), 7.53 (95% CI=1.83-30.90) and 8.98 (95% CI=1.78-45.39) for sporadic MVPA, short bouts and medium-to-long bouts of MVPA in boys, respectively. Similar results were allow observed in girls, 11.85 (95% CI=2.33-60.19), 12.34 (95% CI=2.47-61.57) and 8.58 (95% CI=1.70-43.41), respectively. There was a non-linear relationship between overall MVPA and HPF in boys. When the total MVPA ≤ 65 min/day, the OR of achieving HPF increased by 17% (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.02-1.35) for every 1 minute/day increment in total MVPA; no increases in HPF with increased MVPA were observed for >65 min/day. This non-linear relationship was not found in girls. CONCLUSION: There is a significantly positive relationship between bouts of MVPA and HPF in preschool children. To achieve HPF in preschool children, it is recommended that boys accumulate total MVPA 65 minutes or longer every day. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (81703252)

Nine Months of a Structured Multisport Program Improve Physical Fitness in Preschool Children: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Research in preschool children that investigates the impact of different exercise interventions on physical fitness is limited. This pre–post study was aimed at determining if participation in a nine-month structured multisport program (MSG; n = 38) could enhance physical fitness components compared to a formal exercise program (control group (CG); n = 36) among preschool children. Physical fitness was assessed using standardized tests (the standing long jump, sit and reach, 20 m sprint, sit-ups for 30 s, bent-arm hang, medicine ball throw (MBT), grip strength, 4 × 10 m shuttle run, and 20 m shuttle run tests). The structured multisport program involved fundamental/gross and fine motor skills and ball game-based exercises twice a week. The control group was free of any programmed exercise except for the obligatory program in kindergartens. A mixed ANOVA demonstrated significant group-by-time interaction effects for the 4 × 10 m shuttle run, standing long jump, sit-ups, bent-arm hang, grip strength, and sit and reach tests (p < 0.05). There was no significant group-by-time interaction effect for the 20 m sprint test (p = 0.794) or for the 20 m shuttle run test (p = 0.549). Moreover, the MSG and CG performance in the MBT and 20 m shuttle run tests improved to a similar extent from pre- to post-test. Our results indicate that compared to the formal plan, the structured multisport program led to a sustained improvement in physical fitness in healthy 5-to-6-year old children.

The relative age effect on physical fitness in preschool children

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to investigate the existence of a relative age effect (RAE) on physical fitness of preschoolers. Anthropometry and physical fitness were assessed in 3147 children (3–5 years old) using the PREFIT battery. Based on the birth year, participants were divided into 3year groups (3-, 4- and 5-years). Within each year group, 4quarter groups were created: quarter 1, preschoolers born from January to March; quarter 2, from April to June; quarter 3, from July to September; quarter 4, from October to December. The MANCOVA analysis revealed a main effect of year group (Wilks’ λ = 0.383; F10,5996 = 369.64; p < 0.001, ηp 2 = 0.381) and of quarter (Wilks’ λ = 0.874; F15,8276.6 = 27.67; p < 0.001; ηp 2 = 0.044) over the whole battery of tests. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report the existence of RAE at the preschool stage. In general, performance improved as the relative age increased (i.e., those born in quarter 1 performed better than those in the other quarters). Individualization strategies should be addressed within the same academic year not only in elementary or secondary years but also in preschoolers.

Associations between Daily Step Counts and Physical Fitness in Preschool Children

Purpose: To investigate the relationships between daily step counts and physical fitness in preschool children. Methods: Preschoolers’ step counts were assessed by ActiGraph accelerometers consecutively for seven days. Physical fitness was assessed by a 20 m shuttle run test (cardiorespiratory fitness), the handgrip and standing long jump tests (musculoskeletal fitness), and the 2 × 10 m shuttle run test (speed/agility). A composite score was created from the mean of the standardized values of all physical fitness tests. Results: A total of 301 preschoolers (134 girls, mean age 57.40 ± 5.47 months; 167 boys, mean age 58.10 ± 5.34 months) were included in the final analysis. Compared with the lowest tertile, boys and girls in the highest tertile of step counts achieved high physical fitness with odds ratio (OR) being 5.39 (95% CI = 1.65–17.59) and 4.42 (95% CI = 1.30–14.99), respectively, after adjusting for confounders. Meanwhile, a relationship was observed for each 1000 steps/day increment being associated with 43% (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.10–1.85) and 62% (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.20–2.19) increment for high physical fitness in boys and girls, respectively. In addition, significant non-linear relationship was observed between daily steps and physical fitness in boys, which indicated that accumulated 8000 steps/day was associated with the highest ratio to achieve high physical fitness. Conclusions: Positive relationships between step counts and physical fitness were observed in preschool children, and the relationships were strongest for those who accumulated 8000 steps/day in boys. To confirm the findings in this study, well-designed and large-scale longitudinal studies are needed in the future.

ПРИМЕНЕНИЕ ТАНЦЕВАЛЬНО-ХОРЕОГРАФИЧЕСКИХ УПРАЖНЕНИЙ ДЛЯ ФОРМИРОВАНИЯ ФИЗИЧЕСКОГО РАЗВИТИЯ И ФИЗИЧЕСКОЙ ПОДГОТОВЛЕННОСТИ ДОШКОЛЬНИКОВ 5–6 ЛЕТ

Aim. The paper aims to verify the methodology for using dance and choreographic exercises for physical development and physical fitness in 5–6-year-old children. Materials and methods. The program was used in No 31 and No 353 municipal preschool educational institutions in Chelyabinsk. The study involved 33 preschool children ages 5–6. All children were divided into the control and experimental group of 17 and 16 persons respectively. The following methods were used during the study: anthropometric measurements (body weight, body length, chest circumference, chest to body height ratio (Erisman index), weight to height ratio). Plantography examination was performed by using the method of V. Striter and the method of G. Serdukov­skaya. Physical fitness was evaluated by the method of N. Notkina. Increase in physical fitness was calculated by the V. Usakov formula. The results obtained were processed with biometrics. Results. The article describes the methodology for using dance and choreographic exercises for improving physical fitness and increasing the interest of preschool children in physical education classes. Higher values were obtained in children of the main group in terms of body weight, body length, weight to height ratio, chest circumference, while in the control group there was a delay in physical development. A positive change towards more harmonious development, improved posture and foot arch structure was found in preschool children of the main group. Conclusion. The pedagogical experiment shows that dance and choreographic exercises contributed to the increase in physical fitness in preschool children and improved effectiveness of the educational process in general. The best results were achieved in terms of endurance development, speed and strength qualities, coordination abilities and flexibility.

Health-related Fitness in Preschool Children with and without Motor Delays.

School-age children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) have poor health-related fitness (HRF), but little is known about when these deficits emerge. The purpose of this study was to determine if 4- and 5-yr-old children who meet the criteria for DCD exhibit poorer HRF compared with typically developing (TD) children, and if this relationship is mediated by vigorous physical activity (VPA) engagement. Five hundred and ninety-two children participated (age, 5.0 ± 0.6 yr) from the Coordination and Activity Tracking in CHildren study. Motor skills were assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2, with groups defined as having DCD (≤5th percentile), at risk for DCD (6th-16th percentile), and TD (>16th percentile). Measures of body composition included body mass index, waist circumference, and body fat percentage. Musculoskeletal fitness assessments included standing long jump distance, as well as peak and mean power assessed using a 30-s Wingate protocol on a pediatric cycle ergometer. Time to exhaustion on a progressive, treadmill test was used to determine aerobic fitness. Flexibility and VPA were assessed using a sit-and-reach test and 7-d accelerometry, respectively. Children in the DCD group had the poorest musculoskeletal and aerobic fitness, whereas TD children had the highest. No differences in body composition among groups were found. Daily VPA was similar among groups and did not explain HRF differences. Preschool children with DCD have decreased anaerobic and aerobic fitness compared with TD children; however, VPA and body composition seem to be less affected by DCD in the early years. Early motor interventions may be able to improve fitness and reduce the risk of hypoactivity and obesity as children with DCD get older.

Effects of a physical activity programme in the school setting on physical fitness in preschool children.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 10-week aerobic games programme on physical fitness. One hundred eleven children, aged 3 to 6years, participated in this study; 60 children were male (age: 4.28±0.61years old), and 51 were female (age 4.59±0.49years old). Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG; n=56) and a control group (CG; n=55). A fitness test battery previously validated for preschoolers was used. The children in the EG performed 3 weekly training sessions of physical activity in a classroom during a 10-week period. Every EG session lasted about 30min. There were no significant differences in any variable in the pretest between groups. In the posttest, the EG achieved better results in horizontal jump and sprint. In relation to posttest-pretest differences, the EG showed a greater increase in horizontal jump, sprint, and endurance. An aerobic games programme in the school setting improved physical fitness in preschool children.

학령기전 아동의 신체활동태도와 건강체력의 연관성

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to discover the level of attraction to physical activity and health-related physical fitness in pre-school children and to analyze the relativity between these two factors as a way to provide the base data for health promotion in children. Method: Health-related physical fitness measurements were obtained for the subjects (224 children, 5-6 years of age), by facilitating the measuring devices and attraction to physical activity using a survey questionnaire to collect pertinent information. An analysis was implemented for mean and standard deviation of each variable and an independent t-test was conducted for gender differences. Two-way ANOVA was performed to analyze the relationship between attitude toward physical activity and health fitness. Result: The attraction to physical activity of pre-school children on average is displayed with a preference of 14.28 points, self-confidence of 15.23 points, and enjoyment of 14.55 points. As for health-related physical fitness, the muscle strength endurance was 9.33 times, flexibility 9.85 cm, muscle strength endurance and flexibility 20.73 cm, and body composition 15.86 kg/m2. Attraction to physical activity and health-related physical fitness showed no difference according to gender; however, physical muscle strength endurance and muscle strength endurance and flexibility were found to be different according to age. Flexibility and body mass index did not correlate with attraction to physical activity but the preference and self-confidence of attraction to physical activity were related to muscle strength endurance. Furthermore, muscle strength endurance and flexibility and the enjoyment of physical activity were also related to muscle strength endurance development. Conclusion: The attraction to physical activity is definitely related to health-related physical fitness. There is a need for development, research and dispersion of an education program for physical activities that consider the attraction to physical activity for preference, enjoyment, and self-confidence regarding physical activities.

Health-related fitness in preschool children: Difference between organized and unorganized physical activity

The aim of this research was to determine the differences in health-related fitness between preschool children involved in organized and unorganized physical activities. This study was performed on a sample of 220 healthy preschool children that were divided into two groups, organized physical activity group (N=99) and unorganized physical activity group (N=121). Beside the set of anthropometric variables children were tested for Standing broad jump, Classic sitand- reach test, Bent arm hang, Sit-ups in 30 seconds and Handgrip strength test. The t-test applied to determine differences between anthropometric characteristic revealed differences for almost all variables (p≤0.05). Moreover, the organized physical activity group showed better results in all fitness variables compared to unorganized group (p≤0.01). It can be concluded that the developmental gymnastics program has influence on improvement of health-related fitness in preschool children.

幼児における認知・判断・反応能力と体力との関係

幼児における認知・判断・反応能力と体力との関係

Assessing Physical FITness In PREschool Children

Physical fitness is a powerful marker of health in children and adolescents, and there is no reason to believe that fitness is less important in younger children, i.e., preschoolers. Our group has recently published a systematic review and methodological studies on fitness in preschoolers and has proposed the PREFIT (Assessing levels FITness in PREschoolers) battery for preschoolers aged 3-5 years, providing information about its feasibility, reliability and practical recommendations. References, manual of operations, videos about the tests, etc. are freely available at http://profith.ugr.es. Currently, there are no fitness reference standards available to interpret fitness levels in preschoolers. PURPOSE: To provide fitness reference standards for preschool children. METHODS: A total of 3179 preschoolers aged 3-5 years from 10 cities geographically distributed across Spain participated in the PREFIT project. Cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, speed-agility and balance were assessed using the PREFIT 20m shuttle run (an adapted version of the original test proposed by Leger in 1988), handgrip strength and standing long jump, 4x10m shuttle run and one-leg stance tests, respectively. We applied the Generalized Additive Model for Location, Scale and Shape method to obtain reference standards based on percentile curves. RESULTS: Reference standards for each fitness component by sex and age each 0.25 year are provided. Boys performed better than girls in cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and speed-agility in all age groups and over the different percentiles (all Ps≤0.01). However, girls performed slightly better than boys in balance (P<0.001). Older children had better performance in all fitness tests than their younger counterparts (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study provides age- and sex-specific fitness reference standards in preschool children. This work complement the reference standards already published in children and adolescents. These findings can help professionals to identify preschool children with very low fitness level and also as screening element of poor cardiometabolic health levels in order to implement new public health strategies from very early ages. Supported by RYC-2011-09011, BES-2014-068829.