Analyzing the effectiveness of traditional means of basic physical education while training primary school children

Abstract

Introduction. Physical education of the younger generation is a vital part of modern education. Prevalence of physical inactivity among children and young people nowadays is a serious issue and one of the main causes of such negative phenomena as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and infant mortality. In this regard, physical education at school is a key factor for forming a healthy society as a whole, since it is the most accessible and widespread form of involving children in physical activity and sports, which in turn are the most effective means of improving health and combating physical inactivity. These facts require new and effective means and methods of physical training for children precisely in physical education at school, especially in the lower grades as these make the first stage of a healthy lifestyle. The study aims to experimentally substantiate the effectiveness of traditional means of physical education in basic physical education while training primary school children. Materials and methods. 20 first-grade schoolchildren from Municipal Budgetary Educational Institution ‘Secondary School No. 8, Grozny’ (Russian Federation) took part in the experiment. To assess the impact of traditional means of physical education on the dynamics of physical fitness of first-graders in experimental groups, GTO standards tests were selected: standing start running 30 m (sec.); standing long jump (cm); horizontal pull-ups on a low bar (number of times); throwing a small ball at a target at the distance of 6 m (number of points); bending forward from the standing position on a gymnastic bench (cm). Mathematical statistics methods: descriptive statistics (arithmetic mean, standard deviation); Student's t-test. Results. After statistical processing of the results by type of test, the following significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups: in standing long jumps, the average performance in the experimental group was 12 cm better than in the control group (t = -2.759; p = 0.009); in horizontal pull-ups on a low bar, the average result in the experimental group was 3 repetitions better than in the control group (t = -2.488; p = 0.017); in ball throwing, the average score in the experimental group was better than in the control group (t = 4.119; p = 0.000); in bending forward from the standing position on a gymnastic bench, the average score in the experimental group was almost 1.5 cm higher than in the control group (t = -4.775; p = 0.000); in shuttle run (3x10 m. (sec.)), the average score in the experimental group was 1 second better than in the control group (t = -2.324; p = 0.027). Conclusion. The research results prove that introducing traditional games and physical exercises into basic physical education while training primary school children is an effective approach for improving physical education in primary school. These methods help achieve better results in developing physical qualities and raising the level of physical fitness in children of this age.