Abstract - The influence of karate training on preparing preschool girls for school education
Aim. Future health conditions and psychosocial functioning depend on development during early childhood. The aim of this study is to verify the effectiveness of the educational intervention program on the development of preschool girls.
Method. Participants for both the experimental (n=21) and control (n=27) groups were picked randomly from 4 preschool establishments whose level of educational programs meets the requirements of the Ukrainian state pre-school educational program.
All participants in the current study are girls with an age range of 5 to 6. Girls in the control groups (CG) were participating in normal physical education classes according to the Ukrainian State “Sure Start”. program for preschool children. Girls in experimental group (EG) are participating in a program designed by the authors.
Results. Results have shown significantly greater physical development in the EG, especially in terms of chest circumference, which may indicate that karate-related exercises have a better influence on the development of the respiratory system than standard interventions.
Conclusion. The findings of this study indicate that the experimental program is more beneficial for both the mental and physical development of preschool girls. Karate could serve as a means of physical education even before school education starts. The experimental program should be considered a preventative program, which will significantly reduce possible future health care costs.