The Effect of the Teaching Games for Understanding Approach on Fundamental Motor Skills and Executive Functions in Economically Deprived Children

Abstract

Background: Identifying the theoretical frameworks and intervention components in socio-economically deprived communities to improve their performance in various aspects of development, can be effective. Therefore, there is a need to review more recent literature that reports the effectiveness of interventions for people living in a socio-economically deprived society. This study aimed to investigate the effect of teaching games for understanding approach on fundamental motor skills and executive functions in economically deprived children.Methods: This quasi-experimental research was an applied one in terms of purpose with a pre-test and post-test design. For this purpose, thirty 7 to 9-year-old children from the economically deprived areas of Kahnouj City were randomly assigned into two groups including the non-linear approach (the teaching games for understanding) and the linear approach. The research participants were trained for eight weeks. Before and after the eight weeks of training, the test of gross motor development-2 and the executive functions questionnaire scores were recorded.Results: The results of this research showed that the teaching games for understanding approach compared to the linear approach has a greater effect on the subscales of fundamental motor skills and executive functions of economically deprived children (P≤0.05).Conclusion: Engaging in cognitive activities in the teaching games for understanding approach improves fundamental motor skills and executive functions.

Keywords

• teaching-based on game for understanding وnon-linear approach
• linear approach
• fundamental motor skill
• executive functions
• economic deprivation