type:Article

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parent's expectations of their children's exercise or learning habits and lessons on physical fitness in preschool children. Methods: The subjects were 66 infants (32 boys and 34 girls). Six physical fitness tests were conducted: 25m sprint, standing broad jump, ball throw, two legs continuous jump over, body support duration, and catching a ball. The measured values for each event were scored from 1 to 5 points, and the total score of the six events was used as the total fitness score. The survey of lessons was conducted using a questionnaire method, in which parents were asked questions about their children's lessons. Results & Discussion: Parents indicated that 68.5% of their children's exercise habits were important to them, 32.5% of their children's study habits were important to them, respectively. The percentage of lessons showed 23.9% for swimming, 19.0% for soccer, 9.5% for eurhythmic, 9.5% for English conversation, 9.5% for piano, 4.8% for calligraphy, 4.8% for intellectual education, and 19.0% for no lessons. There was no statistical difference in the physical fitness classified into the exercise habit and study habit groups that parents desired for their children in all items of the six physical fitness measurement and in the total fitness score. The total fitness score was 20.4±4.3 points in the exercise lesson group and 15.0±2.1 points in the non-exercise lesson group, with the exercise lesson group showing significantly higher values than the non-exercise lesson group (p<0.05).