NCT07488286

Playful Physical Activity Program and Executive Function in Preschool Children

Effects of a Cognitively Enriched Playful Physical Activity Program on Executive Functions and School Readiness in Preschool Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 48 (actual)
• Sponsor: Monira Aldhahi · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 4 Years – 6 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This randomized controlled trial evaluates the effects of an 8-week cognitively enriched playful physical activity program on executive functions and school readiness in preschool children. Participants are assigned to either an experimental group receiving structured cognitively engaging movement activities or a control group receiving standard physical education.

Detailed description

This single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial investigates the effects of a structured Playful Physical Activities (PPA) program on executive functions and school readiness in preschool children aged 5 years. Participants are randomly assigned to an experimental group receiving cognitively enriched physical activity sessions or a control group receiving standard physical education with equivalent frequency and duration. The intervention is conducted over 8 weeks (3 sessions/week, 60 minutes/session). Outcomes include inhibitory control, visuospatial memory, planning, and school readiness domains (mathematical, linguistic, and social competence), assessed at baseline and post-intervention.

Conditions

• Executive Function
• School Readiness

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Playful Physical Activities	Receives cognitively enriched movement-based intervention
BEHAVIORAL	Standard Physical Education Group	Receives usual physical education curriculum

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-01-10
• Primary completion: 2026-01-10
• Completion: 2026-02-25
• First posted: 2026-03-23
• Last updated: 2026-03-24

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Tunisia