Enhancing Fundamental Movement Skills in Children Through Active Play

Several countries around the world are struggling with children's underdeveloped fundamental movement skills (FMS). Active play (AP) is a promising approach to improve these skills due to its unstructured and voluntary nature, making it easier to implement and disseminate. This systematic review aimed to assess the impact of AP interventions on FMS in typically developing children.

A comprehensive literature search was performed across six databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CNKI, and Wan Fang Data) up to May 30, 2024. The criteria for inclusion specified that the intervention must be AP, the outcome must focus on FMS, and participants must be typically developing children. Data regarding study characteristics, sample traits, measurement methods, and intervention outcomes were collected. 

The findings showed that;

• Out of 3,672 articles reviewed, 9 studies were included.
• The risk of bias assessment revealed 3 studies with low bias risk and 6 with moderate risk.
• The AP interventions showed significant variations, with durations of 45 to 60 minutes, frequencies from once to four times per week, and intervention lengths of 4 weeks to 6 months. 
• FMS were evaluated using various standardized tests, including Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2), the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP), the Peabody Development Motor Scales-2 (PDMS-2), and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC). 
• Of the total included studies, 7 studies indicated a significant positive effect of AP on FMS, while 2 showed no significant impact.

To summarize, despite a few inconsistencies in the findings, AP interventions appear to be beneficial for enhancing FMS in typically developing children. Future research should focus on high-quality AP interventions and explore their effects across various populations, settings, and timeframes. Additionally, more detailed investigations are warranted into the specific components of AP and their quantitative relationships with FMS outcomes.

Source: Zhang, X., Tang, C., Geng, M. et al. The effects of active play interventions on children’s fundamental movement skills: a systematic review. BMC Pediatr.2025;25(40). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-05385-8.