Observational Study of Animal-Based Physical Exercise Programs for Improving Fundamental Movement Skills in Toddlers
Abstract
Early childhood is a critical period for the development of
fundamental movement skills (FMS). However, Indonesia continues
to face challenges related to motor development, with motor delays
affecting approximately 29.9% of children. This study aimed to
develop an Animal-Based Physical Exercise program designed to
support FMS development in toddlers through a simple, contextual,
and enjoyable approach. This study employed a descriptive
observational design with a limited pilot implementation. The study
involved seven toddlers aged 2-5 years and two instructors at a fitness
studio in Surabaya. Data were collected through direct observation of
physical exercise activities and brief interviews with the instructors.
The observation findings were used to develop the Animal-Based
Physical Exercise program, which was subsequently implemented on
a limited basis with two toddlers aged 1.5 and 4 years. The collected
data were analyzed descriptively by organizing and interpreting the
observation and implementation findings. The observations showed
that younger children required more guidance and participated less
consistently during the activities, whereas the older child was able to
follow the movement sequence more independently and participated
actively throughout the session. These observations suggest that
children's responses to physical exercise may vary according to their
developmental stage. The developed Animal-Based Physical Exercise
program integrates animal imitation movements into structured play
activities to encourage locomotor skills, balance, coordination, and
active participation. This study provides a practical and contextually
appropriate physical exercise program that can be implemented in
fitness studios, early childhood education settings, and at home to
support toddlers' motor development. The findings also provide
preliminary information for developing age-appropriate physical
activity programs and may serve as a reference for future studies
involving larger samples and longer implementation periods.
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