Effects of Extracurricular Physical Activity on the Infant's Motor Ability and Emotional Intelligence

Cha, Seung-Yun; Kang, Seol-Jung; Kim, Byung-Roh

doi:2014.16.2.31

Asian J Kinesiol > Volume 16(2); 2014 > Article

Original Article

The Official Journal of the Korean Academy of Kinesiology 2014;16(2):31-39.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15758/jkak.2014.16.2.31 Published online May 1, 2014.

Effects of Extracurricular Physical Activity on the Infant's Motor Ability and Emotional Intelligence

Seung-Yun Cha, Seol-Jung Kang, Byung-Roh Kim

Changwon National University

Correspondence: Byung-Roh Kim,
Email: brkim@changwon.ac.kr

Received: 27 February 2014 • Accepted: 19 April 2014

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of extracurricular physical activity on the infant's motor ability and emotional intelligence, and to find out the importance of the infant's physical exercise activity.
METHOD
The subjects of this study were the 50 infants from 5 to 7 years old who were attended at the kindergarten in the city of C. The subjects were divided into extracurricular physical activity group(n=25, 5.40±0.64 years) and kindergarten activity group(n=25, 5.16±0.68 years). Extracurricular physical activity group did 4 times of 50 minute physical activity each week for 12 weeks from the curriculum of kindergarten education. Kindergarten activity group was the curriculum of the kindergarten education. Motor ability (the sense of balance, muscle endurance, ability to react instantly, flexibility, quickness) and emotional intelligence (emotional acceptance and adaptation abilities, emotional cognition, emotional control, emotional expression) were measured before and after physical activity.
RESULT
1. The balance, muscle endurance, ability to react instantly, the quickness were significantly increased in both extracurricular physical activity group and kindergarten activity group. Also the quickness were significantly decreased in both extracurricular physical activity group and kindergarten activity group. 2. The emotional acceptance and adaptation abilities, emotional cognition, emotional expression were significantly increased in both extracurricular physical activity group and kindergarten activity group. However, emotional control were significantly increased in extracurricular physical activity group.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, these results showed that extracurricular physical activity were effective in infant's motor ability and emotional intelligence.

Keywords: Extracurricular physical activity, Infant, Motor ability, Emotional intelligence