View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Enhancing fundamental motor skills through active play: a systematic review and meta-analysis of educational contexts.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Enhancing fundamental motor skills through active play: a systematic review and meta-analysis of educational contexts.
Authors: Ramos-Munell, Javier1 (AUTHOR), Gallardo-Gómez, Daniel1 (AUTHOR), Álvarez-Barbosa, Francisco1 (AUTHOR), Alfonso-Rosa, Rosa M.2,3 (AUTHOR), Reilly, John J.4 (AUTHOR), Okely, Anthony5,6 (AUTHOR), del Pozo-Cruz, Borja7,8,9 (AUTHOR), del Pozo-Cruz, Jesús1,3 (AUTHOR) jpozo2@us.es
Source: European Early Childhood Education Research Journal. Feb2026, Vol. 34 Issue 1, p152-172. 21p.
Subject Terms: *Motor ability, *Educational planning, *Comparative studies, *School environment, Minors, Regional differences
Abstract: This study examines the effectiveness of active play interventions to enhance Fundamental Motor Skills (FMS) in children aged 2–5 and compares different intervention modalities. It also explores the moderating role of world region and the use of recess in educational contexts. A systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis were conducted, using data from MEDLINE, Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, PsycINFO, Cinahl, and SPORTdiscus up to January 2023. Clinical trials with active play interventions in educational settings were included, excluding multicomponent interventions. Eighteen studies (2816 participants; 240 effect sizes) met the criteria. The overall average treatment effect (ATE) of active play versus control was 0.07 (95% CrI −0.004–0.15). Motor skills interventions showed a significant effect (SMD = 0.16, 95% CrI 0.01–0.29), especially when integrated into recess (SMD = 0.31, 95% CrI 0.03–0.62). The effectiveness varied across regions, highlighting the need for regional consideration in implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of European Early Childhood Education Research Journal is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 190954532
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Enhancing fundamental motor skills through active play: a systematic review and meta-analysis of educational contexts.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ramos-Munell%2C+Javier%22">Ramos-Munell, Javier</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gallardo-Gómez%2C+Daniel%22">Gallardo-Gómez, Daniel</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Álvarez-Barbosa%2C+Francisco%22">Álvarez-Barbosa, Francisco</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alfonso-Rosa%2C+Rosa+M%2E%22">Alfonso-Rosa, Rosa M.</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Reilly%2C+John+J%2E%22">Reilly, John J.</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Okely%2C+Anthony%22">Okely, Anthony</searchLink><relatesTo>5,6</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22del+Pozo-Cruz%2C+Borja%22">del Pozo-Cruz, Borja</searchLink><relatesTo>7,8,9</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22del+Pozo-Cruz%2C+Jesús%22">del Pozo-Cruz, Jesús</searchLink><relatesTo>1,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> jpozo2@us.es</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22European+Early+Childhood+Education+Research+Journal%22">European Early Childhood Education Research Journal</searchLink>. Feb2026, Vol. 34 Issue 1, p152-172. 21p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Motor+ability%22">Motor ability</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+planning%22">Educational planning</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Comparative+studies%22">Comparative studies</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+environment%22">School environment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Minors%22">Minors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Regional+differences%22">Regional differences</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study examines the effectiveness of active play interventions to enhance Fundamental Motor Skills (FMS) in children aged 2–5 and compares different intervention modalities. It also explores the moderating role of world region and the use of recess in educational contexts. A systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis were conducted, using data from MEDLINE, Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, PsycINFO, Cinahl, and SPORTdiscus up to January 2023. Clinical trials with active play interventions in educational settings were included, excluding multicomponent interventions. Eighteen studies (2816 participants; 240 effect sizes) met the criteria. The overall average treatment effect (ATE) of active play versus control was 0.07 (95% CrI −0.004–0.15). Motor skills interventions showed a significant effect (SMD = 0.16, 95% CrI 0.01–0.29), especially when integrated into recess (SMD = 0.31, 95% CrI 0.03–0.62). The effectiveness varied across regions, highlighting the need for regional consideration in implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of European Early Childhood Education Research Journal is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=190954532
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/1350293X.2025.2487929
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 152
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Motor ability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational planning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Comparative studies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School environment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Minors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Regional differences
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Enhancing fundamental motor skills through active play: a systematic review and meta-analysis of educational contexts.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ramos-Munell, Javier
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Gallardo-Gómez, Daniel
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Álvarez-Barbosa, Francisco
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Alfonso-Rosa, Rosa M.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Reilly, John J.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Okely, Anthony
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: del Pozo-Cruz, Borja
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: del Pozo-Cruz, Jesús
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 02
              Text: Feb2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 1350293X
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 34
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: European Early Childhood Education Research Journal
              Type: main
ResultId 1