Ir al menú de navegación principal Ir al contenido principal Ir al pie de página del sitio

Artículos

Vol. 2 Núm. 3 (2025): Revista Paraguaya de Pedagogía

Influence of brain gym on strengthening psychomotor skills in children aged four to five years old

Influence of brain gym on strengthening psychomotor skills in children aged four to five years old
Publicado
2025-01-03

El desarrollo psicomotor en la primera infancia es esencial para el aprendizaje y el bienestar infantil, pero en contextos latinoamericanos persisten limitaciones en la implementación de estrategias innovadoras que lo fortalezcan. Esta investigación responde a la necesidad de evidenciar el impacto del Brain Gym, una metodología basada en el movimiento, en la psicomotricidad de niños de 4 a 5 años en una escuela pública ecuatoriana. El objetivo principal fue determinar la influencia de este programa en el fortalecimiento de las habilidades motoras y cognitivas de los participantes. El estudio adoptó un enfoque cualitativo, con diseño fenomenológico y alcance descriptivo, utilizando observación estructurada y entrevistas semiestructuradas a una muestra intencional de 15 niños y su docente durante seis semanas. Los resultados muestran mejoras notables en coordinación motora, equilibrio, lateralidad y control postural tras la intervención, así como una percepción positiva por parte de la docente sobre la motivación y participación de los niños. Se concluye que la integración sistemática del Brain Gym en la rutina escolar favorece el desarrollo integral, la inclusión y la equidad educativa. Se recomienda su incorporación en el currículo de educación inicial y la capacitación docente continua para maximizar su impacto, contribuyendo así a prácticas pedagógicas más efectivas e inclusivas.

Psychomotor development in early childhood is essential for learning and well-being, yet in Latin American contexts, there are still limitations in the implementation of innovative strategies to strengthen it. This research addresses the need to demonstrate the impact of Brain Gym, a movement-based methodology, on the psychomotor skills of children aged four to five in a public Ecuadorian school. The main objective was to determine the influence of this program on the strengthening of participants' motor and cognitive abilities. The study used a qualitative, phenomenological, and descriptive approach, employing structured observation and semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 15 children and their teacher over six weeks. Results show notable improvements in motor coordination, balance, laterality, and postural control after the intervention, as well as a positive perception from the teacher regarding children's motivation and participation. It is concluded that systematically integrating Brain Gym into the school routine promotes integral development, inclusion, and educational equity. Its incorporation into the early childhood curriculum and ongoing teacher training are recommended to maximize its impact, thus contributing to more effective and inclusive pedagogical practices.

Sección:
Artículos

Referencias

  1. Acosta, P. E. G., López, D. R. A., Torres, G. I. R., Erives, A. C., & Gastélum, G. (2024). Socio-educational strategies plan for the development of psychomotor skills in early childhood education students. Retos: nuevas tendencias en educación física, deporte y recreación, (55), 745-755. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=9446913
  2. Badriyah, N. L., Anekawati, A., & Azizah, L. F. (2020). Application of PjBL with brain-based STEAM approach to improve learning achievement of students. Jurnal Inovasi Pendidikan IPA, 6(1), 88-100. https://doi.org/10.21831/jipi.v6i1.29884.
  3. Buzescu, R., Nechita, F., & Cioroiu, S. G. (2020). The relationship between neuromuscular control and physical activity in the formation of the visual-psychomotor schemes in preschools. Sensors, 21(1), 224. https://doi.org/10.3390/s21010224
  4. Dennison, P. E., & Dennison, G. E. (1997). Brain gym: aprendizaje de todo el cerebro. Ediciones Robinbook.
  5. Elbanna, S. T. E., Kamal, H. M., Mahgoub, E. A. M., & Elshennawy, S. (2023). Effect of brain GYM exercises on balance in preschool children: a randomized controlled trail. Brain, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.EGY-S4-4
  6. García-Hermoso, A., Ramírez-Vélez, R., Lubans, D. R., & Izquierdo, M. (2021). Effects of physical education interventions on cognition and academic performance outcomes in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British journal of sports medicine, 55(21), 1224-1232. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2021-104112
  7. Haverkamp, B. F., Wiersma, R., Vertessen, K., van Ewijk, H., Oosterlaan, J., & Hartman, E. (2020). Effects of physical activity interventions on cognitive outcomes and academic performance in adolescents and young adults: A meta-analysis. Journal of sports sciences, 38(23), 2637-2660. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1794763
  8. Hillman, C. H., Logan, N. E., & Shigeta, T. T. (2019). A review of acute physical activity effects on brain and cognition in children. Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, 4(17), 132-136. https://doi.org/10.1249/TJX.0000000000000101
  9. Jalilinasab, S., Saemi, E., & Abedanzadeh, R. (2022). Fundamental motor and social skills of children: the role of Brain Gym exercise. Early Child Development and Care, 192(14), 2256-2267. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2021.2003350
  10. Jones, D., Innerd, A., Giles, E. L., & Azevedo, L. B. (2021). The association between physical activity, motor skills and school readiness in 4–5-year-old children in the northeast of England. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(22), 11931. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211931
  11. Jylänki, P., Mbay, T., Hakkarainen, A., Sääkslahti, A., & Aunio, P. (2022). The effects of motor skill and physical activity interventions on preschoolers' cognitive and academic skills: A systematic review. Preventive Medicine, 155, 106948. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106948
  12. Kamphorst, E., Cantell, M., Van Der Veer, G., Minnaert, A., & Houwen, S. (2021). Emerging school readiness profiles: motor skills matter for cognitive-and non-cognitive first grade school outcomes. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 759480. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.759480
  13. Lara, M. L. H., Pachala, J. W. T., Sánchez, D. J. S., & Roldán, M. D. L. Á. B. (2022). Técnicas grafoplásticas y suincidencia en el desarrollo de la motricidad fina de estudiantes de educación inicial. Journal of Science and Research: Revista Ciencia e Investigación, 7(4), 156-172. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=8818362
  14. Maheswari, G., & Indu, H. (2023). Brain activation using Brain Gym for effective learning. Journal of Advanced Zoology, 44, 1053-1060. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c517/1e5321a8c62c3bc2fd4746a68a3ad3d04bc3.pdf
  15. Mamani, D., Laque, G., Atamari, J. T. M., Velásquez, D. Á. V., Mamani, D. F., Alagón, S. L. C., & Chambilla, S. G. F. (2025). Psychomotricity, child development and psychomotor tests: an analysis of scientific research in Scopus. Retos: nuevas tendencias en educación física, deporte y recreación, (65), 377-387. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=10000709
  16. Morales, F. Q. (2021). Estrategias lúdicas para el desarrollo de la motricidad fina en niños de una institución educativa inicial. Revista educación, 19(19), 78-95. https://doi.org/10.51440/unsch.revistaeducacion.2021.19.198
  17. Riga, V., & Rouvali, A. (2023). Classroom Psychomotor Education Programme to Enhance Executive Functions: A Cluster Randomised Feasibility Trial. Youth, 3(2), 502-525. https://doi.org/10.3390/youth3020035
  18. Rojo-Ramos, J., González-Becerra, M. J., Gómez-Paniagua, S., Carlos-Vivas, J., Acevedo-Duque, Á., & Adsuar, J. C. (2022). Psychomotor skills activities in the classroom from an early childhood education teachers’ perspective. Children, 9(8), 1214. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9081214
  19. Rubio, E. M. S., & Espinosa, J. N. C. (2023). La motricidad fina en la educación inicial. Ciencia Latina revista científica multidisciplinar, 7(1), 3568-3598. https://doi.org/10.37811/cl_rcm.v7i1.4677
  20. Safrudin, E. L., Ayuningrum, L. D., & Wijayanti, I. (2024). The Effect of Brain Gym on Psychomotor Development in Preschool Children. Jurnal Smart Paud, 7(2), 129-137. https://doi.org/10.36709/jspaud.v7i2.173
  21. Saguni, F. (2019). The Effect of Cognitive, Affective and Psychomotor Development on Children's Creativity in Education Games of Al-Khairaat Kindergrten at Palu City. Journal of Education and Practice, 10(4), 47-53. https://core.ac.uk/reader/234642390
  22. Sinaga, E. S., & Syari, M. (2022). The Effect of Brain Gym on Improving Fine Motoric and Gross Motoric Skills in Pre-School Children. International Journal of Public Health Excellence (IJPHE), 2(1), 318-323. https://doi.org/10.55299/ijphe.v2i1.241
  23. Sun, X., Li, Y., Cai, L., & Wang, Y. (2021). Effects of physical activity interventions on cognitive performance of overweight or obese children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pediatric research, 89(1), 46-53. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-0941-3
  24. Tarnoki, C., & Puentes, K. (2019). Something for everyone: A review of qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. The Qualitative Report, 24(12), 3122-3124. https://www.proquest.com/openview/c1a8350ce8324d481f20e4451080b61f/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=55152
  25. Zheng, Y., Ye, W., Korivi, M., Liu, Y., & Hong, F. (2022). Gender differences in fundamental motor skills proficiency in children aged 3–6 years: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(14), 8318. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148318
  26. Sa'idah, M., Sari, R. S., & Ratnasari, F. (2023). Effect of brain gym on memory children 7-13 years old. Indonesian Journal for Health Sciences, 7(2), 51-59. http://journal.umpo.ac.id/index.php/IJHS/article/view/6328/0