Investigation of the effect of balance and coordinationexercises on attention level in preschool children

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of balance and coordination exercises on attention level in preschool children. First of all, balance-coordination tests (ÇYDKT), flamingo balance test and frankfurter attention test have been applied as pre and posttests in the study. A total of 36 students, 18 boys and 18 girls, aged 5, have been divided into 3 different groups as experimental 1, experimental 2 and control group. Specialized balance and coordination exercise programs have been applied by the experimental group 1 for 2 days and 40 minutes each week during 12 weeks. A sports activity program of 40 minutes and 2 days a week has been applied by the experimental group 2. The control group continued only daily school activities without participating in any exercise programs. The data of the study were analyzed in the SPSS (version 18.0). Shapiro-Wilk test was performed to assess whether the data showed normal distribution. Variance Analysis (3x2, Three Groups Pretest-Posttest) was used in Two-Way Repeated Measures to compare test scores in terms of the groups (Test 1, Test 2, Test 3, Test 4, Test 5, Test 6, Test 7). In cases where there is a significant difference; Paired comparisons were analyzed by the Bonferroni test. A statistically significant difference was found in the comparison of the pre and posttest mean values of the Flamingo balance test (p <0.05). Comparing the flamingo balance test average values to the control group, it was determined that the performance of the flamingo balance test in the experimental group 1 and the experimental group 2 improved more. In addition, it was observed that the exercise program applied on the experimental group 1 had a statistically positive effect on the flamingo balance test performance when compared to the experimental group 2 (p <0.05). When the mean values of the Frankfurter attention test were compared to the control group, it was determined that the performance of the frankfurter attention test was improved more in the experimental 1 and experimental 2 groups. In addition, it was observed that the exercise program applied on the experiment group 2 had a statistically positive effect on the performance of the frankfurter attention test when compared to the experiment 1 group (p <0.05). It was observed that the balance and coordination test 3 score did not statistically affect the pre and posttest mean values (p> 0.05). It was determined that the balance and coordination test 1.2.4.5.6.7 pre and posttest mean values statistically developed more (p <0.05). When the balance and coordination test mean values were compared to the control group, it was determined that experimental 1 and experimental 2 groups improved more. In addition, when compared to the experiment 2 group, it was observed that it had a statistically positive significant effect on the balance and coordination test performance applied on the experiment 1 group (p <0.05). As a result of this study, it can be said that exercise programs for balance and coordination have positive effects on children's attention level. Science code : 1301 Keywords : Preschool, Balance, Coordination, Attention Number of pages : 108 Supervisor : Prof. Dr. Erdal ZORBA Co-Supervisor : Assoc. Dr. Ceren Suveren ERDOĞAN