engleski

INVOLVEMENT OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN IN SPORTS ACTIVITIES: PARENTS’ VIEWS AND OPINIONS

The research was conducted with the aim of obtaining feedback from parents in a smaller urban environment about the sports activities currently offered in nursery schools, as well as their views and opinions concerning physical exercise of preschool children. For that purpose a questionnaire was constructed and administered to 98 parents of children aged 4-6 attending three nursery schools in the town of Čakovec. The questionnaire consisted of 4 questions, which referred to the involvement of their children in organised sports activities in nursery school, as well as the parents’ views and opinions regarding participation in sports of preschool children. The examinees answered the questions on a three- or five-point Likert scale. Additionally, for each of the answers there was a possibility to explain the given answer. The obtained information was processed by calculating frequency distribution and percentages. The questionnaire analysis shows that less than half of the parents are satisfied with the offered preschool sports programs and a small share of 25% of them participate in sports activities offered in nursery schools. Most of them participate in sports workshops and swimming, and the most common reason for not being included is a financial one. About 80% of the parents consider that the possibility of doing sports should be a part of the regular nursery school curriculum, in such a way giving all children equal opportunities to practice sports.

preschool children; views; opinions; sports activities

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