Physical activity of six-year-old children in the opinion of their mothers

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the level of kindergarteners’ physical activity on the basis of their mothers’ opinions. The level of physical activity was assessed in relation to the child’s gender and mother’s educational background. The research was conducted in 2009 at public kindergarten no. 4 in Stargard Szczeciński. All mothers of 6 year-old children attending the above mentioned kindergarten were surveyed constituting a research group of 68. Fifty-six per cent of the mothers were bringing up six-year-old boys, whilst forty-four per cent had daughters of this age. The diagnostic survey method with the usage of anonymous questionnaire was applied in the research. The conducted research revealed that in most cases mothers’ educational background did not influence the level of kindergarteners’ physical activity. The majority of mothers, regardless of their educational background, believed that their children willingly participate in physical activities. In both boys and girls, irrespective of the mothers’ educational background, swimming, cycling and playground activities were the most popular forms of spending leisure time actively