TEST-RETEST RELIABILITY OF A FIELD-BASED PHYSICAL FITNESS ASSESSMENT FOR CHILDREN AGED 3-6 YEARS.

OBJECTIVE

the present study aims to determine the test-retest reliability of the Fitness Test Battery in children aged 3-6 years.

METHODS

a total of 553 children voluntarily participated in the current study; all children were aged 3 to 6 years. Demographic characteristics reveal that 274 children were male (age: 4.63 ± 0.94 years old, Body max index [BMI] = 16.30 ± 2.07 kg/m2), and 279 were female (age 4.70 ± 0.97 years old, BMI = 16.28 ± 2.09 kg/m2), and they were selected from 8 schools in southern Spain. All selected tests for the Fitness Test Battery, except the 10 x 20 metres (m) test that was designed ad hoc for this study, have been used in previous studies and are focused on testing basic components of physical condition and motor development such as endurance, strength, speed, reaction time and balance (10 x 20 m, Standing Broad Jump, 20 m running speed, Ruler drop test and Balance).

RESULTS

the results obtained in this study indicate that the Fitness Test Battery has obtained adequate reliability parameters, and is able to discriminate with age among the different tests in healthy children between 3 and 6 years old. The tests used were safe, easy to perform, very acceptable and understandable by children.

CONCLUSION

the Fitness Test Battery is a valid, reliable and easy to assess the physical fitness of pre-schoolers children.