Use of running exercises for preschoolers with mental retardation as a means of improving play or school activity.

Various physical training programs have been devised to achieve greater physical fitness for handicapped children who otherwise exercise insufficiently. Such training may also facilitate socializing and play at school. Running exercises were conducted with 4 handicapped preschoolers and 3 age-matched normal preschoolers for 3 30-min. sessions per week for 11 weeks. Measures were seconds taken to run 25 meters and ratings of play behavior. Analysis showed that children who reluctantly joined the exercise made little progress in running. The quality of movement and play activities in nursery school and interactive behavior improved significantly for participants who also improved in running.