Playful Physical Activity Program and Executive Function in Preschool Children

NCT07488286 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: PNU-13
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 48
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial evaluates the effects of an 8-week cognitively enriched playful physical activity program on executive functions and school readiness in preschool children. Participants are assigned to either an experimental group receiving structured cognitively engaging movement activities or a control group receiving standard physical education.

Conditions

Executive Function; School Readiness

Keywords

Cognitive Development; Preschool education

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Executive function performance

  Executive function performance will be assessed using standardized neuropsychological measures, including inhibitory control (Go/No-Go task; error rate), Performance is quantified as the number of commission errors (responses to No-Go stimuli). Lower error rates indicate better inhibitory control.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and Week 8 (post-intervention)

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Visuospatial memory (BVMT-R immediate recall)

  Baseline and Week 8

• Visuospatial memory (BVMT-R delayed recall)

  Baseline and Week 8

• Planning and visuospatial organization (RCFT copy score)

  Baseline and Week 8

• Linguistic competence

  Baseline and Week 8

• Social competence (QECS)

  Baseline and Week 8

Study Arms (2)

Playful Physical Activities (PPA) Program

EXPERIMENTAL

A structured program integrating cognitive challenges (inhibition, working memory, planning) into movement-based activities delivered 3 times per week for 8 weeks (60 minutes/session).

Behavioral: Playful Physical Activities

Standard Physical Education

OTHER

Regular preschool physical education consisting of free play and age-appropriate activities without structured cognitive engagement, matched for frequency and duration.

Behavioral: Standard Physical Education Group

Interventions

Playful Physical Activities BEHAVIORAL

Receives cognitively enriched movement-based intervention

Playful Physical Activities (PPA) Program

Standard Physical Education Group BEHAVIORAL

Receives usual physical education curriculum

Standard Physical Education

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 4 Years - 6 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Enrolled in preschool
• No physical/intellectual disability
• Parental consent

You may not qualify if:

• Neurological or developmental disorders
• Sensory impairments
• medications affecting Neurological system

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Monira Aldhahi: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Manouba

Manouba, Tunisia

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Outcome assessors are blinded to group allocation; participants and instructors are not blinded.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Prof

Model Details: Participants are randomly assigned to either a cognitively enriched physical activity program or standard physical education.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 17, 2026
• First Posted: March 23, 2026
• Study Start: January 10, 2025
• Primary Completion: January 10, 2026
• Study Completion: February 25, 2026
• Last Updated: March 24, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)