Perspective of preschool educators on physical education : overcoming challenges and offering recommendations

Junger, Ján (author), Čavisová, Romana (author), Uher, Ivan (author)

Background: Incorporating habitual physical activity and building fundamental motor skills in preschool age indeed form a foundation for lifelong health and a healthy lifestyle where qualified preschool teachers can play a pivotal role in influencing this process. Purpose: The presented study aimed to acquire knowledge about preschool teachers' interest in teaching physical education. Methods: The study was conducted in March 2024, involving 112 female preschool teachers from 31 preschools across the Eastern part of Slovakia. An anonymous questionnaire likely encourages open and honest responses, contributing to the reliability of the data. Findings: Even though most teachers are aware of the importance of physical education in children's lives, and many of them are physically active themselves, its implementation is limited by the content of the State Education Program (ISCED 0), the lack of methodological materials and often the negative attitude of the children's caregiver. Conclusion: The results confirmed the need to re-evaluate the content of ISCED 0, especially in the sphere of required competencies, as well as the adjustment of study programs for early child education, where physical education and motor skills development are marginally significant. Furthermore, integrating non-traditional methods, such as bracing and sauna, can further diversify the physical education curriculum and contribute to a more comprehensive and dynamic approach that supports children's health. These methods add variety and motivation, making the learning experience more engaging for the children and the teachers.

• Language: English
• Keywords: sport, the role of the preschool teacher, children`s motor development, content of education, forms and methods of physical activity
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FŠ - Faculty of Sport
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 207-218
• Numbering: Vol. 31, no. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-180542
• UDC: 796.01:373.2-053.4
• ISSN on article: 2232-4062
• DOI: 10.52165/kinsi.31.2.207-218
• COBISS.SI-ID: 258843395
• Publication date in RUL: 11.03.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Kinesiologia Slovenica : scientific journal on sport
• Shortened title: Kinesiol. Slov.
• Publisher: Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 2232-4062
• COBISS.SI-ID: 257386752

Licences

• License: CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
• Description: This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Pogledi vzgojiteljev predšolskih otrok na športno vzgojo : premagovanje izzivov in priporočila

Abstract

Ozadje: Vključevanje redne telesne dejavnosti in razvijanje temeljnih gibalnih sposobnosti v predšolskem obdobju predstavlja temelj za zdravje in zdrav življenjski slog, pri čemer imajo usposobljeni vzgojitelji ključno vlogo pri vplivanju na ta proces. Namen: Študija je bila usmerjena v pridobivanje vpogleda v interes vzgojiteljev za poučevanje vrtčevske športne vzgoje. Metode: Študija je bila izvedena marca 2024 in je zajela 112 vzgojiteljic iz 31 vrtcev z vzhodnega dela Slovaške. Anonimni vprašalnik je verjetno spodbudil odprte in iskrene odgovore, kar prispeva k večji zanesljivosti podatkov. Ugotovitve: Čeprav se večina vzgojiteljic zaveda pomena športne vzgoje v otrokovem življenju in je veliko njih tudi samih telesno aktivnih, je izvajanje gibalnih dejavnosti pogosto omejeno zaradi vsebine državnega izobraževalnega programa (ISCED 0), pomanjkanja metodološkega gradiva in pogosto tudi zaradi negativnega odnosa otrokovih skrbnikov. Zaključek: Rezultati potrjujejo potrebo po ponovni presoji vsebine ISCED 0, zlasti na področju zahtevanih kompetenc, ter po prilagoditvi študijskih programov za zgodnje izobraževanje predšolskih otrok, pri katerih sta športna vzgoja in razvoj gibalnih sposobnosti pogosto zapostavljena. Poleg tega lahko vključevanje netradicionalnih metod, kot sta razgibavanje z oporo (bracing) in savnanje, dodatno popestri kurikulum športne vzgoje ter prispeva k celostnemu in dinamičnemu pristopu, ki spodbuja otrokovo zdravje. Te metode prinašajo raznolikost in dodatno motivacijo, zaradi česar je učna izkušnja bolj privlačna tako za otroke kot tudi za vzgojitelje.

• Keywords: šport, otroci, vloga vzgojiteljev predšolskih otrok, gibalni razvoj otrok, vsebina izobraževanja, metode in oblike telesne dejavnosti