Comparative Effects of Traditional Play and Free Play in Primary School Children

NCT ID: NCT06943222

Last Updated: 2025-12-30

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 104 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-04-17
• Study Completion Date: 2025-10-01

Brief Summary

Childhood play is crucial for the comprehensive development of children, as it fosters social and emotional skills. This study examines the relative effects of conventional games versus unstructured play on the social interaction and physical fitness of elementary school students. This study aims to explore the impact of traditional games and free play on motor fitness and social interaction among primary school children and also seeks to offer insights into how these activities can benefit physical health and social development in the school environment. A randomized clinical trial will be conducted to evaluate the comparative effects of traditional play and free play on motor fitness and social interaction in primary school children. Study will include 104 children with aged 5 to 9 and take place in Sukkur schools for a duration of 10 months.

Traditional play groups and free play groups. The Social Skills Rating Scale (SSRS) will be utilized to evaluate social interaction. The statistical software SPSS version 27.00 will be used to analyze the data.

Detailed Description

Childhood play is crucial for the comprehensive development of children, as it fosters social and emotional skills that equip them to face challenges throughout their lives, from infancy to adulthood. This study examines the relative effects of conventional games versus unstructured play on the social interaction and physical fitness of elementary school students. Traditional games, marked by organized rules, and free play, characterized by spontaneous, unstructured activities, are represented by different types of play that affect social behaviors and motor skills.

Understanding these effects is essential, as participating in physical activities not only boosts physical health but also influences cognitive and social skills, which are important for long-term mental and physical well-being. This study aims to explore the impact of traditional games and free play on motor fitness and social interaction among primary school children and also seeks to offer insights into how these activities can benefit physical health and social development in the school environment. A randomized clinical trial will be conducted to evaluate the comparative effects of traditional play and free play on motor fitness and social interaction in primary school children. This study will include children aged 5 to 9 and take place in Sukkur schools for a duration of 10 months.

Traditional play groups will partake in organized conventional activities that are included in their schedule, while free play groups will involve themselves in unregulated spontaneous play. The participants will be segregated into 2 distinct groups. The flamingo balance tests (FLA) will be used to assess motor fitness related to balance; the standing long jump (SLJ) test for measuring leaping distance; the plate tapping (PTT) for evaluating movement speed; the obstacle course backwards (OCB) for assessing body coordination; and the shuttle run test 4 × 5 m (SRT) for measuring speed and agility. The Social Skills Rating Scale (SSRS) will be utilized to evaluate social interaction. The statistical software SPSS version 27.00 will be used to analyze the data.

Conditions

Children

Keywords

Childhood; Motor skills; Social skills; Traditional games

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Traditional Play

Traditional play groups will partake in organized conventional activities that are included in their schedule

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Traditional Play

Intervention Type: OTHER

The intervention for the traditional play group included activities such as Shtapu and skipping rope. Both traditional play activities were scheduled 3 times per week (3 Session/week) over the 6-month period.

Both activities took place outdoors and in the institutional gymnasium, depending on the prevailing weather conditions. Each session lasted 35 minutes and took place in the morning hours (8-11 a.m.). Prior to each type of activity, a specific warm-up was conducted, following methodological guidelines for preschoolers' physical education.

Free play

free play groups will involve themselves in unregulated spontaneous play. The participants will be segregated into 2 distinct groups. The flamingo balance tests (FLA) will be used to assess motor fitness related to balance; the standing long jump (SLJ) test for measuring leaping distance; the plate tapping (PTT) for evaluating movement speed; the obstacle course backwards (OCB) for assessing body coordination; and the shuttle run test 4 × 5 m (SRT) for measuring speed and agility.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Traditional Play

The intervention for the traditional play group included activities such as Shtapu and skipping rope. Both traditional play activities were scheduled 3 times per week (3 Session/week) over the 6-month period.

Both activities took place outdoors and in the institutional gymnasium, depending on the prevailing weather conditions. Each session lasted 35 minutes and took place in the morning hours (8-11 a.m.). Prior to each type of activity, a specific warm-up was conducted, following methodological guidelines for preschoolers' physical education.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Participants must be within the age range of 5 to 9 years.
• Currently enrolled in a primary school program.
• Both male and female participants are included.
• Participants must have parental or guardian consent to participate in the study.
• Participants must be regularly attending primary school without prolonged absences

Exclusion Criteria

• Musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., poliomyelitis, muscular dystrophy).
• Neurological disorders (e.g., epilepsy, developmental delay).
• Orthopedic disorders (e.g., fractures, joint disorders).
• Diabetes or other metabolic syndrome conditions.
• Chronic health conditions affecting physical activity participation.
• Engaged in organized sports or structured physical activities outside of the primary school curriculum

• Minimum Eligible Age: 5 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 9 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Riphah International University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Maria Amjad, MSPT(Peads)

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Riphah International University

Locations

School of Sindh

Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

Countries

Pakistan

Other Identifiers

REC/RCR/AHS/24/0741

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id