Abstract
Physical fitness and physical activity are significant health parameters that are associated with long-term health outcomes from an early age. Researchers indicate that physical fitness and physical activity are beneficial not only for health but also for cognitive development among children and their academic achievements.
From the perspective of cultural-historical psychology physical fitness and physical activity also can be considered as mastering the abilities of one's own body and acquiring cultural forms of behavior and movement control. Physical activity not only places high demands on the coordination of movements but actually forces the child to practice the skills of executive functions.
Although previous research showed links between physical activity and physical fitness with cognitive development, relations between physical fitness and physical activity and executive functions in preschool-age children still remain unclear. Albeit one of the important directions for the study of executive functioning processes in preschool include creation of precision evidence-based strategies to enhance these skills.
Therefore, the aim of study was to investigate links between physical fitness and such domains of executive functions as inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility and working memory in preschool children. Results showed that inhibitory control and working memory (both visual and verbal) were positively linked with physical fitness.
On the other hand, cognitive flexibility was not associated with physical fitness. The greatest contribution to the differences made by such exercises as shuttle running and throwing, which have highest demanded for CNS in coordination of movement.
Aforementioned results indicate that motor activities with high coordination demands might effectively support the development of certain executive function in preschool children. In addition, the degree of physical fitness seems to be important physical and mental health marker in preschool children.