Open Access
Comparing the Acquisition of Fundamental Movement Skills in Half-Day Schooling and Extended School Program
Frane Žuvela
1
,
Paula Matijašević
2
,
Boris Maleš
3
,
Paula Matijašević
2
,
Boris Maleš
3
1
Faculty of Kinesiology
2
Faculty of Kinesiology
3
University of Split
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare the acquisition of fundamental movement skills (FMS) in children attending half-day schooling (HDS) and extended school programs (ESP). The sample comprised 73 children, of whom 34 were enrolled in HDS (14 boys, 20 girls) and 39 in ESP (22 boys, 17 girls). Motor performance was assessed across four FMS domains: space covering, surmounting obstacles, resistance overcoming, and object control. Independent samples t-tests were conducted separately for boys and girls. Boys in HDS outperformed their ESP counterparts in object control, resistance overcoming, surmounting obstacles, and space covering (all p < .05, with object control reaching p < .001). Girls in HDS similarly outperformed ESP peers in object control (p < .001 and p < .05). No significant advantages were observed for children in ESP across any domain. Overall, children attending HDS demonstrated more developed FMS profiles than their peers in ESP. These findings suggest that school day structure, particularly the availability of free time for unstructured physical activity, may be an important contextual factor in motor development during middle childhood.
Keywords
Physical Activity ,School Program , Skill Assessment ,Motor Development
How to Cite
Žuvela, F., Matijašević, P., & Maleš, B. (2026). Comparing the Acquisition of Fundamental Movement Skills in Half-Day Schooling and Extended School Program. International Journal of Active & Healthy Aging, 4(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.67015/ijaha.311
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