Variables y correlatos que influyen en el éxito para la competencia acuática de niños en edad preescolar: estudio cuasi experimental

Introduction:The aim of this study is to analyze the sociodemographic, epigenetic and execu-tive functioning variables that could condition the acquisition of basic aquatic skills such as buoyancy and propulsion in preschool children. Method: A total of 26 preschool children (12 girls) aged between 2 and 4 years participated in a 6-month aquatic familiarization program for children. An ad-hoc questionnaire was used to record the sociodemographic variables and the BRIEF-P questionnaire was used to assess ex-ecutive functions. Results: 69.2% of children acquired the two targeted aquatic skills, with no significant differ-ences between sexes. The approximate learning time to achieve these skills was approximately 5 months. The correlation analysis reveals significant correlations between autonomous move-ment in water and age at onset of walking (r= -0.443, p=0.024), with cognitive flexibility (r=-0.484, p=0.012), with emotional control (r=-0.511, p=0.008) with working memory (r=-0.388, p=0.050) and planning (r=-0.393, p=0.047). Conclusions: variables such as early onset of walking, emotional control and cognitive flexibility are the main variables associated with the acquisition of basic aquatic motor skills.