Effect of Play-Based Fundamental Motor Skill Intervention on Sedentary Behavior, MVPA and Motor Development

Introduction: Fundamental motor skills (FMS) are essential for children’s motor development and physical activity (PA) engagement. Play-based interventions may enhance FMS proficiency while influencing activity behaviors, yet the mechanisms linking skill development to PA and sedentary behavior remain underexplored.Objective: This study examined the effects of a 12-week play-based FMS intervention on motor development, PA, and sedentary behavior in primary-school children.Methods: A total of 305 children (152 intervention, 153 control; mean age = 7.95 ± 1.2 years) participated. Motor development was assessed using the TGMD-3. MVPA and sedentary behavior were measured via accelerometry. Duration of the intervention was eight weeks. AMOS v28 was utilized for data analysis.Results: Post-intervention, the intervention group demonstrated significantly higher TGMD-3 scores (β = 0.46), increased MVPA (β = 0.39), and reduced sedentary behavior (β = -0.34) compared to controls. SEM indicated that MVPA and sedentary behavior partially mediated the effect of the intervention on motor development (β_indirect = 0.14 and 0.10, respectively). Model fit indices were excellent (CFI = 0.971, RMSEA = 0.048).Conclusion: A play-based FMS intervention effectively enhances motor development by improving MVPA and reducing sedentary behavior. Integrating enjoyable, skill-focused, and activity-promoting programs in schools may foster both immediate and long-term motor competence in children. The current research offers valuable insights for educators, coaches, and policymakers.