This study aimed to verify the effect of playing in specific exercise programs on improvement of motor ability. Various play elements with emphasis on intrinsic motivation in preschool children were introduced, and free-flow play was compared with ladder challenge play, circuit challenge play. The subjects were 76 preschool children (40 boys and 36 girls) aged 4 and 5 years old. Among the above subject, 15 consisted of a group that played ladder challenge, 31 served as the group that played with circuit challenge and 30 formed the group with free-flow.
The playing activities by the ladder challenge group included seven kinds of tasks. Playing activities by the circuit challenge group performed six kinds of tasks. They performed fundamental ability tests (25 meter dash, standing long jump, tennis-ball throw, continuous bilateral hop, self body support using both hands, ball catch, jump over and crawl under, grip strength, forward bend).
Results were as follows.
1) In the case of 25-meter dash, the experimental the ladder challenge group & circuit challenge group set better records than free-flow play group.
2) In the case of standing broad jump, the ladder challenge play & circuit challenge group set better records than the free-flow play group. Boys set better records than girls.
3) In the case of jump over and crawl under, boys from circuit challenge play and ladder challenge play finish faster than those from free-flow play. On the other hand, girls from free-flow play and ladder challenge play finish faster than those from circuit challenge play.
4) In the same event, we can identify some significant distinction according to gender only within the experimental group of circuit challenge play. Girls finish faster than boys.
5) Some element of intrinsically motivated free-flow play enables children to experience multiple activities and, repetitive physical activities, without being bored.
It is proved here that the physical exercise programs, which incorporate intrinsically motivated free-flow play, enhance motor ability more than free-flow play, especially in activities that contain locomotive movement pattern and manipulative movement pattern.
