Playful games in teaching freestyle in children from 5 to 10 years old from Club Acuatic's Pelileo

Abstract

Introduction: The problem addressed in this research focuses on the difficulties faced by traditional methods of teaching swimming, which tend to be repetitive and can generate demotivation and anxiety in children. Objectives: To determine the implications of playful games in the learning of the technical fundamentals of freestyle in children from 5 to 10 years of age from the Acuatic's Pelileo Club. The specific objectives were: (a) to diagnose the types of recreational games that exist for the teaching of swimming, (b) to analyze the motor development of children through submersion, breathing, jumping, floating and locomotion tests, (c) to evaluate the technical advances before and after the implementation of the recreational activities. Methodology: This study analyzes the impact of playful games on the learning of freestyle techniques in swimming in children aged 5 to 10 years. Using a quasi-experimental quantitative approach, children's motor advances in submersion, breathing, jumping, floating, and locomotion were assessed. The results show significant improvements in post-test tests, suggesting that playful games are an effective tool to improve learning for swimming. Results: This study analyzes the impact of the implementation of recreational activities on the learning of swimming freestyle techniques. Using a quasi-experimental design with a quantitative approach, motor improvements in 20 children were evaluated, measuring skills such as submersion, breathing, jumping, floating, and locomotion through pre-test and post-test tests. The main findings of the study reveal significant improvements in all the areas evaluated. In the immersion test, the percentage of children who reached a level of "Very Good" increased from 8% in the pre-test to 18% in the post-test. Notable improvements were also recorded in breathing and jumping, with increases of 7% and 5%, respectively. The areas of flotation and locomotion, which are crucial for freestyle mastery, showed significant advances, with locomotion being the most prominent, with an increase from 3% to 19% in the "Very Good" category after the playful intervention. Conclusions: The analysis of the results supports the hypothesis that playing games are an effective pedagogical tool for teaching swimming, especially in the development of complex motor skills. In addition to improving technical performance, this approach promotes a more relaxed and motivating learning environment, reducing children's fear and anxiety in front of water. This playful approach not only transforms the learning experience but could also be adopted as a standard practice in children's sports education to promote a comprehensive development of children, both technically and emotionally. In conclusion, this study recommends the integration of recreational activities into swimming teaching programs, particularly in the initial stages of learning. General area of study: Pedagogy. Specific area of study: Physical Activity and Sport. Item type: Original.