Physical activity in the comprehensive development of children in school stage: A systematic review

Abstract

Physical activity is a key element in the holistic development of school-aged children, with positive impacts on their physical, cognitive, emotional, and social well-being. However, factors such as the inappropriate use of technology, lack of adequate spaces, and students’ lack of motivation have been identified as contributors to sedentary lifestyles, which may negatively influence their overall development. The aim of this research work is to analyze the theoretical and methodological foundations of how physical activity contributes to the holistic development of school-aged children. The study employed the PRISMA protocol (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) and reviewed bibliographic sources from databases such as Dialnet, Scielo, Redalyc, Latindex, ScienceDirect, institutional repositories, and scientific journals. Academic search engines including Google Scholar and ERIC were also used, along with Boolean operators "AND" and "OR." Keywords such as physical activity, holistic development, children, and school age guided the information search. The review included studies published between 2019 and 2024, emphasizing the urgent need to implement educational programs. The results indicate that holistic development is essential for improving the quality of life of school-aged children and ensuring a healthier and more balanced future. This highlights the importance of integrating physical activity into school curricula to promote healthy habits from an early age.

Keywords: Physical activity, Holistic development, Children, School age.