Enhancing young children's executive function through physical activities: A three-level meta-analysis

The cultivation of executive functions during early childhood establishes the fundamental underpinning for advanced cognitive development in adulthood. Presently, there remains a degree of controversy surrounding the empirical findings pertaining to the impact of physical activity on the executive functions of young children. This study aimed at elucidating the potential moderating factors influencing the relationship between physical activity and the executive functions of young children. In this study, we have conducted a meta-analysis encompassing twenty-four experimental studies with a total of 1426 participants. The meta-analysis was conducted using Stata version 17.0 and R version 4.3.2 software, with Hedges'g serving as the chosen effect size metric. The outcomes of our investigation underscore the salient point that physical activity possesses the capacity to enhance the executive functions of young children. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the developmental impact of physical activity on the executive functions of young children is notably contingent upon the duration of the intervention. The implementation of game-based pedagogical approaches within the realm of sports activities emerges as a particularly potent means to foster the development of executive functions in young children. This meta-analysis serves to proffer quantitative evidence affirming the positive influence of physical activities on the executive functions of young children during their early developmental years. It carries substantial implications for practical application. •To verify the controversy on the impact of physical activity on the executive function of young children.•Physical activity exerts a constructive impact on executive function in young children varying with moderating variables.•Physical activity exceeding 12 weeks yields the most pronounced improvements in young children's executive function.•Game-based teaching method for physical education significantly enhances young children's executive function.