What is it about?
This study examined the impact of the Super Quinas programme, a structured movement intervention delivered in Portuguese primary schools. The programme was designed for children aged 6 to 10 years and added one extra hour of guided physical activity per week to the school routine. Sessions were led by physical education professionals and focused on developing a broad range of motor skills, including balance, body control, object control and movement coordination. Children were assessed before and after the 12-week programme using the Motor Competence Assessment, a tool that evaluates different dimensions of children’s motor competence. The study compared children who took part in the Super Quinas programme with children who continued their usual school routine. The results showed that children who participated in the programme improved more than those in the control group, particularly in stability, manipulative skills and overall motor competence.
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Why is it important?
Motor competence is a key foundation for children’s physical activity, health and development. Children who move with greater confidence and control are more likely to participate in games, sports and active play, which can support healthier lifestyles across childhood and beyond. This study is important because it shows that meaningful improvements can be achieved within the school context with a relatively small change: one additional hour of structured movement per week. This makes the programme realistic and scalable for schools, communities and public health initiatives. The findings also reinforce the idea that movement development should be intentionally promoted during childhood. Simply giving children more time to be active may not be enough; the quality, structure and educational purpose of the activities also matter.
Perspectives
For schools, this study provides evidence that structured movement programmes can be integrated into the school schedule and contribute positively to children’s motor development. For teachers and physical education professionals, the findings highlight the value of planned, varied and age-appropriate activities that target different components of motor competence. For policymakers, the Super Quinas programme offers an example of how education, sport and public health sectors can work together to promote healthier and more active children. For families, the main message is that children benefit from regular opportunities to practise diverse movement skills in a supportive and enjoyable environment. For researchers, this work supports further studies on large-scale school-based interventions, especially those that examine long-term effects on physical activity, health, sport participation and motor development.
Professor Marco Branco
Sport Science School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic Institute of Santarém
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Improving Motor Competence of Children: The “Super Quinas” Intervention Program in Portuguese Primary Schools, Journal of Physical Activity and Health, April 2025, Human Kinetics,
DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2024-0484.
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