Percepção dos responsáveis sobre as contribuições da prática da ginástica: um estudo de caso de um projeto de extensão universitária

Abstract

Regular physical activity is crucial for physical and mental health, offering proven benefits such as reduced mortality and the prevention of various diseases. However, sedentary behavior is increasing, affecting both adults and children and adolescents in Brazil. Recognizing bodily literacy as a crucial approach to encourage participation in physical activities and promote holistic development, the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Governador Valadares campus, implemented the extension project “Gymnastics Introduction: Health and Quality of Life for the Family.” This project offers gymnastics classes for children aged 4 to 12 years, aiming to promote physical, mental, and social well-being of the participants. The study aimed to understand the motivations for enrollment and the caregivers’ perception of the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social benefits provided by the project. The study involved 26 caregivers (20 mothers, 4 fathers, 1 grandmother, and 1 sister) of 30 students (28 girls and 2 boys), representing 48.4% of the total number of students in the project. The caregivers completed a medical history form with socioeconomic and demographic information and participated in individual, open, and semi-structured interviews. The analysis of the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the participants, as well as the data regarding their children, was carried out using descriptive statistical techniques, while the interviews were analyzed using Content Analysis methodology. The caregivers perceived broad and comprehensive benefits from practicing gymnastics. Physically, they observed improvements in both fundamental physical capacities and motor skills as well as specific gymnastics skills. Cognitively, they reported advancements in areas such as attention, concentration, and learning capacity; psychosocially, they observed improvements in the children’s self-esteem, self-confidence, sociability, and emotional control. It is concluded that the gymnastics introduction project not only achieved its initial objectives and met the caregivers’ expectations but also highlighted the importance of maintaining and enhancing sports initiation initiatives that respect children’s developmental stages, thereby promoting bodily literacy and consequently enhancing lifelong participation in physical activities.