The Influence of Traditional Songs and Dances on Children’s Motor Development

In this paper, the authors present their research conducted with the aim of exploring the effects of programmed physical exercise – traditional song and dances on basic motor development of preschool children. The authors conducted a small research with a suitable sample of 43 preschool children (chronological age 6) divided into two groups – experimental and control. After the initial testing, programmed physical exercises were started in the experimental group and were conducted over a period of nine weeks, twice a week, 35-40 minutes per class, from the beginning of May 2016 till the end of July 2016. Programmed physical exercise contained the following tradicitional song and dances: „Kolariću, paniću“, „Ringe, ringe, raja“, „U šumicizekaspi“, „I okolo se lata“, „Ide majkakolom, dvorom“, „Berem, beremgrožđe“, „Prolazite, prolazite“, „Lasteprolaste“. The program was designed in accordance with the age characteristics of children, the specificities of the group and the technical equipment available in the kindergarten. The program of practicing traditional children’s dances was conducted through three main parts of class activities (introductory-preparatory, main and final part). The results achieved on final testing of children’s motor abilities showed that the effects of practicing traditional children’s song and dances had a positive effect on and contributed to the progress of motor development of children in the experimental group. In addition, the results obtained lead to the conclusion that the very nature of Serbian traditional children’s song and dances, i.e. the agility and body movements they are based on, guarantees that application of traditional dances in kindergarten, with preschool children, will have a positive effect on children’s motor development