ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICAL HEALTH INDICATORS OF FIRST GRADERS IN TERMS OF THE NEW UKRAINIAN SCHOOL

Abstract

The systematic analysis of all health components, with a mandatory study of all functional body systems is a comprehensive assessment of first-graders’ adaptation capabilities to new living conditions caused by the start of schooling. It determines the relevance of formation and strengthening of individual health, constant monitoring of the physical health level of schoolchildren in terms of education. In our study, a comparative assessment of some indicators of physical health of first graders who started their education under the traditional system and in terms of the New Ukrainian School (NUS) has been carried out. 200 schoolchildren participated in the survey. They have been divided into two groups, depending on the conditions of study (100 people each), considering the gender aspect. Examination of the physical health of schoolchildren has been carried out in two stages: the first – during the traditional education system (control group of the participants), the second – in terms of study at the New Ukrainian School (experimental group). Generally accepted methods of anthropometry and determination of indices of physical health of first graders have been used. During the obtained data processing, methods of variational statistics with Student’s t-test have been used. It was found that the children of the New Ukrainian School have been characterized by higher weight and growth indicators and the index of physical development harmony. First graders of the traditional education system had an advantage in terms of vital index and hand grip strength index; decreased indicators of hand grip muscle strength have been noted in all participants, relative to age norms. The level of functional capabilities of the cardiovascular system of first graders according to indicators characterizing the degree of economization by the work of blood circulation corresponds to the average; no significant differences have been found between two groups. In terms of physical condition, girls have an advantage (high level) compared to boys (I group – above average, II group – average). It should be noted that in terms of study at the NUS, boys had lower indicators of physical condition, girls significantly lower. In general, the results of our study on the peculiarities of the physical health indicators of younger schoolchildren indicate both their heterochrony, depending on the conditions of study, and the presence of a significant share of children with a low level of physical development.