Arte do movimento e funções executivas na primeira infância: intervenção com educadores

Abstract

Executive functions are instrumental to a child's cognitive and social development and can be trained through specialized programs since early childhood when brain circuits are more likely to be modified in response to environmental stimuli. The quality of the early experiences plays a fundamental role throughout the entire life cycle, due to the possibilities of influencing the subsequent development of the brain and executive function skills. Dance or the art of movement that uses the human body as an instrument is presented in an unprecedented way in this study through an intervention carried out on a virtual platform with preschool educators to favor the performance of these professionals as mediators of the training program “Arte do Movimento na Educação Infantil” (AMEI). Based on scientific evidence and the researcher's experience in teaching this art, AMEI seeks to promote and facilitate the development of executive function skills in preschoolers, aiming at the healthy integral development of the child under cognitive, physical and socio-emotional aspects. It is an intervention research with a qualitative approach. Forty-three preschool educators from twenty-six public schools in a coastal municipality in the state of Espírito Santo have participated in this study. The participants answered two questionnaires, pre and post-intervention, respectively, on the Early Childhood Educator Profile and on the participants' satisfaction with the guidelines given in the intervention (Intervention Assessment Questionnaire). The results showed scientific knowledge growth, indicating the potential of the intervention to bring theory closer to educational practice. Based on the results, the study discussed how academic research can contribute to the dissemination of scientific knowledge, with repercussions for the full development of children in early childhood. In addition, it is suggested that the study paves the way for an action to favor the teaching-learning process through art, which can be adopted and replicated by other researchers and educators as a means of collaborating with the execution of SDG4, Agenda 2030: quality education. It is concluded that the art of movement, as it is a low-cost program, has wide applicability in preschool, through intervention with educators