Comparative analysis of physical fitness of 8-10 year-old schoolchildren from Krasnodar (Russia), Changsha (PRC) and children of the children’s social shelter Xianya (PRC)

Relevance. At present, the analysis of the conducted studies devoted to the physical fitness of children aged 8-10 years demonstrates significant shortcomings in the development of basic physical qualities. This is also due to a certain extent to the lack of individualization in the pedagogical process of physical education of children aged 8-10 years, which reduces its effectiveness and does not create the necessary conditions for organizing the motivational-value and activity links of physical education improvement in younger students. This is especially important for children left without parental care, who often have functional disorders of various body systems. In these conditions, the most important task is to implement corrective physical education for orphans. Research objective. To determine the physical fitness of primary school children studying in comprehensive schools in Krasnodar (RF) and Changsha (PRC), as well as in the children’s social shelter in Changsha (PRC). Research methods. Analysis and generalization of scientific and methodological literature, pedagogical testing (reproduction of the position of the upper limbs, 30 m run, lifting the body, wrist dynamometry, forward bend), methods of mathematical and statistical analysis. Research results. The average values of physical fitness indicators of children aged 8–10 at the beginning of the school year in general education institutions of Krasnodar (RF) and Changsha (PRC) correspond to the model values of development of physical qualities of 92 pupils (left without parental care from the Xianya children’s social shelter in Changsha, PRC) demonstrate a number of indicators characterizing physical fitness, which already at the beginning of the school year lag behind the required values. Thus, boys and girls from the orphanage are inferior to their peers from general education schools in the exercises: “Reproducing an angle of 45 ° when bending at the elbow joints” (t = 3.13; p < 0.05), “Running 30 meters” (t = 2.83; p < 0.05), “Wrist dynamometry of the right hand” (t = 3.77; p < 0.05). Conclusion. The obtained scientific data make it possible to assert the mediocre effectiveness of the physical education process for children aged 8–10 in children’s social shelters compared to comprehensive schools, as well as the inevitability of developing appropriate pedagogical methods taking into account the indicators of physical fitness of pupils.