The Role of the Family in the Physical Education of Preschool Children

The paper outlines the findings of an empirical investigation on the role of physical culture and sport among preschool children that was conducted in the USSR in the years 1984-1985. Approx. 2,600 fathers and 2,700 mothers were presented with questionnaires containing questions on their own involvement in sports and physical culture activities as well as on the importance they place on the physical development of their children. Subsequently the influence of these factors on the physical education of the children was evaluated, taking the actual extent of physical activities ascertainable among the children, their state of health and the respective type of family into account.