The current study examines the impact of digital platform use on preschoolers' physical health and explores gender and grade differences in its effects. A single-group pre-post quasi-experimental design was used, involving 343 children (170 boys, 173 girls; mean age 4.82±0.89 years). Physical health pre-tests were first conducted. Then, structured interventions (collective teaching, special activities, daily infiltration, home-school collaboration) were delivered twice weekly for 270 days via an intelligent physical fitness test platform, followed by post-tests. Paired sample t-tests and repeated measures ANOVA were analyzed. Results were that digital platform use significantly enhanced overall physical health (total score: t =18.74, p < 0.001; pass rate rose from 89.5% to 95.2%, excellent rate from 45.6% to 63.8%). Specifically, boys showed greater improvement in strength indicators than girls; children in large classes made better progress in most indicators than those in small and middle classes. Cross-age comparisons confirmed the intervention's effect exceeded natural growth. These findings suggest that digital platform use increases preschoolers' physical health, but classified guidance is needed to address gender and educational stage differences. This study provides empirical evidence for global early childhood health promotion and suggests strengthening interventions for boys and younger children.
Shurui et al. (Thu,) studied this question.