School-family cognitive discrepancies in the cultivation of children's interest in sports: an exploratory study based on grounded theory.

Objective: Physical activity is essential for children's health, yet insufficient physical activity remains a global concern. Although interest in sports can enhance participation, cognitive discrepancies between School-Family in fostering that interest weaken its effectiveness, which is a significant issue. This study explores the manifestations and impacts of School-Family cognitive discrepancies in this process, aiming to identify intervention points for promoting children's interest in sports, increasing physical activity, and preventing childhood overweight and obesity through School-Family collaboration. Methods: One-on-one interviews were conducted with 12 physical education teachers and 12 parents. A theoretical model of School-Family cognitive discrepancies in the cultivation of children's sports interests was constructed based on grounded theory. Results: Five types of School-Family cognitive divergences are identified in the process of cultivating children's interest in sports. Among these, Cognitive Biases in the Concept of Sports Education constitute the root cause, leading to Varying Strategies for Cultivating Children's Interest in Sports, Inconsistent Perceptions of Physical Education Teaching Management, and Cognitive Differences in the Effectiveness of Sports Education. Cognitive Conflicts Regarding the Primary Responsibility for Sports Education functioned as an exacerbating factor that further intensified the disagreements regarding cultivation strategies, teaching management, and effectiveness evaluation. Conclusion: These studies preliminarily indicate that cognitive discrepancies can weaken the synergistic effects between schools and families in sports education practices, thereby reducing the effectiveness of fostering children's interest in sports. This, in turn, leads to decreased physical activity among children and exacerbates childhood obesity and overweight. Interventions targeting key nodes within the model may provide a new evidence-based fulcrum for the prevention of overweight and obesity.