SKIPing to motor competence: the influence of project successful kinesthetic instruction for preschoolers on motor competence of disadvantaged preschoolers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences on motor competence between boys and girls aged 4 years old and investigate the existence of Relative Age Effect on their motor competence. In total, 132 preschool children were evaluated, of whom 60 (45.50%) were girls and 72 (54.5%) were boys. The distribution of the participants was from quarter 1 [n = 28 (21.2%)], quarter 2 [n = 52 (39.4%)], quarter 3 [n = 24 (18.2%)], and quarter 4 [(n = 28 (21.2%)], respectively. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) was used to collect the data. The data show the main effects on quarter of birth factor in manual dexterity (MD; p < 0.001), in aiming and catching (A&C; p < 0.001), in balance (Bal; p < 0.001) and in total test score (TTS; p < 0.001). There are also statistical differences on gender factor in MD (p < 0.001) and in TTS (p = 0.031). A significant effect was also found in the interaction between two factors (gender and quarter of birth) in MD (p < 0.001), A&C (p < 0.001), and Bal (p < 0.001). There are differences in all the variables studied according to the quarter of birth and only in manual dexterity and in the total score if compared according to gender (the scores are higher in girls).

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Evaluating the Factor Structure and Criterion Validity of the Canadian Little DCDQ: Associations Between Motor Competence, Executive Functions, Early Numeracy Skills, and ADHD in Early Childhood

Assessment ◽

10.1177/10731911211003967 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 107319112110039

Author(s):

Kesha N. Hudson ◽

Michael T. Willoughby

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Developmental Coordination Disorder ◽

The United States ◽

Parent Report ◽

Criterion Validity ◽

Early Numeracy ◽

Motor Competence ◽

Numeracy Skills ◽

Coordination Disorder

The Canadian Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (Little DCDQ-CA) is a parent-report screening instrument that identifies 3- to 4-year-old children who may be at risk for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). We tested the factor structure and criterion validity of the Little DCDQ-CA in a sample of preschool-aged children in the United States ( N = 233). Factor analysis indicated that the DCDQ-CA was best represented by one factor. Using cutoff scores that were proposed by the developer, 45% of the sample was identified as at-risk for DCD. Although a much larger percentage of children was identified as at-risk than would be expected based on the prevalence of formal DCD diagnoses in the population, the Little DCDQ-CA demonstrated good criterion validity. Specifically, compared with their peers, children who exceeded the at-risk criterion demonstrated worse motor competence, executive functioning skills, and early numeracy skills and were rated as having greater ADHD behaviors by their teachers, all consistent with expectations for children who are at risk for DCD. Results are discussed as they relate to future use of the Little DCDQ-CA.

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Gender Differences on Motor Competence in 5-Year-Old Preschool Children Regarding Relative Age

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18063143 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 3143

Author(s):

Rubén Navarro-Patón ◽

Joaquín Lago-Ballesteros ◽

Víctor Arufe-Giráldez ◽

Alberto Sanmiguel-Rodríguez ◽

Carlos Lago-Fuentes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Preschool Children ◽

Motor Competence ◽

First Semester ◽

Relative Age ◽

Percentile Score ◽

Relative Age Effect ◽

Main Effect ◽

Movement Assessment ◽

Gender Factor ◽

Total Test

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences on motor competence between 5-year-old boys and girls and to investigate the existence of Relative Age Effect (RAE) on their motor competence. A total of 232 preschool children were evaluated of whom 134 (57.8%) were boys and 98 (42.2%) were girls. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) was used to collect data. The data show a main effect on gender factor; there was a main effect in total score of manual dexterity (MD; p = 0.010), in total score of balance (Bal; p < 0.001), in total test score (TTS; p < 0.001), and in total percentile score (TPS, p < 0.001). In the semester of birth factor, there were differences in aiming and catching (A&C, p < 0.001), in Bal (p = 0.029) and in total percentile score (TPS, p = 0.010). Girls perform better in MD, Bal, TTS, and TPS than boys. Preschool children born in the first semester obtain, in general, a higher percentage and a higher percentile than their peers born in the second one. RAE is present in A&C, Bal, and TPS, with higher scores obtained by preschool children born in the first semester compared to those born in the second one.

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Exploring associations between neuromuscular performance, hypermobility, and children’s motor competence

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport ◽

10.1016/j.jsams.2020.06.007 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (11) ◽

pp. 1080-1085

Author(s):

Kemi E. Wright ◽

Bonnie J. Furzer ◽

Melissa K. Licari ◽

James A. Dimmock ◽

Ben Jackson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Motor Competence ◽

Neuromuscular Performance

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Relative Age Effect on Motor Competence in Children Aged 4–5 Years

Children ◽

10.3390/children8020115 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 115

Author(s):

Rubén Navarro-Patón ◽

Marcos Mecías-Calvo ◽

José Eugenio Rodríguez Fernández ◽

Víctor Arufe-Giráldez

Keyword(s):

Preschool Children ◽

Test Score ◽

Age Effect ◽

Manual Dexterity ◽

Motor Competence ◽

Relative Age ◽

Relative Age Effect ◽

Movement Assessment ◽

Total Test ◽

Total Test Score

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a Relative Age Effect (RAE) exists in motor competence of preschool children. The hypothesis was that motor competence, assessed by the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2), would be higher in preschool children born in the first quarter of the year compared to those who were born in the last quarter of the same year. A total of 360 preschool children were evaluated of whom 208 (57.8%) were boys and 152 (42.8%) were girls, with a mean age of 4.52 years old (± 0.50). The distribution of the participants was 172 children aged 4 years old and 188 aged 5 years old. The data showed a main effect on the age factor in the total score of aiming and catching (p < 0.001) and in the total test score (p < 0.001), in the quarter of birth factor in all the dimensions studied (i.e., total score of manual dexterity (p < 0.001); total score of aiming and catching (p = 0.001); total score of balance (p < 0.001); total test score (p < 0.001)) and in the interaction between both factors (i.e., total score of manual dexterity (p = 0.005); total score of aiming and catching (p = 0.002); total score of balance (p < 0.001); total test score (p < 0.001)). Age and quarter of birth produce a RAE in 4 and 5-year-old preschool children’s motor competence.

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A hitchhiker’s guide to assessing young people’s motor competence: Deciding what method to use

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport ◽

10.1016/j.jsams.2018.08.007 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 311-318 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Farid Bardid ◽

Giuseppe Vannozzi ◽

Samuel W. Logan ◽

Louise L. Hardy ◽

Lisa M. Barnett

Keyword(s):

Motor Competence

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La competencia motriz en estudiantes chilenos de 3° y 4° de educación básica. Aprendizajes esperados versus realidad (Motor competence in Chilean students in 3rd and 4th grade of primary school. Expected learning versus reality)

Retos ◽

10.47197/retos.v44i0.91095 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 515-524

Author(s):

Daniel Rodríguez-Briceño ◽

Felipe Castro-Vilugron ◽

Mauricio Díaz-Alvarado ◽

Jaime Carcamo Oyarzun

Keyword(s):

Motor Performance ◽

Fourth Grade ◽

Learning Objectives ◽

Motor Competence ◽

Object Control ◽

Third Grade Students ◽

Fourth Grade Students ◽

Low Levels ◽

And Gender ◽

Better Than

Este estudio busca determinar los niveles de competencia motriz de estudiantes chilenos y las posibles diferencias en función del grado y del sexo. Participaron 377 estudiantes (37.7% niñas) de tercer y cuarto básico. La competencia motriz fue evaluada a través del test MOBAK 3-4. Se encontraron bajos niveles de competencia motriz. Los estudiantes de cuarto grado presentan un mejor desempeño motriz que los de tercero. Los niños presentan un mayor desempeño que las niñas en control de objetos, mientras que las niñas obtienen puntajes más altos que los niños en control del cuerpo, aunque con un tamaño del efecto irrelevante. Al contrastar estos resultados con los objetivos del currículum, muchos estudiantes no alcanzan los aprendizajes esperados, siendo necesario poner mayor énfasis en el fomento de la competencia motriz. Abstract. This study aims to determine the levels of motor competence of Chilean students and possible differences according to grade and gender. 377 students (37.7% girls) of the third and fourth grade participated in the study. Motor competence was evaluated through the MOBAK 3-4 test. Low levels of motor competence were found. Fourth grade students showed a better motor performance than third grade students. Boys performed better than girls in object control, while girls scored higher than boys in self-movement, although with an irrelevant effect size. When these results are contrasted with the learning objectives stipulated in the curriculum, many students do not achieve the expected skills, what makes it necessary to place greater emphasis on the promotion of motor competence.

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