A Support System for Gross Motor Assessment of Preschool Children

Abstract

The development of gross motor skills in young children is meaningful for further developmental functions, not only for physical and psychological benefits but also for social participation in individuals. Early assessment for the development of gross motor skills during the preschool years is particularly important to monitor changes in motor development, and identify developmental delays or deficits. For realizing effective intervention of gross motor development, we have developed an assessment support system called the Gross Motor Assessment (GMA) analyzer app that exploits computer-assisted video processing. A pilot study using the GMA analyzer app was conducted to assess the Test of Gross Motor Development Second Edition (TGMD-2) in Japanese preschool children. The developed GMA analyzer made it possible to shorten the time required for the assessment. With the GMA analyzer, we can easily search and view the video image and the evaluation result on the same screen. If multiple analyzers are prepared, any number of users can perform evaluations at the same time. Also, it is easy to check and correct the evaluation result later. As a result, the GMA analyzer contributed to expanding the possibility that preschool teachers and parents would support the children's motor development.