Abstract
Motor skill competence enables children to move with efficiency and confidence in a variety of physically challenging situations. A child who lacks motor skill competence may be less inclined to take part in physical activities in which his or her peers excel. In this regard, the development of motor competence and children’s perception of their motor abilities may play an important role in ensuring sufficiently physically active adults. To better understand the role of motor competence in children’s participation in physical activity, this study examined children’s perception of their motor competence in comparison to others with their actual motor competence. Data were collected from 1031 children in grades 3, 4, 5, and 6 and between the ages of 8 to 12 years from elementary and junior schools. Using the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy (CAPL) protocols, physical competence and perceived physical competence were obtained from the Canadian Agility and Movement Skill Assessment and the CAPL questionnaire, respectively. Results from this study support previous research as children’s ability to accurately perceive their motor competence increased with age/grade. Still, over half of the participants in this study were not able to accurately perceive their motor competence. In addition, as grade increased from 3 to 6, children over-estimated their abilities less and underestimated their abilities more. This lack of ability to accurately estimate their abilities may be impacting children’s level of physical activity and should be addressed when promoting physical activity.
Highlights
Physical inactivity has become an increasing source of disease and premature death amongCanadians
Each participant’s self-reported or perceived motor competence score (i.e., 1–10 in response to “Compared to other kids your age, how good are you at sports or skills?”) was compared to his/her actual motor competence performance (i.e., Canadian Agility and Movement Skill Assessment (CAMSA) score) and the average CAMSA score calculated for all participants in their grade
As per the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy (CAPL) manual, participants’ individual CAMSA scores were not averaged as there is potential for a learning effect when completed fewer than three times
Summary
Physical inactivity has become an increasing source of disease and premature death amongCanadians. Children today continue to be insufficiently physically active with only eight percent of Canadian children, ages 8 to 12 years, meeting the recommended amount of daily physical activity [1]. Only 24% of children of ages 5 to 17 years meet the recommended sedentary time restrictions per day [1]. With these findings, it is important to identify why childhood physical activity levels are alarmingly low and why children participate in a high level of sedentary behaviours. A potential explanation for this low level of childhood physical activity may relate to motor skill competence [2], a component of physical literacy. Caput-Jogunica et al [5]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
