Abstract
This longitudinal study examines the associations between foundational movement skills (FMS) competency, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and weight status among children (n = 75) attending preschools in deprived areas from early to late childhood. Twelve FMS were assessed using the Children’s Activity and Movement in Preschool Motor Skills Protocol and video analysis. Physical activity was measured via hip-mounted accelerometry. Data was collected over a five-year period, with Baseline Follow Up data collected between 2010 and 2015. There was an overall pattern of increase for total, object-control and locomotor scores between Baseline and Follow-Up. Conversely, there was an overall pattern of decline for MVPA among participants. There was a positive significant (p < 0.05) association between total and locomotor scores and MVPA at Baseline. However, these associations weakened over time and no significant associations were found at Follow-Up. Baseline competency failed to predict Follow-Up MVPA or weight status. Likewise, Baseline MVPA was not found to be a predictor of Follow-Up FMS competency. Further longitudinal research is required to explore these associations among children from highly deprived areas. Future interventions may require a more holistic approach to improving FMS competency and increasing PA in order to account for the number of variables that can affect these outcomes.
Highlights
Introduction published maps and institutional affilEarly childhood is an important period for children to develop foundational movement skills (FMS) [1,2,3]
To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study to examine the relationship between FMS competency, physical activity (PA) and weight status among English children living in areas of high deprivation throughout the period of early to late childhood
The use of accelerometers to obtain PA data means that water-based or non-ambulatory activities cannot be recorded and so moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) may have been underestimated. This is the first longitudinal study to examine the associations between FMS competency, PA and weight status among English children
Summary
Childhood is an important period for children to develop foundational movement skills (FMS) [1,2,3]. FMS is a recent new term that incorporates the established concept of fundamental movement skills, namely; stability (e.g., standing, balancing), locomotor (e.g., running, jumping), and object control (e.g., striking, catching, throwing) skills, alongside skills that can support lifelong engagement in physical activity (PA) (e.g., cycling, swimming) [1]. As such, developing competency in these skills during early childhood is important as FMS provide a base for successful participation in physical activity (PA). FMS competency during early childhood, previous research has found low levels of FMS competency among preschool aged children [7,8].
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