Language Development: The Effect of Aquatic and On-Land Motor Interventions

Ronit Ram-Tsur,Zemira Mevarech,Michal Zion,Tal Dotan Ben-Soussan,Michal Nissim

doi:10.4236/ce.2013.49b009

Abstract

The aim of the current preliminary research was to examine the relationship between aquatic motor activities and language abilities. Our hypothesis suggests that changing the environment to water may improve motor and linguistic abilities. The study included 94 children between the ages of four and six. Thirty-one children who participated in aquatic motor activities were compared to 41 children who participated in on-land motor activities and to 21 children who participated in non-motor activities. Developmental-functionality tests, including gross and fine motor, time estimation and language tests, were used to diagnose participants’ abilities before and after six months of intervention. We found significant improvement in gross motor, fine motor and time estimation abilities for the aquatic motor activities group. Moreover, improvement in gross motor and time estimation abilities moderated the association between aquatic motor activities and children’s naming ability, suggesting the positive effect of aquatic motor activities on language abilities. Based on these novel findings, child-development professionals can have a better understanding of relation between language abilities and motor abilities, possibly leading to an improvement of intervention methods with early-childhood patients. Early childhood intervention could aid in reducing primary differences between children in motor abilities, and especially in motor-development disorders, which in turn are thought to lead to additional learning disabilities.

Highlights

Over the years, many studies have shown that physical activity has mental, cognitive and physical benefits (Cragg & Cameron, 2006; Ben-Soussan, Glicksohn, Goldstein, BerkovichOhana, & Donchin, 2013; Warburton, Nicol, & Bredin, 2006)
We examined whether the change in the fine motor abilities and time estimation ability mediated the effect of study groups (AMA, On Land Motor Activities (OLMA), and Non Motor Activities (NMA)) on gross motor abilities
We examined whether study group (X; the predictor) predicts the change in the fine motor abilities and time estimation ability (M; the mediators)

Summary

Introduction

Many studies have shown that physical activity has mental, cognitive and physical benefits (Cragg & Cameron, 2006; Ben-Soussan, Glicksohn, Goldstein, BerkovichOhana, & Donchin, 2013; Warburton, Nicol, & Bredin, 2006). Throughout history, water has been used for many purposes, including physical therapy, sport, and physical hygiene. These activities have been made possible by the advantages of water’s special qualities (Becker & Cole, 1997; Becker, 2009; Campion, 1997). Because of the unique qualities of water, a child can be exposed to new skills such as diving and floating, which cannot be performed on land. AMA provides multisensory stimulation combining three sensory systems: vestibular, proprioception and tactile. This multisensory stimulation may improve balance and coordination (Ahrendt, 1999; Devereux, Robertson, & Briffa, 2005). AMA exposes the child to sensorimotor stimuli, including floating boards and sinking objects, which can be used only in an aquatic environment

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