‘Motor Magic’: Evaluation of a community capacity‐building approach to supporting the development of preschool children (Part 2)

Abstract

Background and Aims: This paper is the second in a series of two that presents and discusses an exploratory evaluation study of the ‘Motor Magic’ program conducted in Adelaide, South Australia. Methods: A realist evaluation approach was used, and two focus groups (one with parents and one with kindergarten staff) were held to identify program outcomes and to develop and refine key hypotheses about how these outcomes occurred. Results and Conclusions: Results for kindergarten staff involved in the program are presented and discussed in this paper, including improved early identification and early intervention for children with, or at risk of, fine motor developmental difficulties; increased confidence in the effectiveness of their practice with these children; improved practice of kindergarten staff with both targeted and all children; improved empathy with, and support for, parents; and increased interagency links and ongoing advocacy for further resources. These results suggest that the program provides an effective model for building the capacity of kindergarten staff to support children with, or at risk of, developmental difficulties.