The Performance of Fundamental Gross Motor Skills by Children Enrolled in Head Start

Abstract

The purpose of study was to descriptively evaluate the performance of fundamental gross motor skills in children enrolled in Head Start. Participants of this study were 138 children (73 females and 65 males), ages five years old. Children's fundamental gross motor skills were assessed with the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD) (Ulrich, 1985). The levels of performance in children who were enrolled in Head Start were compared and contrasted with performance profiles of the TGMD and normative data for same‐aged children. The results of this study indicated that 41% of children in Head Start performed below average and 16% of children demonstrated substantial deficiency in overall fundamental gross motor skills. Multivariate statistics followed by univariate statistics indicated significant group differences on locomotor skills (F,,244 = 229.50, p<.01 with 02 = .49) and overall gross motor skill (F1,244 = 34.77, p<.01 with 02 = .13). Based on these results, the authors suggest that curriculum for Head Start programs should focus on the importance of developing fundamental gross motor skills.