Motor Skills In Young Children Research Articles

Effect of a governmentally-led physical activity program on motor skills in young children attending child care centers: a cluster randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo assess the effect of a governmentally-led center based child care physical activity program (Youp’là Bouge) on child motor skills.Patients and methodsWe conducted a single blinded cluster randomized controlled trial in 58 Swiss child care centers. Centers were randomly selected and 1:1 assigned to a control or intervention group. The intervention lasted from September 2009 to June 2010 and included training of the educators, adaptation of the child care built environment, parental involvement and daily physical activity. Motor skill was the primary outcome and body mass index (BMI), physical activity and quality of life secondary outcomes. The intervention implementation was also assessed.ResultsAt baseline, 648 children present on the motor test day were included (age 3.3 ± 0.6, BMI 16.3 ± 1.3 kg/m2, 13.2% overweight, 49% girls) and 313 received the intervention. Relative to children in the control group (n = 201), children in the intervention group (n = 187) showed no significant increase in motor skills (delta of mean change (95% confidence interval: -0.2 (−0.8 to 0.3), p = 0.43) or in any of the secondary outcomes. Not all child care centers implemented all the intervention components. Within the intervention group, several predictors were positively associated with trial outcomes: 1) free-access to a movement space and parental information session for motor skills 2) highly motivated and trained educators for BMI 3) free-access to a movement space and purchase of mobile equipment for physical activity (all p < 0.05).ConclusionThis “real-life” physical activity program in child care centers confirms the complexity of implementing an intervention outside a study setting and identified potentially relevant predictors that could improve future programs.Trial registrationClinical trials.gov NCT00967460

Gross motor skills of children with autism

The purpose of this study was to measure the gross motor skills of children with autism, aged 3-5 years, and to compare their performances with the norms for the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2). Five participants, three girls and two boys, comprised the sample. The results revealed that differences exist in the gross motor skills of children with autism and without autism. Consistent with trends from the general population, differences were found between boys (n _ 2) and girls (n _ 3) with the largest differences found in the Gross Motor Development Quotient (GMDQ). Overall fundamental skill delays were demonstrated by four of the participants, placing them in the below average TGMD-2 performance category. The findings from this study support the need for therapeutic recreation specialists to provide appropriate recreational programs to improve the gross motor skills of young children with autism.

Qigong Massage for Motor Skills in Young Children With Cerebral Palsy and Down Syndrome

In this article, we present a small randomized controlled study evaluating the effect of a dual parent- and trainer-delivered qigong massage methodology on motor skills and sensory responses in 28 children under age 4 with developmental delay and motor tone abnormalities. Fourteen children had high motor tone as a result of cerebral palsy (CP), and 14 children had low motor tone as a result of Down syndrome. Multivariate analysis and post hoc analysis of variance showed large effect-size improvements in Peabody Gross Motor Scale (PGMS) Object Manipulation scores (p < .01) and large effect-size improvements in overall PGMS scores (p < .04) in treatment versus control groups after 5 mo intervention. Follow-up evaluation 10 mo from the start indicated continued improvement. Sensory responses showed no treatment effect. The results suggest further investigation of qigong massage as a promising avenue for research to improve motor skills in young children with CP and Down syndrome.

Obesity and motor skills among 4 to 6-year-old children in the united states: nationally-representative surveys

BackgroundFew population-based studies have assessed relationships between body weight and motor skills in young children. Our objective was to estimate the association between obesity and motor skills at 4 years and 5-6 years of age in the United States. We used repeated cross-sectional assessments of the national sample from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) of preschool 4-year-old children (2005-2006; n = 5 100) and 5-6-year-old kindergarteners (2006-2007; n = 4 700). Height, weight, and fine and gross motor skills were assessed objectively via direct standardized procedures. We used categorical and continuous measures of body weight status, including obesity (Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 95th percentile) and BMI z-scores. Multivariate logistic and linear models estimated the association between obesity and gross and fine motor skills in very young children adjusting for individual, social, and economic characteristics and parental involvement.ResultsThe prevalence of obesity was about 15%. The relationship between motor skills and obesity varied across types of skills. For hopping, obese boys and girls had significantly lower scores, 20% lower in obese preschoolers and 10% lower in obese kindergarteners than normal weight counterparts, p < 0.01. Obese girls could jump 1.6-1.7 inches shorter than normal weight peers (p < 0.01). Other gross motor skills and fine motor skills of young children were not consistently related to BMI z-scores and obesity.ConclusionsBased on objective assessment of children's motor skills and body weight and a full adjustment for confounding covariates, we find no reduction in overall coordination and fine motor skills in obese young children. Motor skills are adversely associated with childhood obesity only for skills most directly related to body weight.

Single-Subject Design Study of 2 Types of Supramalleolar Orthoses for Young Children With Down Syndrome

This study examined the effects of 2 types of supramalleolar orthoses on gross motor skills of young children with Down syndrome. Two children participated in this prospective single-subject, alternating treatment design with 3 conditions: baseline phase with shoes but without orthoses (A), first intervention phase (B1), and second intervention phase (B2). The Gross Motor Function Measure was used to collect data on motor skills. The 2-standard deviation band method was used for data analysis. Both children demonstrated improvement, using the SureStep compared to shoes only, and 1 child also improved with the DAFO #4. Both families chose to continue using the SureStep at the conclusion of the study. Orthoses for young children with Down syndrome continue to be the standard of care; however, research has yet to confirm the most effective type of orthosis or when developmentally to introduce orthoses.

Socio-cultural determinants of adiposity and physical activity in preschool children: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundBoth individual socio-cultural determinants such as selected parental characteristics (migrant background, low educational level and workload) as well as the regional environment are related to childhood overweight and physical activity (PA). The purpose of the study was to compare the impact of distinct socio-cultural determinants such as the regional environment and selected parental characteristics on adiposity, PA and motor skills in preschool children.MethodsForty preschools (N = 542 children) of two culturally different urban regions (German and French speaking part of Switzerland) participated in the study (Ballabeina Study). Outcome measures included adiposity (BMI and skinfold thickness), objectively measured sedentary activities and PA (accelerometers) and agility performance (obstacle course). Parental characteristics (migrant status, educational level and workload) were assessed by questionnaire.ResultsChildren from the French speaking areas had higher adiposity, lower levels of total and of more intense PA, were more sedentary and less agile than children from the German speaking regions (percent differences for all outcome parameters except for BMI ≥10%; all p ≤ 0.04). Differences in skinfold thickness, sedentary activities and agility, but not in PA, were also found between children of Swiss and migrant parents, though they were ≤8% (p ≤ 0.02). While paternal workload had no effect, maternal workload and parental education resulted in differences in some PA measures and/or agility performance (percent differences in both: ≤9%, p ≤ 0.008), but not in adiposity or sedentary activities (p = NS). Regional differences in skinfold thickness, PA, sedentary activities and agility performance persisted after adjustment for parental socio-cultural characteristics, parental BMI and, where applicable, children's skinfolds (all p ≤ 0.01).ConclusionsThe regional environment, especially the broader social environment, plays a prominent role in determining adiposity, PA and motor skills of young children and should be implicated in the prevention of obesity and promotion of PA in children.Trial Registrationclinicaltrials.gov NCT00674544

Improving fine motor skills in young children: an intervention study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Primary Movement programme on the fine motor skills of children in an early years setting in an area of high social disadvantage. Primary Movement is a programme which can be used as an early intervention technique to help children inhibit persistent primary reflexes that have been shown to adversely affect motor and cognitive development. Previous research has found that the programme can have significant effects in increasing the motor and academic attainments of children, aged 8–11 years. A repeated measures design was used to evaluate the impact of the Primary Movement intervention, in comparison to a control intervention, on the fine motor skills of 65 Reception children, aged four to five years. The results from this study provide evidence that the Primary Movement programme had a significant effect on improving the fine motor skills of the children. This research provides further evidence to support the use of the programme within the Early Years curriculum.

Visual versus kinesthetic mental imagery: Efficacy for the retention and transfer of a closed motor skill in young children.

The main purposes of this study were (a) to compare the effects of mental imagery combined with physical practise and specific physical practise on the retention and transfer of a closed motor skill in young children; (b) to determine the mental imagery (visual vs. kinesthetic), which is the most efficient for retention and transfer of a closed motor skill; and (c) to verify the relationship between movement image vividness and motor performance. As for the secondary purpose, it was to compare the effects of gender on motor learning. Participants (n = 96) were selected from 3 primary schools. These participants were divided into 6 groups and submitted to different experimental conditions. The experimental task required the participants to throw, with the nondominant hand (left hand), a ball toward a target composed of 3 concentric circles. The results demonstrated that performance obtained by the mental imagery (visual or kinesthetic) combined with physical practise group was, during the retention phase, equivalent to that produced by the specific physical practise group but significantly superior during the transfer of closed motor skill. These results showed the potential benefits of mental imagery as a retention strategy intended for motor skills and performance enhancement. Such results could be explained by the similarity of 3 principal functional evidences shared by mental and physical practise: behavioural, central, and peripheral (as suggested by Holmes & Collins, 2001).

Locomotor and Object Control Skills of Children Diagnosed with Autism

The purpose of this study was to examine the locomotor and object control skills of children, ages 6–8 years, with autism and to compare their performances with the norms reported by Ulrich (1985) for the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD). Consistent with trends from the general population, differences were found between boys (n = 10) and girls (n = 5) with the largest differences found in the object control skill performances. Overall fundamental skill delays were demonstrated by 73% of all participants, placing them in the poor and very poor TGMD performance categories. These findings support the need to assess the gross motor skills of young children with autism in addition to other developmental skill areas outlined in diagnostic manuals.

CONTROLLED TRIAL OF A STRUCTURED INTERVENTION ON ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS IN 3???4 YEAR OLDS

An epidemic of obesity occurred in British children during the 1990's. Even young children were affected, and the epidemic occurred largely as a result of reduced physical activity (PA). However, there is a dearth of evidence on the efficacy of programs to increase PA in young children. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that PA and motor skills can be increased by the implementation of a structured intervention (“Topstart”, Youth Sport Trust, Loughborough, UK) in 3–4 year olds. In 31 children (mean age 4.5 years), “Topstart” was incorporated into the kindergarten curriculum (90 minutes per week over 11 weeks) and a matched group of 28 children (mean age 4.6 years) acted as controls. We measured change before and after the intervention in PA by Computer Science and Applications (CSA) accelerometry and changes in motor skills using Sheridan's developmental milestones. In the intervention group PA increased significantly over the period, by around 30% (p < 0.01), but there was no significant change in controls. In both groups motor skills test scores increased significantly, but the magnitude of the change from baseline was significantly greater in the intervention group (p < 0.01). “Topstart” was also very practical: easily incorporated into the curriculum; enjoyed by children and staff. This structured intervention represents a potentially useful population-based intervention for increasing physical activity levels and improving motor skills in young children. It should be tested on a wider scale.

Balance and Motor Skills in Young Children With Sensorineural Hearing Impairment

The purpose of this study was to compare the static and dynamic balance, motor abilities, and postrotatory nystagmus (PRNT) test results of four- to five-year-old children with sensorineural hearing impairment (SNHI) to those of typically developing peers. Seven children with SNHI and six typically developing peers comprised the experimental and control groups, respectively. Static balance was measured as duration of single-leg stance with eyes open and eyes closed. Kinematic analysis of responses during tilt board perturbation with eyes open and eyes closed comprised testing of dynamic balance. Motor abilities were defined by performance on the Learning Accomplishment Profile Gross Motor Subscale. The data indicate that a majority of children with SNHI present with aberrant PRNT results, delayed maturation of equilibrium reactions, and age-appropriate performance in a general developmental screening test. Implications for clinicians working with preschool-aged children with SNHI are discussed, as are directions for future research.

Schema Theory: An Application to Integration of Fine and Gross Motor Skills of Young Children

This study tested the extension of Schmidt's schema theory to the relationship between fine and gross motor skills. It was hypothesized that significant covariation would occur between isomorphic pairs of fine and gross motor skills. 52 children ranging in age from 29 to 63 mo. were tested on a series of 20 tasks. Each fine motor task was paired with an analogous gross-motor task having identical underlying cognitive elements but requiring different muscle groups for execution. When age was partialled out, the results showed significant covariation among 6 of 10 pairs of isomorphically related skills. In contrast, no consistent positive relationship among unrelated fine or gross motor skills was demonstrated. These findings support Schmidt's motor schema theory and suggest that the schema may function to integrate selected aspects of fine and gross motor skills of young children.

The Development and Use of Rules in the Acquisition of Perceptual Motor Skill

KIRK, URSULA. The Development and Use of Rules in the Acquisition of Perceptual Motor Skill. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1981, 52, 299-305. This study investigated the nature of the learning involved in the acquisition of perceptual motor skill in young children. A preto posttest paradigm was used to evaluate the effects of rule-based instruction on rule observance, copying performance, and discrimination skill. 3 ways of imparting rules were examined: demonstration, verbal description, and combined demonstrated-verbal description. The usefulness of these methods was compared with that of copying without instruction. 4 instructed and 4 noninstructed letters were presented on the preand posttest. 4 instructed and 4 novel letters were copied during the second posttest. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the data indicated that letter copying is a rule-governed task requiring problem-solving, hypothesis-testing activity. Demonstration of rules contributed to improved performance and to transfer of learning to novel letters. Demonstration contributed to more consistent and flexible use of rules on the posttest. Evidence of rule-based error was produced. Discrimination improved from preto posttest, but there was no effect specific to instruction.

Acquisition of Motor Skill in Young Children

Acquisition of Motor Skill in Young Children

The Acquisition of Motor Skill in Young Children.

The Acquisition of Motor Skill in Young Children.

The Acquisition of Motor Skill in Young Children. II. The Influence of Specific and of General Practice on Motor Skill

The Acquisition of Motor Skill in Young Children. II. The Influence of Specific and of General Practice on Motor Skill

The Acquisition of Motor Skill in Young Children A Study of the Effects of Practice in Throwing at a Moving Target1

T HIS study is concerned with the effect of specific practice upon the ability of young children to hit a moving target by throwing a ball. Fundamentally the problem is to what extent young children improve in complex motor skills as a result of specific practice and to what extent as a' result of other factors such as structural maturation and general practice which has a direct bearing on the specific skill. The effect of specific practice was determined by giving 1 of 2 comparable groups of children practice in throwing at a moving target under controlled conditions while the other group was not given such practice. The added increase in skill of the

The Acquisition of Motor Skill in Young Children. A Study of the Effects of Practice in Throwing at a Moving Target

The Acquisition of Motor Skill in Young Children. A Study of the Effects of Practice in Throwing at a Moving Target