Motor Skill Performance and Physical Activity in Preschool Children

Abstract

Children with better-developed motor skills may find it easier to be active and engage in more physical activity (PA) than those with less-developed motor skills. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between motor skill performance and PA in preschool children. Participants were 80 three-and 118 four-year-old children. The Children's Activity and Movement in Preschool Study (CHAMPS) Motor Skill Protocol was used to assess process characteristics of six locomotor and six object control skills; scores were categorized as locomotor, object control, and total. The actigraph accelerometer was used to measure PA; data were expressed as percent of time spent in sedentary, light, moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and vigorous PA (VPA). Children in the highest tertile for total score spent significantly more time in MVPA (13.4% vs. 12.8% vs. 11.4%) and VPA (5% vs. 4.6% vs. 3.8%) than children in middle and lowest tertiles. Children in the highest tertile of locomotor scores spent significantly less time in sedentary activity than children in other tertiles and significantly more time in MVPA (13.4% vs. 11.6%) and VPA (4.9% vs. 3.8%) than children in the lowest tertile. There were no differences among tertiles for object control scores. Children with poorer motor skill performance were less active than children with better-developed motor skills. This relationship between motor skill performance and PA could be important to the health of children, particularly in obesity prevention. Clinicians should work with parents to monitor motor skills and to encourage children to engage in activities that promote motor skill performance.

Directly observed physical activity and fundamental motor skills in four-year-old children in day care

“…This speculation is supported by earlier studies indicating that time spent outdoors is associated with a higher amount of physical activity (Klesges et al 1990), and a positive relationship between high level of play activities and gross motor skills (Sääkslahti et al 1999). Earlier studies using different measures than ours have indicated weak and conflicting directions in the relationships between FMS and MVPA intensity in this age group (Cliff et al 2009;Fisher et al 2005;Williams et al 2008). For instance, Fisher et al (2005) reported low but significant correlations between MVPA and total motor skill score in young Scottish children, whereas Cliff and colleagues (2009) …”

“…Motor skills proficiency (Bürgi et al 2011;Fisher et al 2005;Kambas et al 2012) especially locomotor and manipulative skills (Cliff et al 2009;Williams et al 2008), have explained a significant amount of the variance in physical activity levels. It is recognized that FMS proficiency as such, and as a significant correlate of increased physical activity, is a critical health and development determinant.…”

Relationship of physical activity with motor skills, aerobic fitness and body fat in preschool children: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study (Ballabeina)

“…[8][9][10] On the basis of these previous studies, it has been hypothesized that performance level in motor skills may predict PA. 8, 10 We could not replicate an impact of motor skills on increases in objectively measured PA in young children, but, in contrast, found that higher baseline PA was associated with beneficial changes in motor skills at follow-up. Our data suggest that the relationship between PA and motor skills is dominated by the A cross-sectional and longitudinal study (Ballabeina) F Bürgi et al impact of PA on motor skills.…”

“…9,10 As those studies represent crosssectional data, it is difficult to draw conclusions about the direction of causality. Therefore, prospective data are needed that may help to establish recommendations for strategies in health promotion, especially in younger children.…”

Lactancia materna, desarrollo motor y obesidad, ¿Existe asociación causal?

“…It seems to be known that motor domain in childhood is inversely associated with the sedentary lifestyle 39 and the improvement of aerobic capacity in adolescents 40 , so it could be a protection for obesity, indirectly. In a finish cohort, Ridgway et al described that early developmental achievements, such as walking or standing without support, were important predictors of sports participation at around 14 years old, as well as increasing their muscle strength and aerobic capacity during adulthood 41,42 .…”