engleski

Relation of physical activity and motor skills in preschool children

Motor skills and physical activity have causal links and are mutually indivisible (Butcher & ; Eaton, 1989). It is expected that a child who is more physically active will have a higher level of motor skills and vice versa. According to some authors, physical activity results in the development of motor skills and facilitates the learning of the same (Shephard, 1997, O'Neill et al., 2013) while others are still unsure whether motor skills are the cause or effect of physical activity (Timmons et al. 2007). Recent researches show a high or weak but positive correlation between physical activity and motor skills (Saakslahti et al, 1999 ; Butcher & ; Eaton, 1989 ; Fisher et al., 2005). Purpose of this study was to determine the difference in motor skills of children of different level of physical activity. Preschool children (N=1305 ; average age 5.2 years) attending kindergartens in Croatia participated in this study. Physical activity of the preschool children was measured by the “Netherlands Physical Activity Questionnaire” (NPAQ) (Božanić, 2011) filled by parents, while motor skills were measured using two test batteries: "Test of Gross Motor Development - Second Edition" (TGMD2) (Ulrich, 2000) and "Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency - Second Edition" (BOT2) (Bruininks and Bruininks, 2005). Using the results of NPAQ children were divided into three groups considering the level of physical activity (low, moderate and high)(REF). For determining the differences in motor skills between groups we used one-way ANOVA. The results show significant difference in the motor skills (TGMD2) of children of different level of physical activity (F=7.15 ; p< ; 0.001). Bonferonni post-hoc test showed differences in gross motor quotient between children of moderate PA and high PA levels (92.13 vs. 95.08). test with regard to the level of physical activity of children. In motor proficiency (BOT2) we found no significant differences, but numerical differences exist: children with higher level of PA have better results in BOT2. The results of this study showed a higher level of motor skills in children who are more physically active. Regardless of what is a cause and what an effect, both physical activity and motor skill interventions should be incorporated in preschool children everyday activities. This is importan for parents and educators which should provide children with sufficiently diverse and stimulative environment that will lead to the development of the necessary skills needed for different physical activities throughout childhood.

child, movement, motor development

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